Ask any real estate agent, design industry pro, or on-the-hunt buyer what the biggest conundrums of shopping for a home are and they will probably first utter: “Location, location, location!” But after that, it might be “Should I go for the historic charmer or explore turnkey new construction homes?”
Luckily, that second point of consideration has a fresh ally: New home builds built the old way, but with modern-day convenience, technology, and efficiency. Allow us to explain …
Fresh New Home Builds Offer Just as Much (Or More) Charm
Photography by Matteus Silva de Oliveira
New construction homes are no longer synonymous with unoriginal. At least, not everywhere. More and more, community developers are endeavoring to put a unique stamp on their creations. If a new home doesn’t have the 18th-century transom windows you adore, it might have some delightfully unusual features of its own. And really, it is likely to have just what you were looking for, because there is a movement happening in architecture: honoring a sense of place.
Although this has always been a core tenet of the trade, the past few years have seen a resurgence in appreciation for respecting surrounding architecture and city planning by imbuing new builds with the same defining features and quality.
The latter being true of the structure and its interiors.
Quality Is an Unwavering Focus (Especially for New Home Builders in Savannah, GA)
For many decades, there has been ample truth in the idea that newly built homes were made using the cheapest, quickest materials. In some places, that is probably still the case. But again, plenty of today’s developers work by a different code—sometimes literally!
Particularly in cities like our beautiful Savannah, councils will release handbooks and building codes that aim to preserve the look and feel of the area. Although they are often written with the renovation of historic homes in mind, the architects behind ground-up projects can and do use them as guidelines, too.
Here, we’re going to take a moment to brag on our very own team of architects and builders at Patrick Malloy Communities. In the process of planning Upper East River, they chose to use materials like hand-tumbled brick, gas lanterns, authentic wrought iron, and exquisite crown molding.
That level of high-end quality is apparent in each of our home types, but then there’s also J.J. Corry, which takes the “new made old” philosophy a step further. Tucked into an upscale warehouse conversion, they look like they’ve been a part of Savannah for centuries, but everything from the HVAC to the countertops is 21st-century perfection.
And that brings us to our next point about the perks of new construction homes vs. historic homes.
Sustainability, Technology, and Livability Improve
Photography by Picjumbo
While living in a historic home is undeniably a special experience, it also comes with frustrating and oftentimes enormously expensive challenges. Pretty much across the board, heating and cooling will be pricier and have a greater impact on the environment. And anyone who has lived in one will tell you that old homes have a way of surprising you when it comes time to fuss with wiring or plumbing.
The fact is that, in the past several decades, we humans have evolved at a pace more rapid than arguably ever before. Our lifestyles have quite literally outgrown homes of old. We need charging stations for our various devices, and automatic lighting and shading schemes to help keep our busy minds at rest all night and awake just when we need them. We want room to play, eat, sleep, relax, work, school, exercise, and more.
Oh, and don’t forget the parking! Historic homes were often built before cars even existed, and/or they are located in busy parts of the city. In Savannah, this is certainly true. Ask any owner of a downtown charmer about parking and they’ll be lamenting in no time. No one wants to waste time searching for parking.
That said, most everyone enjoys a little walkability. This used to be another selling point for older, more centrally located homes. But nowadays, developers understand this aspect of life well and cater to it in their chosen lots and building approach. One can often walk to boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment from one’s front door.
To summarize, today’s new construction homes invite their owners to embrace the old expression. You can “have your cake and eat it too.”
If you ask us, this is particularly true of luxury homes in Savannah, GA.
Here at Upper East River, each of our home types was influenced by the architectural traditions of Savannah. And our whole community is designed to feel as engaging as the city’s older locales. Eastern Wharf is our own version of a shopping and dining district. Plus, you can get to downtown in just a few minutes, too.
If you’d like to learn more about the residences we offer, get in touch!
