James M. Walker | All American Realty Group | Retired Fayetteville Police | 35 Years Local | 200+ Homes Sold
James Walker of All American Realty Group helped a Miami family build a new construction home in Lexington Woods South on the east side of Fayetteville, NC, with Smith Douglas Homes, coordinating the entire process remotely while the family still lived 700 miles away. The build took about three months from broken ground to blue tape walkthrough. This is how All American Realty Group handles new construction for out-of-state buyers relocating to Fayetteville.
This article is for buyers relocating to Fayetteville, NC who want to build new construction instead of buying an existing home, especially buyers who are still living out of state during the build and can't be on-site to watch it happen.
From Miami Gridlock to a New Build in Fayetteville
They weren't running from anything specific. They were running from traffic. Miami had gotten more crowded every year they lived there, and the husband's commute had turned into a second full-time job, out the door at 4 AM, home as late as 9 PM some nights. They found James Walker of All American Realty Group through our YouTube channel, where we cover what living in Fayetteville, NC is actually like and what things cost here, and reached out about relocating.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a Home Before Buying New Construction in Fayetteville?
For this family, almost a year. Their Miami home sold in January 2026, and they didn't start actively looking in Fayetteville until June 2026. They weren't in a rush. They wanted the freedom to be intentional about what they bought next instead of settling for whatever was available first.
What Does the Remote New-Construction Process Look Like With All American Realty Group?
Here's the process we walked this family through, from Miami, start to finish:
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Lot and floor plan selection | Buyer picks the lot and floor plan with the builder, remotely if needed |
| 2. Price lock | Price is locked in before the home is framed |
| 3. Weekly progress video | James Walker drives to the lot weekly and films the build, from framing through finish work, for buyers who can't be on-site |
| 4. Blue tape walkthrough | Buyer flies in near completion to walk the property with the builder and mark anything needing correction |
| 5. Closing | Closing happens once blue tape items are resolved |
For this family, step 1 through step 5 took about three months.
How This Build Timeline Compares
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, homes built for sale nationally averaged about 6.3 months from start to completion in 2024, the most recent full-year figures available. This family's Fayetteville build was completed in about three months, roughly half the national average for a comparable build-for-sale home.
Why New Construction Instead of an Existing Home?
They wanted at least 4 bedrooms and 2,200 square feet, ideally with no HOA and more of a rural feel, but stayed open to a community if it had that character. They ended up building with Smith Douglas Homes in Lexington Woods South on the east side of Fayetteville, choosing their own lot and floor plan and paying cash. They landed in a community with an HOA after all and are happy with it. The school district was a strong fit for their middle-school-age daughter.
Can You Buy New Construction in Fayetteville If You Still Live Out of State?
Yes. This is one of the specific problems All American Realty Group solves for relocating buyers. This family lived in Miami for the entire build. James Walker filmed weekly video updates of construction progress so they could track the build without being on-site, and they only flew to Fayetteville for the final walkthrough and closing.
What Is a Blue Tape Walkthrough?
It's the final inspection a buyer does with the builder before closing on new construction. The buyer walks the finished property and marks anything that needs correcting- paint touch-ups, fixtures, finish details- with blue tape. The builder fixes those items before the sale closes.
What Would They Tell Another Family Making the Same Move?
It can be done. It's not always easy, and anyone telling you it's stress-free isn't being straight with you, but it's very doable with the right help. This family was never in the military; they just found Fayetteville through a YouTube video and liked what they saw.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a new construction home in Fayetteville with a builder like Smith Douglas Homes?
It varies by builder and floor plan, but this family's home was completed in about three months from start to finish.
What is a blue tape walkthrough?
A final inspection buyers do with the builder before closing, marking anything needing correction with blue tape before the sale closes.
Can you buy new construction in Fayetteville if you still live out of state?
Yes. All American Realty Group handles the process remotely, including weekly video updates, with the buyer only needing to fly in for the final walkthrough and closing.
Do you have to sell your current home before buying in Fayetteville?
Not always, but it's common. This family sold their Miami home first, which took close to a year.
Is Fayetteville a good move for people who aren't in the military?
Yes. While much of All American Realty Group's client base is connected to Fort Bragg, plenty of buyers relocate for cost of living, pace of life, and space, this family included. For a full look at what daily life is like here as a civilian, see our guide to living in Fayetteville, NC.
Contact us at All American Realty Group at 910-988-8578 | 3820 Raeford Road, Suite A, Fayetteville, NC 28304
