It's tough out there for Cincinnati area buyers: weeks and months of looking without finding the home the right home at the right price. Inventory is steadily dropping, and all the "good ones" seem to go pending before everyone has scheduled a showing. But what if you could customize your next home from the foundation up? There's a definite advantage to working with a builder to choose all the features and finishes you want in a new home, and while it does take time, it also provides you the opportunity to budget appropriately for your new home ownership costs -- and if you have a home to sell, you'll have plenty of time to decide what improvements your current home needs to sell for the highest price possible.

So, why work with a Realtor when you are buying new construction? Because every buyer deserves representation to make sure their interests are being protected. Plus, only a Realtor can give you up to date information on the market to help you decide whether any of those cool upgrades will be worth the money when it comes to selling your home down the line.

For more information on buying a new construction home, check out these articles from Redfin, Forbes, and Huffington Post. And remember, the best local builders are members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati.