Frequently Asked Questions

If you've been wondering whether you're ready to stop renting and buy your first home, you're already taking an important first step. A steady income, a manageable budget, and a clear understanding of your monthly expenses can help you determine if homeownership is right for you. At Arbor Homes, we believe buying a new construction home should be attainable for more people, which is why we offer a variety of new homes designed with first-time buyers in mind.

If you want a home that's brand new, designed for today's lifestyles, and backed by a warranty, a new construction home could be a great fit. Arbor Homes offers a variety of floor plans, price points, and new home communities throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, making it easier to find a home that fits your lifestyle and budget. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or looking for your next home, there's an Arbor option for you.

There's something exciting about being the first to call a house home. New construction homes offer modern floor plans, new features and finishes, and construction designed around the way today's homeowners live. You can also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a new home warranty and fewer of the immediate repairs that can come with an older home. With Arbor Homes, you can explore new homes for sale in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, designed to give you comfort, functionality, and value from day one.

Buying a home can be an important step toward building long-term financial stability. Instead of making monthly rent payments, homeownership gives you the opportunity to build equity in an asset you own. As you make mortgage payments (and if your home increases in value over time), you may continue building equity. At Arbor Homes, we believe buying a new home should be the beginning of building wealth and putting down roots, not a financial stretch that keeps you up at night.

Most Arbor Homes are completed within 4 to 7 months from contract signing to closing, depending on the floor plan, community, permit timelines, weather, and current construction schedule. Throughout the process, you'll be able to track your home's progress and stay connected with updates every step of the way with our Homeowner Portal. If you need to move sooner, ask about our Quick Move-In Homes, which are already under construction or complete and may be available in as little as 30 to 90 days.

For more than 30 years, Arbor Homes has believed that homeownership shouldn't be out of reach. Since 1994, we've built more than 25,000 new homes across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, helping families find quality new construction homes at attainable prices. From thoughtfully designed floor plans and quality construction to our dedicated Customer Experience team and reliable warranty program, we're here to make finding and building your new home feel a little easier.

Arbor Homes has been building new construction homes since 1994. For more than 30 years, we've helped more than 25,000 families across Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky find new homes they’re proud to call their own. While we've grown into new markets and communities over the years, our mission remains the same: make homeownership more attainable for Midwest families.

It depends on where you are in your homeownership journey! Arrival by Arbor Homes offers attainable new construction for buyers ready to stop renting and start building equity. The Arbor Series offers flexible, functional new homes for first-time buyers and growing families. Destination by Arbor provides low-maintenance, single-level ranch living for those looking for comfort and convenience. And Silverthorne Homes is designed for move-up buyers looking for larger homes, elevated finishes, and more opportunities to personalize. With four distinct series, you can find a new home designed for where you are today and where you're headed next.

who will guide you through the personalization process for your new home. You'll select exterior finishes such as siding, brick, trim, and front door colors, as well as interior selections including flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and plumbing fixtures.

You'll also review appliance options, electrical selections, and other finishing touches that help make your home uniquely yours.

To make the most of your appointment, we encourage you to visit the Design Studio during browsing hours to explore available selections ahead of time.

Construction Meetings:

• Pre-Construction (60-90 minutes), scheduled 11:00am – 3:00pm
• Pre-Drywall (30 minutes), scheduled 7:30am – 3:30pm
• NHO- New Homeowner Orientation (120 minutes), scheduled 9:00am or 1:00pm
• Pre-Closing Walk-through (30-60 minutes), scheduled prior to assigned closing time

Our Commitment to an Exceptional Customer Experience:

• Our Sales and Construction teams will return all calls within 24 hours.
• Your Sales Manager will be in contact with you every two weeks as a “check in” and provide any updates on any financial matters or other concerns.
• After we pour footers on your home, your Construction Superintendent will be in contact with you weekly to update you and answer any questions you may have regarding the construction of your new home.
• An independent market research company will follow-up with you and ask how we are doing two different times: 30 days after Closing and 90 days after you have lived in your new home.
• Customer Portal: You will receive an email when your home is in the “release to build” phase, and this will give you a link to create a password to access the Customer Portal. The Customer Portal allows you to:
  • Follow the steps of the build process for your specific home. We provide videos that give you insight as to what each phase of your build entails.
  • Access the community's HOA documents.
  • Create and track warranty claims.
• Our Customer Experience Team will be in contact with you regarding your customer experience throughout your building journey. You will receive a short survey via email from our Customer Experience Team on three separate occasions: after the preconstruction meeting, after the pre-drywall meeting, and after your orientation meeting. These are all meant to gauge how your experience is going along the way.

Finding the right new home community starts with thinking about what matters most to you. Consider your commute, schools, nearby shopping and dining, recreation, community amenities, and, of course, your budget. Arbor Homes offers new construction communities throughout Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati/Dayton, and Louisville/Southern Indiana, giving you plenty of options to find a location that fits your lifestyle.

Midwest homebuyers are drawn to these markets for their combination of employment opportunities, convenient transportation, established communities, and room to grow. Arbor Homes builds new homes throughout these regions, from communities around Indianapolis and Columbus to Cincinnati/Dayton and Louisville/Southern Indiana. With a variety of new home communities and attainable floor plans, you can find a home that fits your lifestyle without looking too far from the places you want to be.

Your neighborhood is just as important as the home itself! Think about your daily routine and look for a location that makes life easier. Consider commute times, nearby schools, shopping and dining, parks and recreation, community amenities, and how the area fits your plans for the future. When exploring Arbor Homes' new home communities, compare available floor plans, home prices, amenities, and locations to find the best fit for you and your family.

What's included in your new construction home can vary by community, home series, and floor plan, but Arbor Homes includes a wide range of thoughtful features designed for everyday living. Depending on the home you choose, features may include Shaw® vinyl flooring and carpet, DuraCraft® cabinetry, laminate countertops, Sherwin-Williams® interior paint, double-pane Low-E windows with Argon, LED lighting, programmable thermostats, stainless steel plumbing fixtures, and more. Arbor homes also include energy-saving features such as an electric heat pump, Rheia® air distribution system, and independent third-party energy inspections and efficiency testing. Be sure to review the included features for your specific Arbor community and home to see exactly what's included.

A quick move-in home is a new construction home that's already under construction or completed, allowing you to move into your new home sooner than you typically would with a home built from the ground up. Unlike a model home, which is primarily designed to showcase a builder's floor plans, finishes, and features, a quick move-in home is an actual home that's available for purchase.

Quick move-in homes can be a great option if you want the benefits of new construction—including modern features, new materials, and warranty coverage—without waiting through the entire construction process. Depending on how far along the home is, you may also have an opportunity to select certain finishes or options. Availability and personalization options vary by Arbor Homes community and home, so check the details of each available quick move-in home.

Every Arbor home comes with warranty coverage designed to provide homeowners with added peace of mind after closing. Coverage includes two years for materials and workmanship (excluding landscaping), four years for the installation of mechanical systems, and ten years of coverage against structural defects. Structural coverage includes items such as footings, beams, trusses, bearing walls, and structural fasteners.

Arbor also provides 24-hour emergency service, calls returned within one business day, and an 11-month request-for-service opportunity upon written request. Warranty coverage is subject to exclusions, so homeowners should review the complete warranty terms for specific details.

Energy efficiency is built into every Arbor home. Our homes include features such as Low-E insulated windows, LED lighting, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency HVAC systems, advanced insulation, and air sealing techniques designed to help reduce energy use and improve year-round comfort. Each home also undergoes multiple third-party energy inspections during construction. On average, Arbor homes have been rated more energy efficient than typical new and existing homes in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, helping homeowners save on monthly utility costs while enjoying a more comfortable living environment.