Home buyers are seeing a lot of big incentives offered by new-construction communities — sometimes $20,000, $30,000, even $40,000+, but in most cases, buyers can only take advantage of these incentives if you use the services of the builder's preferred lender, finance through that same lender, use the closing agent they choose, and satisfy all other qualifying criteria.

So even though these incentives look enticing, you're still working within their system — their lender, their title company, their fees, and their timelines. Quite often the incentives don't cover all the closing costs and fees leaving the buyer still out of pocket, although they thought with a $40,000 incentive everything would be covered.

If any upgrades are needed then the costs add up quickly leaving even more cash required on the day of closing.

That's why this home is such a smart alternative. All of those upgrades are already here, already installed, and already paid for —