Hellobee Boards

@Modern Daisy: I don't understand the question. How can a new construction be a "tear down"?

I don't know that one is necessarily always going to be more cost effective than the other; and the best option might depend on the neighborhood you're trying to get into. If you purchase a tear down, you might have to pay to have the house demolished/removed; or the builder might be able to absorb some of that cost. You would need to have insurance that would cover the builder and his workers if you own the property, whereas a builder will have that insurance in place (on his dime) on property owned by the company.

To save $$, I would not go with a builder who builds by the "package" and sets out allowances, instead of negotiating and invoicing you for the products you pick on your own.

I would also be selective in choosing a builder.

I would prefer to choose the builder and the lot, not necessarily buying a lot from the developer/builder.

You'll have much more control over the quality of the finished project if you vet the builder rather than using whoever owns the lot.