Plan around the closing deadline attached to the award. With a window on the order of 90 days to get under contract and closed, new construction only works if the home is already built. Confirm the exact deadline directly with the program, since the details change, but plan as if the clock is short and firm. A 90-day window realistically fits a builder inventory or spec home that is finished or nearly finished. A ground-up build needing six to twelve months blows past the deadline, and the award is gone before the home is ready. If you are set on new construction, shop completed or near-completed builder inventory. Two practical steps: - Verify the program's current rules and deadline yourself before committing to anything. Winning the award and then losing it on a technicality is the worst outcome. - Have the official award documentation from the state ready to include with any offer. A builder or seller will want proof the assistance is real before taking the home off the market for you. If you want help lining up the financing to hit that window, that is what the free Roadmap conversation is for, about 20 minutes where we run your real numbers.