I am a realtor, and I am also a home inspector. That second part changes how I look at new construction, because a brand-new house is not automatically a trouble-free house — but right now, for the right buyer, the advantages are real, and the incentives builders are offering are worth understanding before you write them off. Here is how I walk buyers through it. You get to pick your finishes, and...

I am a realtor, and I am also a home inspector. That second part changes how I work for buyers, because before you ever write an offer, I am already looking at the house the way an inspector would. First off, legally, as your buyer's representative I can't do your actual home inspection — that's a conflict of interest. But that doesn't mean I can't look at the house and tell you what I see. When I...