A licensed real estate agent must pass a test and complete continuing education to maintain their license. Only a real estate licensee may represent a buyer in a real estate transaction, guiding buyers through the home-purchasing process by providing information about available properties, negotiating offers, and assisting with paperwork. While they have extensive knowledge, you should not rely on them for any legal advice. They are responsible for representing your best interests throughout the process.

A Realtor is also a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). As a member, they are bound by the NAR's Code of Ethics, which holds them to a high standard of professionalism and integrity when working with clients. For more information on NAR visit our Realtor Resources Page. ?

While it is not required, you can be in your dream home much sooner if you are already pre-approved by a bank or lender. It also helps prevent any hiccups that may occur if you don’t already know what you can feasibly borrow. For this reason, we recommend speaking with an approved lender before you begin your home hunting journey. 

For those that have found their dream home but have not yet been pre-approved, we allow up to 7 days to obtain and provide Keystone a preapproval letter to accompany your Keystone agreement. This 7 day grace period gives you time to get your letter of prequalification fromyour lender.

An online sales counselor is a person who works directly for the builder. They are not a real estate agent. They set up to answer any new home questions you may have. They help realtors and customers find available homes, home plans, neighborhood incentives, pricing, included features, build on your land info and much more! When you are ready, they will set up an appointment with a neighborhood specialist so you can view the homes in person!

The best person to contact with any general or new home questions is our online sales counselor. They are available 7 days a week and happy to answer any questions you may have. You can reach her by phone, text or email (706) 538-4880.

For warranty questions or concerns, email the warranty department at warranty@buildkeystone.com

You are more than welcome to simply show up at our model homes during site hours! Please note that neighborhood specialists occasionally have to leave to show other available homes at this time when other customers walk in. They also have to attend VIP appointments and closings that may occur during site hours. The best course of action, to protect your time, would be to call and schedule a VIP appointment in advance. This ensures that the neighborhood expert is there and dedicated to you and your home buying needs, no matter who else should walk into the model home.

Good news! We have our own Neighborhood Specialists who make the home buying process simple and easy without the need to obtain an outside real estate agent! 

Keystone Homes Neighborhood Specialists can assist you through every step of the Keystone process, from pre-approval to home closing! Consider the benefits to working directly with our neighborhood specialists without the use of an outside agent. For more information check out our blog! 

 

For information regarding our communities, feel free to visit our community pages on our website. To visit these pages, first visit our “find your home” page and, select your area of interest, then community of interest. Here you can find community images, community map for more information about the surrounding area and the community overview for information regarding the schools and the community covenants.

We also have a knowledgeable Online Sales Counselor, Sandy, who would be happy to chat with you about amenities, included features, schools and nearby attraction or to set up an appointment with our neighborhood specialists. She can be reached via phone at 706-538-4880.

Keystone reviews agreements during the Monday- Friday business hours. You should receive a response within 24-48 hours. We strive to respond as quickly as possible, but please keep in mind we frequently are considering multiple agreements at once and may prioritize the better offers.

Click here to see a list of the home plans we offer, then click "view details" on the home plan you're interested in. You'll can scroll through the home plan sample photos, watch a video tour, take a 3D tour, view the floor plan, and more! 

For specific home photos, if the home is completed, you can click go to our Quick Move In homes page and then the home of your choosing. If the photo says “These are sample photos of the plan” professional photos have not been taken yet. In this case, call Sandy your Online , at (706) 538-4880, and she can locate some for you to view.

Our neighborhood specialists are real estate licensees who work directly for Keystone Homes. They have in-depth knowledge of the local market, community, and our homes, making them uniquely equipped to provide valuable insights on schools, amenities, and market trends. They have experience in hundreds of transactions, which ensures a smooth experience throughout your home-buying journey. What we’ve found is that those who use our neighborhood specialists generally have a more informed and satisfying home-buying experience compared to those who use a sales agent only. Another advantage of working with our neighborhood specialists is that they have an agreement allowing them to show our homes, whereas listing agents do not.

Our Quick Move-in homes are anywhere between 0%- 100% complete, which is anywhere between move-in ready and 4 months build time. Keep in mind, we the home says it is 0% complete, this means that although construction has not yet begun, the home plan and home colors have likely already been selected and the permitting process is already underway. If you have a move-in time-frame in mind, consider visiting our Quick Move In Homes page and using the advanced search at the top and filtered by completion time so that you can view homes that are within your move- in time-frame.

 

A quick move-in home is one that a builder starts before someone has purchased. The design choices have been made by our Design Studio manager at Keystone and it may be ready sooner than a presale.

A presale home is one where you select the home plan, homesite, features and design selections. Keystone then builds the home to your specifications. The price is the same (barring any up grade choices or homesite premiums).

No! You do not have to pay any realtor commissions. Whether you bring an outside agent, or use one of our knowledgeable neighborhood specialists, Keystone will pay all realtor commissions for you.

Owning a new construction home can save you money in many ways and the following are just a few. First, they are constructed to the newest energy standards- this means your home is energy efficient- and as a result, you'll save money on your energy bill! Your appliances, roof, systems and all else are brand new, which makes them much less likely to require replacement or repair, at least for some time.

 

The best way to protect yourself during your home purchase is to educate yourself on each step of the process and the key players involved, such as salespeople, closing attorneys, lenders, and appraisers. Our website is a great resource for this information; you can explore details about the areas we build in, our communities, quick move-in homes, and financing options. We do our best to keep you informed on the latest topics through our blog page and FAQs!

Attorneys play a critical role in the closing process, especially when there is a loan involved. They prepare all the closing documents, draft and record deeds, handle the title search, record mortgages if applicable, and prorate taxes. For cash buyers, attorneys help with the transfer of the title and ensure a smooth transaction. If you’re getting a loan, in addition to assisting with the title transfer, they also represent the buyer and may at times represent both the buyer and the bank.

A title search is an examination of public records to verify a property's legal ownership and ensure there are no liens, claims, or other issues that could affect the transfer of ownership. This essential step in the home-buying process protects both the buyer and lender.

A contingency is a condition that must be met for the sale to proceed. For example, a buyer might include a financing contingency, meaning their purchase depends on securing a mortgage or other means of payment, such as a gift or property sale. If the contingency isn’t met, the buyer can back out of the deal without penalty. It’s a way to protect both the buyer and the seller during the transaction process.

An appraisal is an evaluation of a property's value conducted by a licensed appraiser. It is generally required if you’re getting a loan to ensure the lender isn’t providing more funds than the home is worth. Cash buyers have the option to forgo an appraisal.

An appraiser inspects the property, considers its condition, location, and comparable sales in the area, and then provides a written report with the estimated market value. Their goal is to provide an unbiased assessment that helps both buyers and lenders.

A home inspection is a thorough evaluation of a property's condition, typically performed by a licensed inspector. It examines the home’s structure, systems, and safety features to identify any potential defects.

A home inspector evaluates various aspects of the home, including the roof, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, foundation, and more. They provide a detailed report highlighting any suggested repairs or concerns, giving buyers a clearer understanding of the property’s condition.

A sales agent is a licensed professional who represents the buyer in a real estate transaction. They guide buyers through the home purchasing process by providing information about available properties, negotiating offers, and assisting with paperwork.

A listing agent represents the seller in a real estate transaction. They help determine a price for the property, market it to potential buyers, and negotiate offers on behalf of the seller.

A sales agent, also known as a real estate licensee, represents the buyer, helping them find a home and navigate the purchase process. A listing agent represents the seller, focusing on marketing the property and negotiating offers. A listing agent can also act as a buyer’s agent, but they have a reduced responsibility to represent the buyer’s best interests in that case.

Our neighborhood specialists possess in-depth knowledge of the local market, community, and our homes. They provide valuable insights on schools, amenities, and market trends, helping you find the perfect home in the right location. Their expertise ensures a smooth experience throughout your home-buying journey, from the initial search to closing. If you choose one of our neighborhood specialists to represent you, they are committed to ensuring the best interests of both the buyer and seller are met, creating a cohesive and positive home-buying experience. These specialists can continue to assist you, even if you decide to purchase from a different seller.

To prepare for buying a home, start by obtaining pre-approval for a mortgage loan to understand your budget. Research the areas you’re interested in to find the best fit for your lifestyle. Consider how much space you'll need, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and think about any specific features you want in your new home. Finally, make a list of your priorities to help guide your search.

A mortgage is a loan that is secured by the home you’re purchasing. If you don’t make your loan payments, the lender has the right to take possession of the property. For more details, visit our Financing Page to explore options with our preferred lenders who can guide you through the mortgage process.

Keystone orders all the materials for each home we build before we even start the home. If you are interested in an under-construction home, the process is as follows:

First, have your neighborhood specialist reach out to the Design Studio requesting a timeline on what changes can be made. The Design Studio manager will then reach out to each appropriate trade partner to discover which materials have already been built/ordered. Once you have received the list of possible changes, you will need to make an offer on the home and schedule a design studio appointment as quickly as possible.

We do not typically offer preview appointments, however, in special circumstances we may offer this option and, if eligible, these will be handled by appointment only. 

In order to find out if this may be an option for you, please have your neighborhood specialist reach out to schedule your appointment. Please keep in mind, the purpose of this appointment is to get a general idea of options/selections, not make the full color options/selections on your home.

Although possible, we do not recommend making changes to Keystone plans for a few reasons. We build our plans the same way many times which helps to eliminate waste and mistakes. When designing our plans, we take into consideration, cost efficiency, material usage, construction time and mass appeal for resale value. Plan changes can affect cost, build time and may make the home less desirable to future buyers.

If you decide you do need to make a plan change, please refer to our plan change policy for required fees and deposits. In addition, changes may increase the home price without increasing the appraised value, making it more difficult to finance the changes.
 

Please request a copy of our most recent plan change policy. 

Your design consultant will send you a greeting email to schedule your appointment shortly after your agreement is finalized and you are preapproved with a lender. You will need to have your design appointment and finalize all selections and options within 14 calendar days of finalizing your agreement, in order for your home to stay on schedule.

In your design appointment, you will make all of the color and option selections for your home. In the Keystone Design Studio, we offer just the right amount of options to personalize your new home. You will choose your exterior colors from siding and trim, to shutters and stone. In your interior you will make color selections from, cabinets, hardware, and countertops, to flooring and tile. Your design consultant will make you aware of all included features and upgrade options! 

Check out our design studio page to get inspired while you wait for your design appointment! 

To prepare for your design appointment, please consider how you will utilize each space in your home, how you want it to feel and function. Consider upgrade options that will better help you use the space, from surfaces, to electrical, plumbing, shelving, etc.

Visit our features and benefits page to learn more about what's included in your home. Please also review your neighborhoods included features to know what will come with your home and what you may want to add, you can get these from your neighborhood specialist. 

If your home was built more than a couple of years ago, we may not have your color selection available anymore. Please email Robyn at rnelson@buildkeystone.com with your home address and what color info you are looking for. 

We cannot guarantee that we will have this information, but we will do our best to find it for you.  Also keep in mind that even if we are able to tell you the paint color used in your home, we cannot guarantee that buying new paint in that same color will match exactly what is on your walls.  This is because paint begins to fade and change quickly after going on the wall because of lighting, air quality, etc., and because each batch of paint will vary slightly.

We pride ourselves in being professional homebuilders. We are process driven, which means we efficiently plan every part of the home building process in order to deliver an exceptionally designed home. We also strive to eliminate errors, minimize waste, which allows us to reduce our environmental impact and reduces the cost/price of your home, and to build your home in a timely manner. The Keystone team is knowledgeable, well-trained, customer-focused and can build a quality finished home.

Yes, although it is good to note that the home is inspected by Keystone builders, trade partners and government inspectors all throughout the home building process. Upon completion, Keystone also completes its own 14-page completed home checklist to ensure a quality finished product, however, you may certainly employ your own inspector.

 

Keystone can build your home in approximately 150 days. The first 30 days of the construction process are spent applying for permits, making color selections, drawing plans, issuing purchase orders, etc. Please keep in mind that the construction process is affected by outside factors, such as weather and local jurisdictions. But rest assured we will do everything we can to deliver your home on time!

In some jurisdictions, you will be able to apply for a homestead exemption. Please make sure to do this during your first year in your home in order to save on property taxes. You may also get deductions on your federal and state income tax returns for mortgage interest.

HERS stands for Home Energy Rating Score. Basically, it’s a measure of energy efficiency and calculated using the specs of the home and tested with a blower door and duct blast test. A HERS rating of 100 is the rating a new, to code home would have. Keystone, as of the time of this writing, has a 68 HERS rating score.

Why would this matter to you as a prospect or buyer? Because this saves you money on your energy bill! Refer to our blog "How a New-Construction Home Can Save You Money" for more information on the HERS rating and energy efficiency.

The required minimum credit score may vary per lender, with some lenders financing your home with a score starting at 580.

This amount depends on your loan type, how much money you put down, whether or not you'll be required to pay PMI, how much you pay in property taxes (which vary by location) and your interest rate. For a general estimate, visit our financing page where you will find a payment calculator and a budget calculator that will help you estimate your monthly payment or purchasing power.

You can use our Payment Calculator to get a better idea of what you're estimated monthly payment might be depening on your community, lot and home plan selection. 

We use a different closing attorney for each area we build in. We use these attorneys because they are familiar with us and our processes which helps eliminate errors and time delays. Below are the attorneys we use.

 

1. Augusta Area: Donald H. White, P.C.
2. Aiken Area: Donald H. White, P.C. 
3. Statesboro Area: Taulbee, Rushing, Snipes, Marsh, & Hodgin LLP
4. Savannah Area: Mcnamara & Adams
5. Greenwood Area: Stoddard Funderburk Law Firm

Your lender should be able to provide you an estimate of your closing costs, but closing costs are typically between 2% and 5% of your home purchase price.

Your down payment depends on your loan type. An FHA loan will require 3.5% down, a conventional loan will require 5% down and USDA and VA loans are both 0% down if you qualify.

In most neighborhoods, Keystone will require $500 in earnest money to be paid to the brokerage, however, more may be required under certain circumstances.

We recommend you speak to your lender and familiarize yourself with your options so that you can decide which option is best for you. An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is a loan in which the interest rate can change over time and a fixed rate mortgage is a mortgage loan in which the interest rate does not change.

ARM payments are typically lower in the beginning and allow borrowers who may not otherwise afford the payment to be able to afford it, however, it will increase over the life of the loan and this can be quite a shock to your budget when that happens. Fixed rate mortgages interest rates always stay the same so that you know what to expect and can budget accordingly.

 

Check out our blog on ARM's to find out if this is the right option for you! 

Mortgage points, also known as discount points, are fees added to a buyers closing costs and are collected at closing in exchange for a reduced interest rate.

Most financial experts will advise that you pay no more than 28% of your gross income per month for household expenses, including your mortgage payment.

In short, yes, It is always good to talk to a lender before looking at homes so that you know the dollar amount you’ve been approved for and so that you can talk through how much you want to spend on your new home. This will help you narrow down which neighborhoods or floorplans would work best for your budget!

If you are looking to buy in a rural area or are a veteran, you may qualify for a USDA or VA loan. If you qualify, you would be able to finance 100% of your home purchase, which means you won't be required to pay a down payment. 

Be sure to review the warranty manual you were given at closing, prior to submitting your repair request to ensure your repair items qualify under the warranty terms. To find and download your warranty manual or to make a warrantable repair request, please visit our warranty page to learn more.

 

You can also check out our Maintaining Your Home page for more information and videos on general mainenance items. 

If you're having an issue submitting your repair request, email Joey McCord at warranty@buildkeystone.com or call 706-538-4880.

If you signed a sales agreement before January 1, 2024 - The terms of your Quality Builders Warranty can be found in the warranty manual below.

Download The Quality Builders Warranty Manual 

If you signed a sales agreement on or after January 1, 2024 - The terms of your Keystone Homes Limited Warranty Agreement can be found in the warranty manual below.

Download The Keystone Homes Warranty Manual 

If you would like access to a digital copy of your warranty manual, navigate to our warranty page and follow the steps to download the correct warranty manual.

The following issues are considered emergency repair items and warrant calling our trade partners directly: Roof leak, total loss of electricity, plumbing leak, HVAC unit not working and unsafe, unsanitary and unlivable conditions.

If you have an emergency repair request, please contact the appropriate trade partner directly. Click here to download contact information in PDF form.

Unfortunately, Keystone does not have a home maintenance division at this time.

For any concerns regarding storm damage, please reach out directly to your homeowner's insurance provider. They will guide you through the claims process and assist with any necessary repairs or assessments.

You may already be familiar with Zillow, one of the top online real estate databases, alongside Trulia. 

Zillow spends money on marketing efforts to make sure that when you search for homes, their website is one of the first few to appear in your search. This can be super helpful but, at times, confusing because the data shown may not always be accurate.  

Agents put their listings into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and Zillow pulls that information and shows the listings as Zillow’s proprietary information. Hence, why you may see our listings on Zillow. Unfortunately, sometimes during the transfer, information may be lost or transferred incorrectly, which is why you may see a home price, location or other details that may not align with the MLS listings.

 

The mapping in Zillow is based on the information entered in MLS. If there is a road that is too “young” or new, it may not register in the MLS system. The agents will set up a map icon to the approximate location and when the data is imported into Zillow, there is a chance that the map point may end up in a slightly different location.

To avoid confusion, please contact us at 706-538-4880, before visiting the home-site, so that we can ensure that you have the correct approximate location or so that we can send you accurate turn-by-turn directions to your destination.

The best way to ensure that the information you are seeing is correct is to speak with our Online Sales Counselor, Neighborhood Specialists or to view the listings on our website. The listings on our website pull directly from our Keystone database. ?

As mentioned in previous FAQs, from time to time, there may be inaccuracies on Zillow, which are outside of our control. We understand this can be frustrating, however, to ensure the accuracy of information regarding Keystone Homes, please review our Quick-Move-In Homes section for all of the details regarding our available listings.  

We strive to keep the information listed in the MLS, as accurate and updated as possible, so if you experience any issues, see any inaccuracies, or have any questions please contact us at 706-538-4880 and we will take great care to resolve this. We want to give you the best and easiest experience possible when searching for your new home.

The short answer is no. Zillow’s Premier Agent Program allows a local agent to pay to be promoted/recommended. When you contact an agent through the Zillow listing, you will be connected with one of Zillow’s premier agents. If you would like to get in touch with a Keystone representative/listing agent, please contact us directly.

Typically, a homeowner’s association is put in place to protect property values by maintaining the standards of the neighborhood. The Homeowners Association (HOA) prioritizes the upkeep of common areas in the neighborhoods, such as the entrance, and helps ensure the community is working together to keep the neighborhood in good condition. The developer/builder is responsible for creating the covenants conditions and restrictions, or the policies you and your fellow homeowners must follow to maintain your community’s curb appeal, quality of life, and property values, while the HOA is in place to enforce these covenants.

Your HOA dues help pay the expenses of the ownership, operation, and furnishing of common interests of the community. It also helps cover hazard insurance and provide reserve funds for future improvements. All homeowners are expected to pay these dues.

One of the purposes of the HOA is to help protect property values. Any exterior modifications or additions to your home must meet the design standards of the neighborhood, and therefore must be approved by the Board of Directors.

If your neighborhood is under construction, the HOA is likely run by an HOA management company that the developer/builder assigns to enforce the covenants. Once construction is complete, the HOA is turned over to the residents in the community. It is then that the residents will likely vote to either continue to use/pay for the HOA to be governed by an HOA management company or by a volunteer Board of Directors, typically made up of the community residents. Each board member is elected by the homeowners in your community. These board members will oversee the maintenance of common areas and uphold the standards of the community.

For every HOA, there are legal documents that state the community’s bylaws as well as conditions and restrictions, information regarding annual dues, and more. These are called covenants. The developer/builder is responsible for creating the covenants conditions and restrictions, or the policies you and your fellow homeowners must follow to maintain your community’s curb appeal, quality of life, and property values, while the HOA is in place to enforce these covenants.

You should always refer to these documents to ensure you are not in violation of any rules or regulations. These documents are public record and are typically provided at closing but can also be obtained through your county records department. They are also available here. All rules are put in place to protect, preserve, and enhance property values in the community.