The Builder's Sales Rep
Works for the Builder.
Not for you. I represent buyers through new construction across Casa Grande, Maricopa, Coolidge, Florence, and the rest of Pinal County. Contract review, lot selection, design center decisions, walkthrough, and warranty.
Tell me where you're looking and I'll send you the current builder list for that area, plus the questions I'd ask before you sign anything.
Josh Bernal, REALTOR® · Yost Realty Group at RE/MAX Casa Grande · AZ License SA658510000
What most buyers don't realize walking into a model home
- The person at the desk represents the seller. They are pleasant, informed, and paid by the builder. Their job is to protect the builder's position in the contract.
- The builder's contract is the builder's contract. It is not the standard Arizona purchase contract most resale buyers see, and the terms around delays, change orders, and warranty are written by their counsel.
- Some builders ask you to register your agent on your first visit. If you tour alone and come back with representation later, some builders will not recognize it. This is the single most common way buyers lose the option.
- Lot premiums, design center pricing, and incentives are negotiable more often than buyers assume, though what is available varies by builder, community, and phase.
None of that makes new construction a bad choice. I like new construction for a lot of buyers in this county. It just means you want someone reading the paperwork who is on your side of it.
What I actually do on a new build
1. Before you tour
We agree in writing how I'm compensated, then I register as your agent on your first visit to each community so the option stays open.
2. Builder and community shortlist
Which builders are actively selling in your area and price band, what they're currently building, and how their reputations differ locally.
3. Lot selection
Orientation, drainage, easements, what's planned on the empty parcel behind you, and which premiums tend to hold value at resale.
4. Contract review
I read the builder's contract with you and flag the delay, change order, cancellation, and arbitration terms. Legal questions go to your attorney.
5. Design center
Where the money tends to be worth it structurally, and what is cheaper to do after closing.
6. Inspections
A new home is still worth inspecting. I coordinate a pre-drywall and a final inspection with an inspector who does new builds.
7. Walkthrough and warranty
Punch list at orientation, and I stay reachable through the warranty window when something needs to go back to the builder.
8. Your current home
If you need to sell to buy, we sequence the two so the timing works against a build schedule that can move.
How I'm paid, in plain language
Broker compensation is fully negotiable and is not set by law, by any Multiple Listing Service, or by any REALTOR® association. Before we tour homes together, we sign a written buyer representation agreement that states exactly what I do for you and how I'm compensated.
Some builders offer compensation to a buyer's broker and some do not, and the amount varies by builder and by community. Where a builder offers less than the amount in our agreement, the difference would be yours, and we will have discussed that number before you write an offer. I will not tell you representation is free, because that depends on the builder and I do not control it.
I am not a builder, not affiliated with any builder, and I receive no compensation from any builder, lender, title company, or inspector for referring you to them. You are free to use any provider you choose.
Where I work new construction
Casa Grande, Maricopa, Coolidge, Florence, Eloy, Arizona City, and unincorporated Pinal County.
Builders, communities, phases, lot availability, and incentives change constantly. Rather than publish a list that goes stale, I pull the current picture for your area when you ask. Community details, HOA rules, and any age restrictions are set by the community and should be confirmed with the association before you write an offer.
Get the current builder list for your area
Tell me the town and roughly when you're looking to be in. I'll send the builders actively selling there and the questions I'd ask each one. No obligation, and I'll tell you honestly if resale is the better fit for what you want.
New construction FAQs
Does it cost me more to have my own agent on a new build?
Broker compensation is negotiable and is not set by law or by any MLS or association. We agree in writing on how I'm compensated before we tour. Some builders offer compensation to a buyer's broker and some do not, and it varies by builder and community. I'll show you the actual numbers for your situation before you write an offer rather than telling you it's free.
I already toured a model home by myself. Is it too late?
Sometimes, and sometimes not. Many builders require your agent to register on your first visit, and policies differ by builder and change over time. Tell me which community and when you visited and I'll find out where you actually stand before you assume either way.
Do I still need an inspection on a brand new house?
I recommend one, usually two: a pre-drywall inspection while the framing, plumbing, and electrical are still visible, and a final inspection before closing. New homes are built quickly by rotating crews and inspectors find things. Your builder warranty is easier to use when an issue is documented early.
Can I use my own lender, or do I have to use the builder's?
You can generally use any lender you choose. Builders often offer incentives tied to using their affiliated lender, and sometimes that math works out and sometimes it doesn't once you compare total cost. I'm not a lender and I don't quote rates or terms. Get a Loan Estimate from both and compare them side by side.
How long does a new build take in Pinal County?
It depends on the builder, the plan, the phase, and conditions outside anyone's control. Builders give an estimated completion window in the contract, and that window can move. If you need to sell your current home to buy, we plan around a schedule that may shift rather than one that's guaranteed.
What about the empty lot behind the house?
Worth checking every time. I pull the recorded plat and the community's phasing so you know what's approved to be built next to and behind you before you pick a lot, rather than after.
The information here is general and based on Josh's experience working in the Pinal County market. It is not legal, tax, financial, or lending advice. For decisions in those areas, please consult a licensed attorney, CPA, or lender.
Talk it through before you sign anything
A short call costs you nothing and usually answers most of it.
Important disclosures. Josh Bernal is a licensed Arizona real estate salesperson, not a mortgage lender, mortgage broker, or loan originator, and does not offer or negotiate terms of credit. Any financing information on this page is general education, is not an offer or commitment to lend, and is subject to lender approval, credit qualification, and program availability. Down payment requirements, repayment terms, and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) vary by lender and borrower and are not quoted here. Josh Bernal and Yost Realty Group at RE/MAX Casa Grande are not builders and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any homebuilder. Builder pricing, incentives, availability, construction timelines, warranty terms, and community details are set by each builder and community and are subject to change without notice. Verify all details directly with the builder and in the written purchase contract before you rely on them. Broker compensation is fully negotiable and is not set by law, by any Multiple Listing Service, or by any REALTOR® association. This is not a solicitation of properties already listed with another broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.