New Homes May Cost Less—and Hardin County Buyers Need to Know It 

By T.W. Shortt, Principal Broker, REALTY WORLD Knox Realty Group—The Fort Knox Office™ 

According to a May 29, 2026, blog post published by the National Association of Home Builders, the median price of a newly constructed single-family home was lower than the median price of an existing home during the first quarter of 2026 (Dereski, 2026). Similar conditions are now being reported in housing markets across the United States. 

“This is an unusual shift in the housing market,” said T.W. Shortt, principal broker of REALTY WORLD Knox Realty Group—The Fort Knox Office™. “For many years, buyers expected to pay a premium for a newly constructed home. Today, a brand-new home may sometimes be priced competitively with—or even below—a comparable existing home.” 

In Hardin County, this changing market helped prompt REALTY WORLD Knox Realty Group to establish a specialized division focused on new home construction. Hundreds of new homes are being built by national and regional builders throughout the county. 

“With this much new construction taking place, it only makes sense for a local brokerage to become familiar with the available inventory and establish strong working relationships with area builders,” Shortt said. “Our customers should have a convenient place where they can learn about new homes, compare communities, and arrange tours without driving from subdivision to subdivision on their own.” 

That is the purpose of the REALTY WORLD Knox Realty Group New Homes Center. The center helps prospective buyers identify available homes, compare builders, review locations and features, and arrange property tours from one central location. 

“Our goal is to make the new home buying process easier and more organized,” Shortt said. “Buyers can contact us first, tell us what they are looking for, and allow us to help identify the homes and communities that may meet their needs.” 

REALTY WORLD Knox Realty Group can also represent buyers during the purchase of a newly constructed home. In many transactions, the builder may offer compensation to the buyer’s brokerage, subject to the buyer-representation agreement and the terms of the individual transaction. 

“Buyers should remember that the builder’s sales representative works for the builder,” Shortt said. “Having their own real estate professional gives buyers someone who can help them understand the process, ask questions, compare options, and remain focused on the buyer’s interests.” 

Tags: economy, finance, housing-market, investing, real-estate