A home's price only tells part of the story. Interest rates, builder incentives, energy costs, repairs, included features and even the age of the home can dramatically change what you actually spend each month. If you're shopping for a home in the Tulsa area, understanding the total picture could mean getting more home that you thought your budget allowed.
Simmons Homes is building new homes throughout the Tulsa metro, including Owasso, Collinsville, Bixby and Broken Arrow, with a variety of floor plans, homes sizes and price points to fit different lifestyles and budgets.
Around $300K -> Here's what you get
The Redbud proves $300K can still come with serious style - designer finishes, warm oak accents, quartz countertops, and light-filled open layout made for real life.
https://www.simmonshomes.com/new-homes/ok/bixby/henson-square/redbud/3482-e-153rd-st-s/
Around $350K -> Here's what you get:
The Owen shows what $350K can look like - four bedrooms, sleek designer finishes, quartz countertops and smart storage wrapped into a layout designed for everyday living.
https://www.simmonshomes.com/new-homes/ok/owasso/morrow-place/owen/12501-n-134th-e-ave/
Around $400K -> Here's what you get:
The Bailey shows how far $400K can go - soaring ceilings, a designer kitchen, statement fireplace and four spacious bedrooms plus a flex room, all with beautiful green space and pond views just outside your front door.
https://www.simmonshomes.com/new-homes/ok/bixby/pecan-ridge-estates/bailey/14739-s-college-pl/
You noticed each of the homes above is shown at its current price before available incentives. That's important, because when you're comparing homes, purchase price alone doesn't always tell you which home is the better fit for your budget. Two similarly priced homes you are considering in your home search can produce very different ownership costs depending on financing, incentives, efficiency and near-term maintenance. Builder incentives have become increasingly important in today's market due to elevated mortgage rates. Rate reductions are currently the most prevalent new-construction incentives nationally per Realtor.com. This is one area where new construction can offer buyers an advantage. Builders often have more flexibility than individual home sellers to offer financing incentives designed to address today's biggest affordability challenge: the monthly payment.
At Simmons Homes we see the value, available builder incentives may give buyers opportunities to reduce some of the costs associated with purchasing a new home - from helping with allowable closing costs to potentially buying down the mortgage rate. How you use those dollars can make a meaningful difference in your monthly payment and overall affordability of homeownership. That's why we encourage customers to shop more than just the listed price. With a builder incentive, buyers can impact their actual cost and monthly payment in such a significant way it can save you well over a $100,000 in interest. Over the live of a mortgage, even a seemingly small difference in interest rate can add up to significant savings - which is why it's worth comparing financing opportunities, not just home prices.
$20,000 sounds great. But what could it actually mean for your budget?
Depending on your loan program, qualifications and current rates - applying a builder incentive toward an interest-rate buydown could potentially lower your monthly mortgage payment by hundreds of dollars. That's why our team works alongside our preferred lender to look at each buyer individually and determine how available incentives may work hardest for them. This could mean a rate reduction, allowable closing costs, design selections, price reduction, and more....everyone's situation is different and we can take an individualized look at how best to maximize your savings with our current incentive.
Your mortgage payment is only one part of the cost of owning a home. Utilities matter too. That's why energy efficiency is something worth considering when comparing a new home with an existing home - or even one new home with another.
Every Simmons Home is ENERGY STAR® Certified, which means energy efficiency isn't simply an upgrade you add later. It's considered throughout the construction of your home, with features designed to reduce energy waste while helping create a more comfortable living environment year-round and help keep ongoing energy costs in check.
Keeping conditioned air where it belongs can make a big difference in both comfort and energy use. Simmons Homes include a high standard of included energy features that create a better-insulated building envelope, helping your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently through hot Tulsa summers (that seem to go on and on and on, ha!) and cold Oklahoma winter days.
Windows can be a major source of heat gain and loss in a home. Simmons includes dual-glazed, energy-efficient vinyl windows with Low-E insulated glass and argon gas. In everyday terms? They're designed to help reduce heat transfer through the glass - helping keep summer heat outside and conditioned air inside.
Every degree counts when you're paying the utility bill. Simmons homes include a 15.2 SEER air conditioner and a 96% efficiency furnace, providing efficient heating and cooling without requiring buyers to immediately invest in replacing aging equipment. And because efficiency is about more than equipment alone, insulation, windows, and air sealing all work together as part of the home's overall energy performance.
A tankless water heater is included in new Simmons homes, providing hot water on demand rather than continually maintaining a traditional tank of heated water. Ever had to wait an hour to take a shower after your sister drained all the hot water?! Painful memories for some of us, ha!
It means Simmons isn't simply asking you to take our word for it.
ENERGY STAR certification provides independent verification that a home meets strict energy-efficiency requirements established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Certified homes are inspected and tested during construction to verify that the home meets the program's requirements. And that's where another number becomes useful when you're shopping for a home: the HERS® Index Score.
The lower the HERS score, the more energy efficient the home is expected to be. Simmons Homes consistently achieves strong HERS ratings in the very low 40s, giving buyers another measurable way to understand the energy performance built into their new home.
Energy bills and mortgage payments are expenses you can anticipate. The surprise expenses of homeownership can be a different story.
When you're comparing a new home with an older resale home, it's worth looking beyond today's purchase price and considering what may need attention after you move in. An aging HVAC System, water heater, windows, roof or other major components can turn an otherwise affordable home into one with unexpected expenses. With a brand-new Simmons home, you're starting fresh. New systems, new materials and new construction mean you're not inheriting years of wear and tear from a previous owner. And every Simmons home is backed by our one-year warranty, including quality walks during your first month and again near your one-year anniversary.
That doesn't mean a new home will never need attention. It means you're beginning homeownership with new components, warranty protection and a local builder who is still here after you get the keys.
So what makes a home truly affordable? It's not simply finding the lowest listed price. It's understanding the whole cost of homeownership - what you pay to purchase it, what financing opportunities are available, what you'll spend to heat and cool it, and what expenses you may encounter after you move in.
That's why comparing a $350,000 new home with a $350,000 resale home isn't necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison.
The better question may be: Which home gives me the most value for my budget - today and after I move in?
You've seen what approximately $300K, $350K, and $400K can look like - but every customer's situation is different. maybe you know your price range. Maybe you only know the monthly payment you're comfortable with. Either is a great place to start.
Our team can help you explore available homes, floor plans to build and Tulsa Surrounding-area communities that fit your needs, then work with our preferred local lender to help you understand financing options and how any current Simmons incentives could work for your individual situation.
