First Time Buyer’s Guide
Congratulations! You’ve finally done it. You’ve made the decision, whether in your mind or on paper, to purchase a new construction single-family home or townhome at Manatee County’s award-winning new home community, North River Ranch. We are confident that you will find this to be one of the smartest moves of your lifetime, both for enjoyment of your daily living and as a financial investment.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, your world is about to change for the better. There are a few things to consider and preparations to make as you approach move-in day.
If you haven’t already, an important first step is to see if you qualify for federal, state, or local first-time buyer programs that could potentially reduce your downpayment requirement or interest rate. Do your own research, but also check with your homebuilder’s new construction sales associate to ensure you are up-to-date on all available opportunities. Additionally, your homebuilder will be able to direct you to their preferred mortgage broker for potential additional savings.
If you’re purchasing one of our builders’ existing inventory homes, your interior selections have already been made by a professional designer. But if you’re purchasing pre-construction at North River Ranch in Parrish, Florida, our roster of five premier homebuilders — Pulte Homes, Neal Communities, Homes by WestBay, David Weekley Homes, and Cardel Homes — each have design consultants available to assist with those decisions.
Your first few days in a new home are precious and often hectic. Make them more comfortable and relaxed by contacting utility, cable, and internet providers to arrange new service setups before you move into your home at North River Ranch.
As a first-time homeowner, a lot of minor purchases that may not have occurred to you will arise. With a new construction home, you probably won’t encounter too many. But things like water hoses, pool supplies, lawnmower, a ladder, rakes and shovels, HVAC filters, blinds and draperies, extra lightbulbs, and perhaps a new vacuum cleaner can add up.
Even with a sparkling new home, maintenance is your responsibility now. And it can be difficult to remember everything. Consider creating a regular maintenance schedule to keep these small chores top-of-mind.
Before your first night in your new home, it’s important to locate your circuit box and ensure you’re familiar with all emergency shut-offs. Also, go through your appliance manuals, paying particular attention to warranties that should be filled out and submitted for proper coverage.
The most finely built homes can still have small problems. A squeaky cabinet door. Maybe an electrical outlet that isn’t powered. Our Manatee County homebuilders are here for you in these situations, likely covering repairs for the first year. Familiarize yourself with your specific builder’s process and point person for submitting warranty requests.
Most importantly, enjoy every precious moment in your new home. Neighbors are waiting to meet you. Amenities are at your disposal. Welcome home to the unmatched lifestyle that is North River Ranch.
About North River Ranch
North River Ranch is the flagship master-planned community for Neal Land & Neighborhoods, strategically positioned and carefully planned to evolve to meet the needs of tomorrow’s families and active adults. Located in Parrish, Fla., the amenity-rich development is a fresh approach to development in Southwest Florida unlike anything in the market today. North River Ranch is an award-winning community with approvals for 6,000 residences across several neighborhoods featuring abundant recreation and amenities, judicious land planning and management, commercial development, a hospital, and nearby schools. Current home builders consist of Pulte Homes, David Weekley Homes, Neal Communities, Homes by WestBay, and Cardel Homes Florida. North River Ranch has received Bradenton’s Best Gold Award for Best Master Planned Community since 2022. For more information, visit www.NorthRiverRanch.com.
About Neal Land & Neighborhoods
Neal Land & Neighborhoods is a Manatee and Sarasota, Florida-based master land planning and community development organization led by John A. Neal. The award-winning company incorporates thoughtful master planning and public infrastructure solutions to create the next level of elite community planning in Southwest Florida. By working with carefully selected new home builders, Neal Land & Neighborhoods aims to establish thriving, sustainable, livable, and ecologically sensitive communities throughout Manatee, Sarasota, and Hillsborough counties. Neal Land & Neighborhoods currently owns or controls several thousand acres of land entitled for more than 9,000 future residential homes and the supporting mixed-use commercial and retail. The developer’s current projects include the master-planned communities of North River Ranch and Vistera of Venice. For additional information, visit www.nealland.com.