Carla Goddard

09/07/2026

Maybe we've been getting new construction negotiation wrong.

For years, we've told buyers:

"The builder sets the price. New construction isn't negotiable."

I'm starting to think that's an oversimplification.

Builders may not want to move the base price, but they're changing the economics of the deal in ways that can be worth far more to a buyer than a simple price reduction.

Rate buydowns. Closing costs. Upgrades. Lot incentives. Inventory homes. Financing incentives.

So here's the question I can't stop thinking about:

If the price isn't moving, but everything around the price is… isn't that still negotiation?

And if builders are getting smarter about where they negotiate, shouldn't agents get smarter about where they're looking for leverage?

I wrote about it—and I'm curious whether other agents are seeing the same thing in their markets.

Are we entering the era of the negotiable new home?

Read it here:
Are We Entering the Era of the Negotiable New Home?
https://tryvicinity.com/blog/are-we-entering-the-era-of-the-negotiable-new-home?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Tell me what you're seeing. Are builders actually becoming more flexible, or have we just gotten better at calling incentives something else?

09/02/2026

NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT | HOPE POINTE, NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

The easiest thing to do in new construction is fall in love with the house.

The harder — and arguably more important — thing is to understand what you're buying into.

Hope Pointe in North Myrtle Beach is a good example.

Yes, there's the obvious appeal: a new community near the Intracoastal Waterway, with access to the lifestyle that brings people to this part of the coast.

But the house is only part of the decision.

This is a community that is still evolving.

That means buyers need to look beyond the model home and ask bigger questions:

What is planned here?

What could change as development continues?

What will it actually cost to live here beyond the mortgage?

How does the location fit the life you want to live — not just the house you want to own?

And perhaps most importantly:

Who is this neighborhood actually right for?

That's the question I think gets lost too often in real estate.

A beautiful home can be wrong for your life.

A great floor plan can be in the wrong location.

And the things you don't see during a model-home visit can have a greater impact on your decision than the things you do.

Hope Pointe isn't just a collection of new homes. It's a good reminder that when you're buying new construction, you're not simply choosing a house. You're choosing a place — and you need to understand the difference.

What would you want to know about a neighborhood *before* deciding it was the right place for you?

09/02/2026

The housing market is stuck. The industry isn’t.

That’s the idea behind this month’s Vicinity Housing & Real Estate Update.

Yes, we’re watching rates, inventory and affordability. But underneath those numbers, something much bigger is happening.

Builders are changing how they structure affordability. Real estate companies are consolidating around the consumer relationship. MLSs are wrestling with who controls housing data as AI changes how it can be used. And new construction technology is challenging some of the assumptions we’ve made about how homes have to be built.

None of those stories seems connected at first.

I think they are.

And they all lead back to a question I think we should be asking:

If consumers can find almost everything about a home themselves, what exactly are they going to need from us?

That’s what I explored in this month’s update.

👉 Read it and tell me what you think. https://tryvicinity.com/blog/august-2026-housing-market-real-estate-trends-

Is the real estate industry preparing for what consumers will need next—or still preparing for the market we used to have?

09/01/2026

Okay. This one is a rant.

I live in a 2,000-square-foot modular home.

It sits on an engineered foundation with four-foot piers because of flooding. It has always been taxed as real property.

So when a past customer called me because they own a piece of land and want to put a modular home on it—and the agent I referred them to said:

“Sorry, I only work with single-family homes.”

…I had some thoughts. 😂

Because apparently we're still having to explain that modular and manufactured are not the same thing.

But honestly, that's not even my biggest concern.

My bigger question is this:

Are we actually serving buyers—or are we only serving the types of houses we're comfortable selling?

There are builders creating all kinds of alternative housing. There are buyers looking for those options. And there are real estate questions that come with them.

So where is the agent?

Maybe alternative housing isn't a fringe market.

Maybe it's an underserved one.

I went on a bit of a rant about it this week.

And I really want to hear from you—especially if you're an agent, builder, or buyer.

Am I onto something?

Or am I completely off base?

A 2,000-square-foot modular home, an unexpected agent response, and a bigger question: Is real estate serving today's buyers—or just a typical home.

09/01/2026

I've been thinking about something I hear a lot in new construction:

The agent needs to be in control of the transaction.

I'm not sure that's actually the right way to look at it.

In resale, the agent helps create the transaction.

In new construction, the builder has already created it.

The contract.
The incentives.
The timeline.
The selections process.
What's included.
What's an upgrade.
The warranty.

A lot of the transaction is already designed before the buyer ever walks into the model.

So maybe the agent's job isn't to take control of the builder's transaction.

Maybe it's to make sure the buyer doesn't lose control of their decision.

That changes the questions we ask.

It changes what we pay attention to.

And it changes what “being a good buyer's agent” actually means in new construction.

I'm curious:

What do you think an agent actually controls in a new-construction transaction?

08/26/2026

Discover Modern Luxury at Jasper in Prescott Valley, AZ!
Looking for the perfect blend of active living, stunning natural surroundings, and resort-style amenities? Welcome to Jasper—Prescott Valley’s premier new construction community designed for luxury buyers, retirees, and growing families alike!

Here is why Jasper is generating so much buzz:

Spacious Modern Living: Beautiful single-family homes ranging from 1,659 to 3,800 sq ft, priced from $540K – $1.5M.

Resort-Style Amenities: Features two sparkling pools (including a 3-lane lap pool), a hot tub, 5 pickleball courts, tennis, bocce ball, and 9 cozy fire pits for evening socials.

Active & Connected Community: Pet-friendly and family-focused with a clubhouse, walking/biking trails, dog park, and fun games like shuffleboard and pool tables.

Prime Location: Just 20 minutes from historic downtown Prescott and only minutes away from 5 scenic lakes.

Financial Peace of Mind: Low monthly HOA ($181.76/mo), no CDD/MUD fees, and located in Flood Zone X (low risk, no lender flood insurance required).

Whether you’re looking to entertain the grandkids, enjoy multigenerational living, or build your dream retirement oasis, Jasper offers the ultimate Arizona lifestyle.

https://tryvicinity.com/neighborhood/arizona/prescott-valley/jasper

08/13/2026

Here's something I've been thinking about lately…

If AI can write a real estate post in five seconds, what makes *your* post worth reading?

I don't think the answer is trying to out-write AI.

It's being you.

Your experience.

Your stories.

Your local knowledge.

The things you've learned from actually sitting across the table from buyers.

The neighborhood you know better than anyone else.

The builder you've worked with enough times to know what questions to ask.

That's the stuff people can't get from a generic AI-generated post.

And that's why I don't think agents should be afraid of AI.

I think we should learn how to use it without giving away our voice in the process.

AI can help you create faster.

It can help you organize your ideas.

It can help you get past the blank page.

But your experience is what makes the content worth reading.

That's what we'll be talking about tomorrow:

How to Use AI Without Losing Your Voice, Credibility or Local Expertise.

And yes—I'm going to show you how to actually use it, not just talk about it.

See you tomorrow. 😉

08/12/2026

What makes a neighborhood feel like home to you?

Is it a great coffee shop down the street?

A walking trail?

A pool where the kids can spend Saturday afternoon?

Being close to friends and family?

A quiet backyard?

Being able to get to work without spending an hour in traffic?

Or maybe it's simply having that feeling when you drive into the community:

“I could see myself living here.”

We spend so much time searching for the right house that it's easy to forget we're really choosing a place to live.

The floor plan matters.

The kitchen matters.

The price matters.

But so does everything that happens once you walk out the front door.

That's why I'm passionate about helping people look beyond the house and discover the life around it.

Because you shouldn't just find a house.

You should find your place. ❤️

So tell me: what's the one thing that makes a neighborhood feel like home to you?

08/11/2026

You can find a house online in about five minutes.

But can you tell if it's actually the right place for your life?

That's the harder question.

A listing can tell you:

🏡 4 bedrooms
🛁 3 bathrooms
📐 2,400 square feet
💰 $525,000

But it probably won't tell you what your morning commute will really feel like.

Or whether the neighborhood will still look the same five years from now.

Or what the HOA and other community costs will really add to your monthly budget.

Or whether the builder has a reputation for standing behind its homes.

Or whether you'll actually enjoy living there.

That's where a great real estate agent brings something a search portal can't:

context.

The best agents don't just help you find a house.

They help you understand the community, the costs, the builder, the lifestyle and the bigger picture so you can make a decision you feel good about.

And that's one reason I'm excited about what AI can do for real estate—not because it replaces the human part of the process, but because it can help great agents spend more time on it.

The technology should make the experience better. It shouldn't make the agent less human.**

That's what I'll be talking about in Friday's workshop:

How to Use AI Without Losing Your Voice, Credibility or Local Expertise.

DM for registration details

07/04/2026

From the entire team at Vicinity, we wish you a safe and meaningful Independence Day.

From the entire team at Vicinity, we’re taking time today to reflect on the core meaning of Independence Day.

Beyond the fireworks and barbecues, it’s a celebration of autonomy, opportunity, and the freedom to make your own way in the world. For our team, independence means having the autonomy to pursue what matters most and building communities where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are incredibly grateful for the freedoms we share and the chance to support others in building their own paths forward.

Wishing you and yours a day filled with celebration, reflection, and community!