Housing. Custom build, development build or buy.

[El Jefe]

My wife and I found ourselves pondering this question. The real estate market (as I have mentioned before) is at a high in our area. Everything we are looking at is a premium price for a mediocre house. My wife's grandfather and Uncle own a construction business, and they have been building houses for ~50 years. I am to the point where I believe I am going to buy some land (acre or two) and have a house designed and built. Fortunately her Grandfather is an architect as well, he designed and built his current house last year. I know with the custom builds they can be very expensive, but I feel I would rather be in a condo for another year and have my house exactly how we want it, than buy a house for less that we really don't love.

The other option would be to buy a cookie cutter home in a development which I really don't care to do. What say you CP? Would you rather buy, build custom, or build templet style?

[Red Beans]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

My god, you're reeruned.

I just lulzed after reading that one. I lulzed hard.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by aturnis

Build my own. Vertical Icf's for the foundation, Sip panels for the framing and roof.

Please stay on topic.

[DaneMcCloud]

I own a "Custom Home". It's a one-off that was built in 1994. My wife's dream was to own a custom home, so that's what we purchased in 2003. I only have one word to describe a "Custom Home":

Nightmare.

Now, you are at a major advantage because your family would be participating in the construction of your home, so it's less likely that you'll encounter "weirdness" in the home design and decisions. But we've had whoppers here, from a single 75 gallon hot water tank on the second floor that feeds a floor above and a floor below (which generally means the bathroom faucet, tubs and showers have to be on a minimum of 2 minutes before warm water is feed through the pipes) to having 10 electrical outlets and eighteen 6" 75 watt can lights on a single 15 amp circuit to literally dozens more bad examples.

I could go on and on about all of the repairs and changes I've needed to make to this home for the past 10 years (and in excess of $200k) but I'm sure you get the point. While I absolutely love my home, there have been days when I wished it were not a single, one-off, custom home because it's likely to have been better designed.

Whichever way you go, best of luck!

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by DoucheMcCloud

I own a "Custom Home". It's a one-off that was built in 1994. My wife's dream was to own a custom home, so that's what we purchased in 2003. I only have one word to describe a "Custom Home":

Nightmare.

Now, you are at a major advantage because your family would be participating in the construction of your home, so it's less likely that you'll encounter "weirdness" in the home design and decisions. But we've had whoppers here, from a single 75 gallon hot water tank on the second floor that feeds a floor above and a floor below (which generally means the bathroom faucet, tubs and showers have to be on a minimum of 2 minutes before warm water is feed through the pipes) to having 10 electrical outlets and eighteen 6" 75 watt can lights on a single 15 amp circuit.

I could go on and on about all of the repairs and changes I've needed to make to this home for the past 10 years (and in excess of $200k) but I'm sure you get the point. While I absolutely love my home, there have been days when I wished it were not a single, one-off, custom home because it's likely to have been better designed.

Whichever way you go, best of luck!

Seeing as how you have the money to combat a problematic home, I think this speaks volumes to what I could potentially encounter should I enter into this type of venture. Thanks man!

[Hootie]

omg

shut

UP

[Pablo]

AFEJT.

[cookster50]

I don't know what Fernt is, but I went with that choice.

[Hootie]

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Hootie

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

Hootie, though you have a creepy affinity for my privates, there's still hope for you yet.

Hysterical indeed.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by Hootie

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

at him making a thread when his sister caught him cranking down.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

I have seen for a cookie cutter home the cost per square foot being in the $104 up to $140 per square foot. I have got a couple ideas on a custom build that could get up to $200 per square foot.

So houses sell for as low as $104/ft and you are considering building at $200/ft? Doesn't sound like a good idea, especially when you factor in the realities of staying in the initial bid and budget. Even if your custom ideas are radically different and marketable, you are severely limiting your ability to sell the house.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by DoucheMcCloud

I own a "Custom Home". It's a one-off that was built in 1994. My wife's dream was to own a custom home, so that's what we purchased in 2003. I only have one word to describe a "Custom Home":

Nightmare.

Now, you are at a major advantage because your family would be participating in the construction of your home, so it's less likely that you'll encounter "weirdness" in the home design and decisions. But we've had whoppers here, from a single 75 gallon hot water tank on the second floor that feeds a floor above and a floor below (which generally means the bathroom faucet, tubs and showers have to be on a minimum of 2 minutes before warm water is feed through the pipes) to having 10 electrical outlets and eighteen 6" 75 watt can lights on a single 15 amp circuit to literally dozens more bad examples.

I could go on and on about all of the repairs and changes I've needed to make to this home for the past 10 years (and in excess of $200k) but I'm sure you get the point. While I absolutely love my home, there have been days when I wished it were not a single, one-off, custom home because it's likely to have been better designed.

Whichever way you go, best of luck!

200 k for extra outlets and a water heater? WTF did you not build at code? That is a ton of money just fixing mistakes-wow. Sorry to hear that bud. I like your name change btw way-lol very unique-lol

[Red Beans]

Originally Posted by Hootie

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

That shit is terrible. Just terrible. The thread about what to eat when sick at work? JFC, the answer would be two words...rat...poison.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

200 k for extra outlets and a water heater? WTF did you not build at code? That is a ton of money just fixing mistakes-wow. Sorry to hear that bud. I like your name change btw way-lol very unique-lol

We spent at least $200k to repair and change all kinds of things throughout the house. All five bathrooms had crummy, cheap tile that was installed directly over drywall, the kitchen was originally 6x9 (which is ridiculous in a 3,500 square foot home), the flat roof was bad, we've added over 50 lights, had to do a ton of plumbing and electrical repair (I added 30 circuits last year alone) and on and on and on.

A good portion that was spent was cosmetic but I'd "guess" that at least 35% (if not more, I'd have to check my records) were "fixes". It was a major drag but we're happy with the results.

And you can thank the mods for my new username. It took me a while to figure out what happened and how to log in!

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by el borracho

So houses sell for as low as $104/ft and you are considering building at $200/ft? Doesn't sound like a good idea, especially when you factor in the realities of staying in the initial bid and budget. Even if your custom ideas are radically different and marketable, you are severely limiting your ability to sell the house.

I'm not a real estate agent and am not familiar with his area but I would think that a very nice home on two acres built at $200 a foot would be more desirable than a home built for $100 a foot to a future prospective buyer.