New Construction Homes
Build Smart.Negotiate Smarter.
Buying new construction without your own agent is one of the most common — and expensive — mistakes Middle Tennessee buyers make. We represent you, not the builder — and the builder usually pays our commission, so our representation is often at little or no cost to you. As of 2026, The Will Johnson Team has personally toured 80-plus new-construction communities across Sumner County and Middle Tennessee and sold roughly $27.7 million in homes over the past year — RealTrends Verified for 2026.
80+
Sumner New-Construction Communities Toured Firsthand
$27.7M
In Homes Sold Last Year
Since 2013
Licensed TN REALTOR® (lic. #330494)
2026
RealTrends Verified
The Builder Agent Myth
The On-Site Agent Works for the Builder.
When you walk into a model home, the friendly agent meeting you is paid by the builder to protect the builder's interests. That's not a scam — it's just their job. But too many buyers assume that person represents them and sign contracts that leave six figures on the table.
- 1
Builders reserve commission for your agent — you aren't 'saving' anything by skipping representation.
- 2
Your agent negotiates price, upgrades, incentives, and closing cost credits you wouldn't know to ask for.
- 3
Your agent protects you on contract terms — escalators, change orders, warranties, and completion timelines.
- 4
Your agent coordinates independent inspections at pre-drywall and final walkthrough — the builder's inspection isn't enough.
- 5
Your agent ensures your earnest money is protected if the build is delayed or defective.
Important
Talk to Us Before You Sign
Already walked into a model home? You can still bring us in — but do not sign anythinguntil you do. Once you sign, you've locked yourself out of representation on that builder.
Call Before You SignMiddle Tennessee Communities
Active New Construction Markets
A snapshot of the most active new construction communities we're representing clients in right now.
Community-by-community guides — Hendersonville, Gallatin, White House & Portland (Sumner); Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville & Spring Hill (Williamson); Mount Juliet & Lebanon (Wilson); Murfreesboro & Smyrna (Rutherford); Spring Hill, Columbia & Mount Pleasant (Maury); Clarksville & Sango (Montgomery) — each with a quiz and comparison tool.
Westhaven
Franklin
$900K – $3M+
Various
Classic Southern, traditional
Berry Farms
Franklin
$700K – $1.5M
Various
Mixed-use village
Bent Creek
Nolensville
$550K – $900K
Drees
Walkable, amenity-rich
Taramore
Brentwood
$1.2M – $3M+
Various
Luxury executive
Tollgate Village
Thompson's Station
$650K – $1.2M
Various
Traditional neighborhood
Wade's Grove
Spring Hill
$400K – $700K
Multiple
Value-priced new builds
Durham Farms
Hendersonville
$450K – $800K
Freehold
Resort amenities
Bridgemore Village
Mount Juliet
$500K – $900K
Various
Master-planned community
Don't see a community you're considering? We cover every active builder in Middle Tennessee — call to ask about any development.
Your Pre-Tour Checklist
Before You Tour Model Homes
Follow this checklist and you'll avoid the biggest mistakes new-construction buyers make.
01.Call us before your first model home visit — even a phone call establishes representation.
02.Bring us to the first appointment, or register our name with the builder in advance.
03.Never sign anything — even a 'registration card' — without clarifying it's not a purchase contract.
04.Ask about builder incentives, closing cost credits, and lot premiums before negotiating price.
05.Get your financing pre-approved with a lender independent of the builder's preferred lender.
06.Plan for a pre-drywall inspection — the single most valuable inspection in new construction.
07.Review the builder's warranty carefully — most issues show up in year one.
08.Document every upgrade and change order in writing, with price and delivery timeline.
“Bring your own agent to new construction before you sign, and the builder usually still pays the commission. A represented buyer routinely lands upgrades, closing credits, and contract protections an unrepresented buyer never thinks to ask for — at little or no cost to you.”
Will Johnson
The Will Johnson Team · New-Construction Representation
Guides & Data
What new construction actually costs — and how to buy it right
Dated, sourced research from our own community-by-community datasets. No forecasts — just what the numbers say right now, and how buyer representation changes the outcome.
Cost of new construction by county
Starting prices vs. county medians across Middle Tennessee — the biggest driver is which county you build in.
Read the guideNew construction vs. resale
The real trade-offs: warranty and early-years maintenance, customization, mature lots, location, and how to decide between them.
Read the guideWhy you need your own agent
The on-site rep works for the builder. Here's what builder contracts say — and why your own agent costs little or no cost.
Read the guideLooking at Resale Too?
Compare New Construction Against Resale.
Many buyers compare new construction side-by-side with resale. We run that comparison for you honestly — sometimes resale wins, sometimes new does. Let's talk through the math.
Builder Representation
Lock In Your Representation
Tell us which builder or community you're considering — we'll be in touch before you sign anything.
About the authors
By Will Johnson & The Will Johnson Team
Will Johnson leads The Will Johnson Team at eXp Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Middle Tennessee — Nashville, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Sumner County, Brentwood, Franklin, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro and the surrounding communities. A U.S. Army veteran who served 14 years and rose to the rank of Major, and a former ICU nurse and nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who graduated with a 4.0 from MTSA, he has been licensed in Tennessee since 2013 (license #330494); as of 2026 the team has closed $27.7 million in volume across 64 transactions. The team holds a 5.0 rating on Google and Zillow, is RealTrends Verified 2026, has been featured as an expert source by CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal, and can be reached at 615-265-1000.
Equal Housing Opportunity · Licensed in Tennessee and regulated by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TN #330494) · The Will Johnson Team is affiliated with eXp Realty · This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use the builder's on-site agent for new construction?
We strongly recommend you don't. The builder's on-site agent represents the BUILDER's interests, not yours — they're a seller's agent who works for the builder full-time. The contract is the builder's contract. The warranty terms, deposit structure, change-order pricing, and dispute process all favor the builder. Bringing your own agent costs you little or nothing (the builder usually pays the commission), and protects you on the terms that actually matter.
Does it cost anything extra to use my own agent for new construction in Nashville?
In most Nashville new-construction transactions the builder pays our commission as part of their standard sales budget, so our representation is often little or no cost to you. It isn't guaranteed, though: a few builders pay a reduced flat fee, in which case a buyer-representation fee may apply unless the builder absorbs it at closing. We disclose all of this up front in the buyer rep agreement and tell you exactly where you stand before you commit.
Which Nashville areas have the most new construction inventory?
Williamson County (Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, Spring Hill) currently leads in new-construction volume, followed by Mount Juliet, Hendersonville, and Gallatin. There's also infill new construction across East Nashville, The Nations, and select Davidson County neighborhoods. Each builder community has different floorplans, upgrade options, and HOA structures — we'll match you to communities that fit your criteria.
What are common mistakes buyers make with new construction in Nashville?
The biggest ones: signing the builder's standard contract without amendments, accepting the builder's preferred lender without comparing rates, skipping the third-party inspection at the pre-drywall and final stages, paying premium prices for low-ROI upgrades (lighting, paint) and skipping high-ROI upgrades (floors, structured wiring), and not understanding the warranty terms. We walk you through all of these before you write an offer.
Can my agent negotiate with the builder?
Yes — though new-construction negotiations look different from resale. List prices on standing inventory rarely come down significantly, but builders often negotiate on closing costs, upgrade packages, lender credits, and rate buydowns. The leverage shifts depending on inventory level, end-of-quarter sales pressure, and the builder's specific situation. We've watched our buyers save $15K–$50K in upgrades and closing credits that builders won't offer to unrepresented buyers.
How many new-construction communities has The Will Johnson Team toured firsthand?
Will Johnson has personally toured 80-plus new-construction communities across Sumner County — Hendersonville, Gallatin, White House, and Portland — plus active builder communities throughout greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Because we walk these communities in person, we can match you to the floorplans, incentives, and builders that fit your budget rather than relying on listing-aggregator data. The team sold roughly $27.7 million in homes across about 64 transactions over the past year (as of 2026).
Who is The Will Johnson Team and why use them for new construction in Nashville?
The Will Johnson Team operates at eXp Realty in Tennessee, led by Will Johnson, a licensed REALTOR® since 2013 (lic. #330494). Before real estate, Will served 14 years in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Major, and worked as an ICU nurse and CRNA. He is RealTrends Verified for 2026 and has been featured as an expert source in CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal. The team focuses on Hendersonville, Gallatin, and Sumner County first, plus greater Nashville and Middle Tennessee, and specializes in representing new-construction buyers — at little or no cost, since the builder usually pays the commission.