New Homes Save Buyers $25,000 Over 10 Years

(5/18/26)  Are you put off by the high cost of new construction? Well, don’t be. According to new research released this month by Realtor.com, buyers of newly built homes save an average of $25,335 over the first 10 years of ownership when compared to buyers of 20-year-old homes. The savings, due to lower energy bills and fewer major repairs, offset the higher upfront costs of purchasing a new home.

“Homeownership is not a one-time expense, and the ongoing costs of owning a home are where new construction really shines,” said Joel Berner, senior economist at Realtor.com. “Buyers who focus only on the listing price are missing a significant part of the financial picture.”

The Realtor.com analysis also found that some states offer even more savings to new-home buyers. Massachusetts buyers, for example, would save $38,927 over the first 10 years of ownership, with New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont offering similar savings. Stricter building codes in these states, and harsher winters, amplify the energy efficiency advantages of newer homes.