First-time homebuyers
Here are a few questions we hear from interested buyers searching for their first home. If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please contact us at 1-800-4-WALTER or visit a Sales Center.
What are the benefits of owning your own home?
Houses tend to increase in value over time, increasing the owner’s net worth. If you obtain mortgage financing for your home, the finance charges you pay on your home may be tax deductible. Also, you are paying toward your own home ownership, not someone else’s. And often with no money down, our affordable homes make it easy to leave renting behind.
What do I need to know about applying for home mortgage financing through Jim Walter Homes?
Jim Walter Homes makes mortgage financing available to qualified property owners. In many cases, we can offer mortgage financing with no money down, especially if we build on your lot. For information on how to qualify, contact a sales counselor to walk you through this simple process.
How long do I have to wait to know if my credit application is approved?
Typically, the credit application process is complete within 48 hours.
Can I purchase a Jim Walter home if I don’t own my own land?
Absolutely. Our affiliate, Walter Mortgage Company, can help you with mortgage financing for your home and land, sometimes with no money down. Unlike other lenders, Walter Mortgage Company offers land payoff financing with all levels of building completion, from the shell stage to our most complete home.
What makes Jim Walter Homes more affordable than other builders?
Our affordable homes are available in three different completion levels. The exterior of every Jim Walter home is completely finished, and we offer three levels of interior completion to save you money:
- Shell Stage: Our most affordable home includes basic interior completion. The inside of a shell is unfinished, with open stud walls ready for you to begin work.
- Finish Stage: Our most complete home. It includes interior doors, trim, cabinets, countertops, and heat. You are responsible for adding such features as floor coverings, paint, or any of our additional upgrades.
- 100% Stage: Our Finished level home plus flooring and interior paint.
How do I select the home that’s right for me?
We offer affordable homes with more than 20 floor plans to meet your needs. You can choose a one-story or two-story home, with two, three, or four bedrooms. You can review our floor plans online or visit a Jim Walter Homes Sales Center to see our models and speak with a sales counselor.
During home construction
How long will it take for my home to be completed once you break ground?
Our contract does not provide for a completion date. Generally, we are able to complete homes in a timely manner, but due to delays caused by subcontractor availability, weather, and other unforeseen factors, we are not able to give an accurate completion date until we are about 30 days from finishing your home.
Why is no one working on my house today?
This may be because of crew schedules, supply delays, permit or inspection delays, or bad weather. There may be several days when no crew is working on your home, and there may be days where several crews are working. This is completely normal.
Can I make changes once my home is under construction?
JWH has a detailed purchasing and production system that is dependent on the way your home was originally purchased at your local Sales Center. Changes can affect material availability, engineering requirements, and blueprints required by local building departments. Although we are as flexible as possible to accommodate our customers, we ask that you make all changes at the point of sale and not once your home is placed under construction.
Can I begin my completion work prior to JWH finishing their contract?
The answer depends on what work you wish to do. We request that you not commence any work until the home is tendered to you, but we will allow the installation of your well and/or septic, as long as it does not interfere with the completion of our contract. We require that our contract is completed prior to any interior finishes, such as painting or flooring. For specific questions, please contact your construction manager.
What are the effects of weather on my home’s building materials?
Almost every new home gets rained on while it’s being built. The effects of weather generally don’t affect the integrity or strength of the home, and cosmetic effects are covered by drywall and paint. Any serious problems will be identified and corrected as part of the inspection process.
