For years, homeownership has felt out of reach for many buyers, with the average age of first-time homebuyers getting older each year. Lately, though, the market has started to shift as builders and buyers adjust to new conditions.
As rents continue to rise, people are finding themselves at a crossroads, realizing it may be more affordable to buy than rent. And while the barriers to entry for purchasing an existing home remain high, builders are stepping in with more aggressive tactics to decrease hurdles and move inventory. So, while there isn’t a traditional buyer boom going on, there’s a strategic opening created by builder incentives.
“Building a home is more incentivized than it’s been in a long time, and that’s going to cause an influx of buyers, first-time and otherwise, building homes rather than buying existing ones,” said Matt Cook, Director of Operations at HomeTeam Inspection Service. “For HomeTeam franchise owners, this presents a unique opportunity. Even new homes need inspections, and HomeTeam owners have an opportunity to drive business by completing inspections both before the buyers take the keys and at the 11-month mark to provide a thorough report before the warranty expires.”
The median age of first-time homebuyers is increasing, but the market isn’t stalled. Rather, the new market core is defined by steadily dropping interest rates and remarkable new home build incentives.
“If people see that renting is not valuable to them anymore, they’re going to buy a home. And generally, when this wave happens, you’re going to have buyer credits,” Cook said. “We need to build homes faster, and the more we can build and the cheaper they are to build, the more attractive the market is, and the faster our housing booms. Offering buyer incentives is one of the key ways to do this.”
Major national builders are utilizing their own financing arms to offer mortgage rates much lower than the national standard, and many are offering “flex cash,” upgrade credit and closing cost assistance to excite buyers and move-in-ready inventory.
“These can make a major difference in the value of the home for the buyer,” he said. “These credits are things like, instead of spending $7,500 on a stone fireplace, the builder will give you $15,000 in flex cash to choose any upgrades you want throughout the home. Or, when I built a home in 2015, the incentive was a free deck or finished basement.”
For current renters already considering taking the leap to homeownership, incentives like these that can represent tens of thousands of dollars in value are just the push they need.
The appeal of these incentives is backed up by the data. In early 2010, construction began on about 600,000 new privately owned homes. In early 2025, that number was around 1.5 million.
This rise in supply is essential to long-term housing availability and affordability, but in the short term, it can come at a cost.
“The reality is, as homes are built faster, the quality is at risk because of the rush to complete the project and move on to the next,” Cook said. “There have also been changes in the kind of building materials used. These factors only reinforce a truth qualified inspectors have known for decades: Just because it’s a new home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a home inspection. Having an inspector check it before you take over the keys is critical.”
There are structural deficiencies that home inspectors can identify prior to closing to ensure a new-build home is up to standard, and there’s also an opportunity to bring an inspector in again around the 11-month mark.
“Most new builds will come with a one-year warranty,” Cook said. “Buyers should still get an inspection before closing, but another inspection after living in the home for 11 months is a smart idea. The inspector can again go through the home and identify anything that needs to be resolved, helping buyers make the most of their investments.”
New construction is creating more inspection touchpoints, and that translates into steady demand for HomeTeam owners. Pre-closing inspections, 11-month warranty checkups and routine home health visits can keep schedules full and revenue consistent.
Central to this growth opportunity is HomeTeam’s education-first, non-alarmist approach to home inspections and reporting. Rather than causing panic over findings or reporting on whether a home is “good” or “bad,” HomeTeam inspectors empower clients with knowledge and support them in making an informed decision. This builds trust and lays a foundation for a long-term client relationship.
For prospective franchise owners, 2026 is a prime time to join the system. With AI-enhanced reporting, new marketing strategies and a changing real estate market, Cook says the team is preparing for “parabolic” growth in the coming years.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice.
HomeTeam Inspection Service
SPONSORED
Builder credits and decreasing interest rates are making homeownership more attainable, driving both supply and demand. For HomeTeam franchise owners, this creates a strategic opening for growth.
For years, homeownership has felt out of reach for many buyers, with the average age of first-time homebuyers getting older each year. Lately, though, the market has started to shift as builders and buyers adjust to new conditions.
As rents continue to rise, people are finding themselves at a crossroads, realizing it may be more affordable to buy than rent. And while the barriers to entry for purchasing an existing home remain high, builders are stepping in with more aggressive tactics to decrease hurdles and move inventory. So, while there isn’t a traditional buyer boom going on, there’s a strategic opening created by builder incentives.
“Building a home is more incentivized than it’s been in a long time, and that’s going to cause an influx of buyers, first-time and otherwise, building homes rather than buying existing ones,” said Matt Cook, Director of Operations at HomeTeam Inspection Service. “For HomeTeam franchise owners, this presents a unique opportunity. Even new homes need inspections, and HomeTeam owners have an opportunity to drive business by completing inspections both before the buyers take the keys and at the 11-month mark to provide a thorough report before the warranty expires.”
The median age of first-time homebuyers is increasing, but the market isn’t stalled. Rather, the new market core is defined by steadily dropping interest rates and remarkable new home build incentives.
“If people see that renting is not valuable to them anymore, they’re going to buy a home. And generally, when this wave happens, you’re going to have buyer credits,” Cook said. “We need to build homes faster, and the more we can build and the cheaper they are to build, the more attractive the market is, and the faster our housing booms. Offering buyer incentives is one of the key ways to do this.”
Major national builders are utilizing their own financing arms to offer mortgage rates much lower than the national standard, and many are offering “flex cash,” upgrade credit and closing cost assistance to excite buyers and move-in-ready inventory.
“These can make a major difference in the value of the home for the buyer,” he said. “These credits are things like, instead of spending $7,500 on a stone fireplace, the builder will give you $15,000 in flex cash to choose any upgrades you want throughout the home. Or, when I built a home in 2015, the incentive was a free deck or finished basement.”
For current renters already considering taking the leap to homeownership, incentives like these that can represent tens of thousands of dollars in value are just the push they need.
The appeal of these incentives is backed up by the data. In early 2010, construction began on about 600,000 new privately owned homes. In early 2025, that number was around 1.5 million.
This rise in supply is essential to long-term housing availability and affordability, but in the short term, it can come at a cost.
“The reality is, as homes are built faster, the quality is at risk because of the rush to complete the project and move on to the next,” Cook said. “There have also been changes in the kind of building materials used. These factors only reinforce a truth qualified inspectors have known for decades: Just because it’s a new home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a home inspection. Having an inspector check it before you take over the keys is critical.”
There are structural deficiencies that home inspectors can identify prior to closing to ensure a new-build home is up to standard, and there’s also an opportunity to bring an inspector in again around the 11-month mark.
“Most new builds will come with a one-year warranty,” Cook said. “Buyers should still get an inspection before closing, but another inspection after living in the home for 11 months is a smart idea. The inspector can again go through the home and identify anything that needs to be resolved, helping buyers make the most of their investments.”
New construction is creating more inspection touchpoints, and that translates into steady demand for HomeTeam owners. Pre-closing inspections, 11-month warranty checkups and routine home health visits can keep schedules full and revenue consistent.
Central to this growth opportunity is HomeTeam’s education-first, non-alarmist approach to home inspections and reporting. Rather than causing panic over findings or reporting on whether a home is “good” or “bad,” HomeTeam inspectors empower clients with knowledge and support them in making an informed decision. This builds trust and lays a foundation for a long-term client relationship.
For prospective franchise owners, 2026 is a prime time to join the system. With AI-enhanced reporting, new marketing strategies and a changing real estate market, Cook says the team is preparing for “parabolic” growth in the coming years.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice.
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