Many builders want some up-front money, both as "ernest money" and to defray their start-up expenses. If the contract (and builder's reputation and recommendations appear fine), I wouldn't object to 10% down. Just remember to hold 10% back at the end to ensure proper and satisfactory close out. If the builder can reasonably ask for 10% up front, every owner can reasonably withold the final 10% until occupancy and resolution of all punch-list work. It's a standard in all AIA contracts. Best wishes!

Wow, You sellers are harsh. My husband and I would love to buy a house. We went to two banks and one mortgage broker and all have told us the same thing. We have very excellent credit. We don't have any savings. We plan a 100% financing with closing cost paid for by either the seller or Bank of American (new program). The banks and the mortgage broker are fine with that and they have been encouraging us to go ahead and find a house. We are looking at houses that are between $200-225K that all need work. Why are you sellers so reluctant and negative about buyers? From the looks of some of the houses I have seen, I think sellers should be thankful when they find someone willing to buy their house despite the repairs and cleaning needed. We really could not shell out more than $1,00K for earnest money. We still have to pay our $1,400 in rent til we move out, car loan of $290, eat, pay for moving expenses (around another $1,00K),etc. A mortgage in our price range will probably be a little less than what we have been paying in rent for the last 7 years or so and we are confident that we can continue to keep excellent credit. Some of you sellers sound very smug and self-serving. It is depressing. You are personalizing this discussion it is about a business transaction. Each party has their wants or needs, each party negotiates for the best position. From a selling perspective, larger deposit is better. From a buyer perspective smaller deposit is better. No smugness, self serving yes, it is in the seller's interest to serve themselves. No need for depression. Just keep looking, the worse the house, the better your advantage. Remember it is a business transaction.

The resale market is strong where we are (Hilton Head Island, SC) so I'm not as worried there. And when the market slows down, (and it will) do you think a house next to a storage facility will sell faster than one in an area without commercial light industry directly next door? (My son is a RE agent, and he will tell you the same thing. It won't. It will be the house that sits there.) During the housing recession, the houses that sold were ones that were in ideal areas. Let's put it like this. I hope the house you're buying is being sold to you at a deep discount for being next door to a storage facility, compared to other homes in the area. Remember, the most important thing is location. I know I'd never buy a house next to a commercial facility. You were handed a great blessing. Take the money back and run. Trust me when I say something better will come along.

So, your double pane U-Factor appears to be a 0.27. Good, but what about that "will add thermal performance that far exceeds the vinyl options". I am quoting you directly from above about 6 posts ago. There are more than a handful of vinyl windows that will best that thermal performance in the case of double pane and more than a handful that equal or best the thermal performance numbers that you show in triple pane. To be certain, 0.15 is a good U-Factor, but it is only equivalent in this case to just the handful of vinyl windows that I know of personally not to mention the more exotics that are designed solely around performance. I do love nice wood windows, but to claim they are more efficient because of the wood is sketchy science to put it mildly.