As a Realtor® and Real Estate Strategist with Coldwell Banker West, Rudy Flores works with the Patti & Jeff McKelvey Team. Here, his focus is new homes across San Diego County, from new villages to open land that is still waiting for a plan.
Buying new is its own process. The home may not exist yet, and the price comes in parts: the base, the lot premium and the options you pick. Rudy helps you see each part, and what it adds to the payment, before you sign.
From Cell Sites to New Homes: Approvals, Contracts and Deals
Rudy’s earlier career was about 12 years of site acquisition and real estate development for telecom projects. A cell site could not go up until its lease, entitlements, permits and right-of-way were in place. He worked those steps with more than 100 cities and counties. New homes pass through similar gates. Some communities on this site’s map are approved but not yet selling. A custom home on empty land needs zoning checks and plan review before a permit is issued.
Negotiating leases was part of that work, and a builder’s contract deserves the same care. The builder writes it, and it sets the deposit, the timeline and what happens if completion slips. Rudy reads it with you, flags the questions to ask and suggests an attorney’s review when it makes sense. California’s Right to Repair Act (Civil Code section 895 and following) sets building standards for new homes and a claims process. An attorney can explain your rights under it.
On empty land, the first stop is the city or county that controls the parcel. Zoning, setbacks, height limits, overlays and utilities decide what a lot can hold. Permits and zoning were a big part of Rudy’s earlier work. He can help you get ready for those talks, then connect you with an architect, engineer or licensed contractor when it is time.
How Working With Rudy on a New Home Goes
- Talk before you tour. Many builders only work with a buyer’s agent who is registered at your first visit, and each builder sets its own policy. Reach out to Rudy first so that choice stays open.
- Get his pay in writing. Before you tour, Rudy tells you in writing how he is paid and whether the builder covers it.
- Compare communities side by side. Base price, lot premium, incentives, HOA dues and Mello-Roos special taxes all go into one comparison.
- Test the lender incentive. Builders often offer a credit for using their lender. Ask your own lender for an outside quote too, so you can see what each choice gives up.
- Stay close through the build. Ask to visit at key stages, consider an independent inspection before the walls close, and bring Rudy to the final walk-through to help write the punch list.
License and team
Rudy is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker West and works with the Patti & Jeff McKelvey Team. You can confirm his California real estate license, CalDRE #02257808, with the California Department of Real Estate license lookup. The responsible broker is Coldwell Banker West, CalDRE #01481919.
Questions about working with Rudy
I already visited a sales office alone. Can Rudy still help?
Possibly. Builders set their own rules for registering a buyer’s agent, and many tie it to the first visit. Tell Rudy which community it was, and he will ask about that builder’s policy before your next visit.
Can Rudy help me buy land and build a custom home?
Yes, on the real estate side. He can help you read what you find in zoning and parcel records, compare lots and write an offer. Plans usually come from an architect or designer and, where needed, an engineer. The build comes from a licensed contractor, and a construction loan comes from your lender.
Can I see new communities before I visit?
Yes. The new-construction map shows the communities this site tracks, from Chula Vista to Bonsall, each with its own page. Rudy also makes his own videos, filming and editing them himself, and he walks new communities on camera, starting with Mesa Verde in Otay Mesa. Builder policies and incentives change, so ask what is current.
Keep exploring
- Home Strategy Quiz — Four quick questions; Rudy reads every answer himself.
- Book a 15-minute call — Pick a time that works for you.
- Videos — Market notes, listings and neighborhood clips.
- Ask Rudy — Answers to real questions, and a form to ask your own.
- Our local sites — The team’s sites for each part of San Diego County.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Company names describe Rudy’s past professional experience only and do not imply affiliation with, or endorsement by, any of them. Rudy is a real estate agent, not a lender, attorney, tax professional or contractor.
