Bakersfield New Construction Checklist: 9 Checks Before You Sign

Before you sign on a new build in Bakersfield, check nine things: bring your agent on the first visit, read the state public report, get the included features in writing, find out who owns the solar, look for Mello-Roos and HOA dues, read the incentive conditions, plan for the supplemental tax bill, get your own inspections, and learn your warranty clock.

A builder's purchase agreement is written by the builder, for the builder. That is normal, and it is not a reason to avoid new construction. It is a reason to slow down for one afternoon before you sign. Here is what I walk my buyers through, in the order it comes up.

The picture at the top of this post is an illustration, not a real home.

How much new construction is going up in Kern County right now?

Less than last year, but still a lot. Kern County issued permits for 1,986 single-family homes from January through September 2026, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey. That is down from 2,224 in the same nine months of 2025, about 11 percent fewer. For all of 2025, the county permitted 2,793.

Permits are not finished homes or sales, but they show builders are still busy here. If you want to see where the building is happening, I broke it down in where new homes are being built in Bakersfield.

The 9 checks at a glance

1. Bring your agent on the very first visit

This one happens before anyone signs anything, and it decides whether your agent can represent you on that home. Many builders only work with your agent if the agent is registered when you first walk in. Lennar's published broker policy, read November 2, 2026, says the buyer must register the agent on the first interaction with a Lennar employee, the agent must come along on the first visit, and the contract has to be signed within 60 days.

Other builders have their own rules, so ask for the policy before you go. Builders commonly pay the buyer's agent on their homes, so ask the sales office to confirm that in writing. Walk in alone and you may end up negotiating with the builder's salesperson, who works for the builder.

2. Read the state public report before you sign

Homes in a new California subdivision are often sold under a public report from the Department of Real Estate. When one applies, state law (Business and Professions Code 11018.1) says the builder must give you a copy before you sign a binding contract, and you sign a receipt for it. Ask the sales office for it either way.

Read it, do not just sign the receipt. It covers things like HOA details, special taxes, utilities and conditions in the tract that you would want to know before you are locked in.

3. Get what's included, and the contract terms, in writing

The model is decorated to sell. Ask for a written list of what comes with the home you are buying, including whether the solar is in the price, and compare it room by room. The items that surprise people most:

• Refrigerator, washer and dryer
• Window coverings
• Front and back yard landscaping
• Side and back fencing
• Garage door opener
• Upgrades shown in the model that are not in your home

Anything a salesperson promises out loud should be in the contract or an addendum. If it is not written down, plan as if it is not happening.

Then read the contract terms that matter if something goes sideways:

• How much your deposit is, and when it stops being refundable.
• Whether the contract depends on your loan approval and the appraisal.
• The estimated completion date, and what happens if it slips.
• Whether the builder can substitute materials or features.
• How disputes are handled, including any arbitration clause.

4. Find out who owns the solar

California's Energy Code generally requires a solar system on newly built single-family homes, according to the California Energy Commission, with some exceptions. So most new builds here come with panels. The question is how.

1. Purchased: the system is part of the home you are buying.
2. Leased: you make a monthly lease payment to a solar company.
3. Power purchase agreement: you buy the power the panels make, at a set price.

A lease or power agreement is a separate contract with its own terms. When you sell, those terms decide what happens: the next buyer may need to qualify to take it over, or it may need to be paid off. I covered how that plays out in buying a house with leased solar panels.

5. Check for Mello-Roos and HOA dues

Many newer tracts carry a special tax on top of the regular property tax, called Mello-Roos, plus HOA dues in some communities. Neither one shows up in the price. Ask for the special tax notice and the HOA budget before you sign, and read the amounts. I wrote a step by step on how to check a home for Mello-Roos in Bakersfield.

6. Read the incentive conditions, not just the headline

Builder incentives can be real money: closing costs, upgrades or a price reduction. Read three things before you count on one:

• The deadline, usually a date the home has to close by.
• Whether you have to use the builder's lender to get it.
• Whether it comes off the price or goes toward closing costs, because those work differently.

Get a second loan estimate from another lender too, so you can compare the whole deal, not one line of it. More on that in what a Bakersfield builder incentive is actually worth.

7. Plan for the supplemental tax bill

When new construction is completed or a home changes hands, Kern County reassesses it and can send a separate supplemental tax bill for the difference. On a new build that bill can be a real number, and it often arrives months after you move in. Budget for it before closing. Here is how the Kern County supplemental tax bill works.

8. Get your own inspections

New does not mean perfect. City and county inspectors check for code compliance. An inspector you hire gives you a separate look at the workmanship.

• Pre-drywall: while the walls are open, an inspector can see framing, plumbing, wiring and insulation that will be hidden later.
• Final: before the walkthrough, so the list goes to the builder while they still have crews on site.

Builder contracts often set rules for when and how an outside inspector can come in. Ask before you sign, and put your inspection dates on the calendar early.

9. Know your warranty clock

California's Right to Repair Act, in Civil Code sections 895 through 945.5, sets standards new homes have to meet and deadlines for bringing a claim. The builder also has to give you a written fit and finish warranty of at least one year, and if it does not, the law sets one year anyway. These are the state deadlines I point buyers to, read on November 2, 2026:

Write down the date you closed, keep every builder document in one folder, and report problems in writing as soon as you see them. The law also says a builder must provide copies of plans, soils reports and the public report for your home within 30 days of a written request, when the request says it relates to structural, fire safety or soils issues (Civil Code 912). This is general information, not legal advice. For a question about your contract or a defect, talk to a real estate attorney.

Still deciding whether new is right for you at all? Read new construction vs resale in Bakersfield first.

Common questions

Do I need my own agent to buy a new build in Bakersfield?

You do not have to have one, but the builder's salesperson works for the builder. Builders commonly pay the buyer's agent, and many require the agent to be registered on your first visit. More answers in my new construction questions page.

Can I get a home inspection on a new construction home?

Yes. A pre-drywall inspection and a final inspection before your walkthrough are the two points where an outside look helps most, though no inspection finds everything. Check your builder contract for the rules on access and timing.

Is the builder's lender required to get the incentive?

Sometimes. Some incentives only apply if you use the builder's preferred lender. Read the incentive terms in writing, and compare a loan estimate from another lender before you decide.

How long is a new home covered in California?

It depends on the item. Fit and finish gets a written warranty of at least one year, some systems have one to four years from close of escrow, and claims without a shorter deadline generally must be brought within 10 years after the home is substantially complete. This is not a 10 year warranty, and your builder's own warranty may add more.

What is a DRE public report?

It is a report the California Department of Real Estate issues for many new subdivisions. When one applies, the builder has to give you a copy before you sign a binding contract, and it covers details like HOA and special taxes.

Want a second set of eyes before you sign?

I help buyers through Bakersfield new construction from the first visit to the final walkthrough, and I'll tell you the parts the model home won't. Call or text me at 661-933-8428, and grab my free Bakersfield New Construction Buyer's Guide for the communities and builders in town.

Only a licensed lender can quote a rate, a payment or an APR for your situation. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Julio Ochoa | Next Level Realty | CalDRE 02198776 | 661-933-8428