Get expert insight on how to choose a home builder, including what to look for in their licenses, insurance coverage, and their online reviews. Also learn the distinction between a “Licensed Contractor” and “Licensed Builder”.
Choosing a Qualified Builder for Your New Home SEE PROJECT »
Expert insight about what to expect when planning to build a new house so you can avoid the common obstacles or be prepared to deal any surprises. This article reveals 3 common mistakes taken by real-world clients, plus tips on how you can avoid making those mistakes.
Common Mistakes When Planning to Build a New Home…And How to Avoid Them SEE PROJECT »
Although there are certain risks to building a new home inside a flood zone, most of those risks can be mitigated. Learn what is needed to determine if the land you choose is in a flood zone, how to request a determination, and how to mitigate the risks with building there.
Considerations For Building In Flood Zones SEE PROJECT »
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Your budget is the foundation for every other decision you will make while preparing to build a home because it provides context for what is possible. Most people attempt to answer the question of “What is my budget?” by simply deciding how much they would be comfortable spending. Unfortunately, while this is a crucial part of the process, it ignores the rest of the picture. We advise our clients to answer the following questions in the order below. However, if you are self-financing the project, skip to question #3.
This sets what we refer to as your Maximum Loan Amount.
This is where many people get confused because if you ask the wrong questions when interviewing lenders, you’ll get vastly different answers. We recommend reviewing the information in this article on the loan type you will need before meeting with your lending candidates.
Just because a lender is will to lend up to your Maximum Loan Amount, this does not mean you will be willing to borrow and spend that amount. Consider the monthly payments as a starting point and adjust your Budget amount from there. Your chosen lender can help you with this.
This answer will come from a qualified builder during your preliminary meeting. Be prepared to discuss your budget so that the builder can help you get a better idea of what size home to design to meet your goals.