Buyer beware on new homes

Here are some tips before signing a pre-construction contract on a home:

Look for clauses that outline how the rise in material costs affects the sales price.

Find out how much of the down payment is reimbursable.

Identify clauses that allow you or the developer to break the contract.

When in doubt, have an attorney review the contract.

Source: Brenda Talbert, executive vice president of the Gold Coast Builders Assocation