Because vacant land is still available in Silverspring, buyers there genuinely choose between a resale unit and a new-build lot at a similar price, which is a real choice a buyer in a fully built-out neighbourhood usually does not get.
New construction attracts the 5 percent federal goods and services tax that resale does not, and landscaping, window coverings and a developed basement are commonly excluded from a builder's quoted price, so confirming exactly what is included matters more than the headline number on the sign.
Comparing a Silverspring new build against genuinely comparable resale sales nearby, not a citywide average, is what tells you whether the premium is earned. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.