TL;DR
An engaged couple compared new construction and nearly new homes before purchasing a Lennar Washburn resale in Maple Grove. CJ Norman helped them evaluate the options and negotiate seller-paid closing costs on a home that appraised above their purchase price. With 3,328 finished square feet and an unfinished basement, the home offered space for combining households now and the option to add more finished space later.
- Location
- Maple Grove
- Floor plan
- Lennar Washburn
- Finished area
- 3,328 sq. ft.
- Bedrooms / baths
- 4 / 4
- Garage stalls
- 3
- Basement
- Unfinished
From renting to a home of their own
This engaged couple was ready to combine households and buy a home together. They were renting at the time and wanted a place that would fit their life now while giving them room for a growing family later.
Maple Grove offered a practical middle ground between their workplaces. They wanted reasonable drives while keeping some distance between work and home. Location was part of the decision from the beginning, alongside finding a newer house in an established neighborhood.
Comparing new construction with a nearly new resale
The buyers were open to several routes: a builder’s quick move-in home, a spec home already under construction or completed, building from the ground up, or purchasing a home that was only a few years old. CJ Norman helped them explore those options over several months.
After enough showings, some homes began to blend together. Similar finishes and layouts made it harder to distinguish a beautiful house from the right house. Keeping the location, usable space, and longer-term plans in focus gave the buyers a clearer basis for comparison.
The home that stood out was a recently built resale in Maple Grove. It had already been lived in for a couple of years, but offered the newer construction and layout they wanted without starting a new build.
Why this Lennar Washburn stood out
The home was a Lennar Washburn floor plan from the Prestige Collection, with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage, and 3,328 finished square feet. It brought together the space they wanted for combining households and the potential to accommodate future changes.
The unfinished basement was an important part of that potential. They could use the existing finished space first and consider finishing the lower level when it made sense for their needs and budget. That future project was an option, rather than a requirement for making the home work from day one.
Recognizing value and negotiating the whole offer
After comparing so many homes, CJ and the buyers recognized that this property was priced attractively for what it offered. The seller needed to move out of state, and the couple was the only buyer to submit an offer.
They offered the asking price because it already represented strong value in their search. CJ also negotiated seller-paid closing costs, making those terms part of the overall agreement rather than focusing only on reducing the price.
The home appraised above the purchase price. That was a positive result for this transaction and reinforced why the asking price had stood out when they compared their options.
Choosing for the next chapter and the one after it
The immediate goal was a home together. The longer-term goal was enough space to start a family without quickly needing another move. The existing bedrooms and living space addressed the first part of that plan, while the unfinished basement left room to revisit their needs later.
CJ encourages buyers to think beyond the change happening right now when their budget allows. A home does not need to predict every future need, but considering the next stage of life can help buyers decide which features matter most today.
For this couple, a nearly new home offered that balance: a place they were excited to move into, in a location that worked for both of them, with options for more finished space down the road.
What this Maple Grove search shows other buyers
The decision between new construction and nearly new depends on the actual homes available and how each fits the buyer’s plans. These buyers explored both before choosing a resale that aligned with their location, layout, and space priorities.
Their experience also shows that a successful negotiation can include paying a fair asking price while working on other terms. Here, the purchase price, seller-paid closing costs, and future flexibility of the home all contributed to the outcome.
CJ Norman of Norman Homes at Pemberton Real Estate helped the couple compare their choices over time and act when the right opportunity appeared. The result was a Maple Grove home that fit their move from renting and gave them room to grow.
