By Sean Colón
At this year’s New Construction Forum, leaders from Zillow and some of the nation’s top builders gathered to discuss what’s shaping the housing market. The conversations covered everything from AI in real estate marketing to shifting buyer preferences and how today’s clients approach the decision between new builds and resale homes. While the event focused on builders, the insights are invaluable for Arizona Realtors who want to stay competitive in a fast-changing market.
Quoting directly from Zillow’s Consumer Housing Trends Report 2025: “82% of prospective buyers consider new construction (the highest share in years), and a majority (52%) actually prefer it. Yet, 39% of buyers who prefer new construction still end up buying existing homes, often due to concerns about location, quality or perceived cost.”
For Arizona agents, this gap between buyer preference and buyer behavior presents a huge opportunity.
Why This Matters for Arizona Realtors
Arizona’s housing market continues to be one of the most dynamic in the country. According to the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS), inventory levels have ticked up in 2025 compared to last year, with over 15,000 active listings across Maricopa County alone. Yet, new home construction in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the East Valley is also on the rise, with building permits climbing steadily to keep pace with demand.
Buyers in our market are browsing both resale and new builds months before making a decision. That means Realtors who can speak confidently about both, and position themselves as trusted guides across all property types, have the inside track to win clients.
Bridging the Gap: What Realtors Can Do
The Zillow data shows a clear disconnect: buyers like the idea of new homes but often choose resale because of myths or unanswered concerns. Here’s where Realtors can step in:
New builds often play to current lifestyle trends and reflect this throughout their communities.
Educate early. If 82% of buyers are already looking at new construction online, Arizona Realtors should be proactively sharing comparisons on social media, in blogs, and during consultations. Bust the myths about cost, timelines, and quality.
Highlight lifestyle, not just specs. Builders showcase lifestyle for a reason: it works. Realtors should borrow this strategy and paint a picture of what life looks like in a new build versus an established neighborhood.
Leverage visuals. Professional real estate photography, virtual staging, and aerial drone shots make both resale and new homes more compelling. In fact, a Redfin study shows that listings with professional photos get 61% more views than those without.
Collaborate with builders. Building strong relationships with Arizona homebuilders allows Realtors to offer clients early access to developments and more options, which can be a huge differentiator.
Turning Buyer Hesitation Into Opportunity
Think about the 39% of buyers who prefer new homes but end up buying resale. That’s not just a statistic, it’s a massive conversion opportunity. If you, as a Realtor, can reassure clients about location, quality, or financing options, you can help them act on their preference instead of settling.
The same goes for resale homes competing against new builds. By investing in curb appeal improvements and marketing strategies like twilight photography or virtual staging, Realtors can elevate existing listings so they stand toe-to-toe with new construction.
The Takeaway for Arizona Realtors
First impressions, education, and storytelling are everything. The key insight from Zillow’s 2025 report is simple: buyers are more open to new construction than ever, but they need trusted guides to help them make the leap. Realtors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert who stay ahead of these trends are the ones who will win listings and close deals in this competitive market.
If you want to position your listings to compete at the highest level, whether against new builds or other resales, professional real estate photography makes the difference. Visit SeanColon.com to see how I help Arizona Realtors showcase their properties with images that attract more views, more showings, and better offers.
By the way, I help realtors improve their online and social media presence by providing beautiful photos of their listings. That is why I’ve created this FREE HOME PREP LIST for your clients to help your listings look their best. Feel free to share.
Let’s hear from you:
How are you navigating buyer conversations about new construction versus resale in Arizona? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear what strategies are working for you.