The recent post on passive houses sparked an interesting discussion about the costs of ultra-efficient homes. Passive houses are meant to be affordable — that is, the incremental construction costs pay back in energy savings in a fairly short time period — but those relative cost calculations really only apply in a European context. Germany, the birthplace of…
To get high end finishes you want now but cannot afford, just phase them in over time. Plan your ideal finishes but break the work (and expense) down into stages. You can finish a kitchen without cabinet knobs and pulls and install them next year, or paint the countertop backsplashes and tile it later. Despite over 30 years of home building experience, there…
In the last decade the cost of building or buying a home has increased dramatically in Costa Rica. Why? The country is more developed than its neighbors so prices and the standard of living are higher. Also the price of building materials has risen significantly. So, the question is whether an affordable method of building homes exists for budget-minded retirees…
Designing and building your own home using shipping containers can be a fun and financially rewarding experience. As the cost of housing and building materials continues to increase, and the concept of up-cycling is more readily embraced, people all over the world are turning to the humble shipping container to cut their building costs. Not only are shipping…
The thought of building a brand-new home for the family can seem financially out of reach for many homeowners, which is why finding dependable and affordable house plans is such an integral part of the process. Just as purchasing an existing home without breaking the bank is about studying the landscape and building a reasonable list of wants and needs based…
Are you considering major renovations or an addition to your home? Do you spend weekends wandering models in new home communities? You may be surprised to hear that building a new custom home where you currently live can be an affordable or even a cost effective option. Renovations Major renovations to your home may result in very costly unforeseen expenses…
If you own your own home site (in Central Florida), or are considering purchasing a home site, Florida home builder Showcase Homes brings the same great attention to detail and professional services to building one of our homes on your lot. One of the premier builders in Central Florida, Showcase Homes has nearly 50 years of dedicated home-building experience…
There is not enough affordable housing in the United States. For every 100 extremely low income households, there are only 29 adequate, affordable, and available rental units. That means two parents who both work minimum-wage jobs might wait years to find a safe, affordable place to live with their two kids. With such high demand, why aren’t developers racing…
1. STAKING THE LOT This is when you will decide where on your lot your house will be located and what position you would like it to be in. Stakes are then driven into the ground to indicate this. It’s wise to have a surveyor do this for you because they know the codes and restrictions for the area you are building in. 2. CLEARING, ROUGH GRADING & EXCAVATING…
So you think you’re pretty handy, huh? You have fixed some plumbing problems and serviced your air conditioner, and now you’re ready for a larger project like laying tile, putting on a new roof or building your own fence. More power to you. Be careful! Sometimes DIY projects gone bad can cost more than just hiring out from the start. General Do-It-Yourself Tips…
Many people who want to construct a new home often wonder exactly how much a new home costs to build or how much new home construction costs per square foot – but this is not an easy question to answer. There are many factors and steps to consider when estimating new home construction costs. So, let’s break down the process piece by piece to help give you a framework…
Robert and Samantha Garlow built Shedsistence themselves on a low budget and penned an informative e-book about the process (Credit: Robert and Samantha Garlow) We cover a lot of tiny houses here at New Atlas, but what s it actually like to build your own and live in it, day to day. Read on as we chat with the creators of the Shedsistence tiny house, Robert and…
Building a home from the ground up can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a family to undertake. Living in a new home that has never been occupied by another resident gives a feeling like no other. But times are tough, and building a house can be expensive. Use the tips in this article to save as much money as possible while building the home of your…
As Anne and Kevin Boyce’s children grew, the Falls Church couple recognized that their beloved home seemed to shrink and their hilly, nearly nonexistent yard didn’t offer space for outdoor play. Like many local buyers, they wanted to stay in their neighborhood, where they have friends and participate in community activities throughout the year, but they couldn’t…
Know what to expect before you finance a new construction home. A lot of patience is required to navigate the process of finding the right builder, obtaining a construction loan, and having your home built. Here is a step-by-step guide to financing new construction, as well as answers to a few commonly asked questions about new construction loans. Find a great…
More than two dozen American flags provided a patriotic backdrop Thursday as Northwest suburban high school students, police, firefighters and other volunteers began building a house in Spring Grove for a military veteran and his family. Tony Chobanov of Naperville, an Army specialist who served tours of combat duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, expressed gratitude…
Steps Buy land if you don t already own some. You will need to either pay cash for the land, get a land loan from a bank, buy land from the seller with owner financing, or find a seller willing to wait for you to get house plans and a building permit and a realtor willing to wait months for their commission (highly unlikely). Buying the land with a land loan…
A lousy economy, rising unemployment and a dismal long-term outlook translate to ideal financing conditions for new-home buyers. A general malaise bordering on depression is wreaking havoc on consumer confidence, another factor fueling financing opportunities. The tentative real estate market amounts to an ideal window of opportunity for adventurous contrarians…
You’ve done some looking around, and you just can’t find a house currently in existence that matches up with what you’re looking for. You decide that maybe a brand-new build is what you’re looking for. The good news is that you can get a loan on a newly constructed home. There are just a few things you should know going into the process. Appraisal and Final Inspection…
Self builders Hannah Jones and Theo Hodnett spent around £125, on their new home. An innovative Shropshire self-build scheme aims to open the property market to first-timers and create affordable homes Hannah Jones, 25, and her fiancé, Theo Hodnett, 27, spent months looking for a home around the picturesque market town of Ludlow in Shropshire, but couldn’t find…
A home is usually the single largest investment that a person makes. Most buyers end up spending lots of time and energy either searching for or designing the perfect home before signing any contracts. Location, price, market trends, property taxes, homeowners association fees and the condition of the property are factored into the house hunt. Also, each buyer…
Your home should match your personal style and meet your individual or family needs. That’s why we offer a variety of home designs and floor plans to inspire your home-building dreams. See All of our Plans We ve been building homes for more than 50 years, and we’ve helped the dreams of more than 40, families come true. Our custom homes are built on your lot…
I can only imagine the insane things I’d do with a house if I was building it from the ground up. If I had an unlimited budget to construct my dream home, I’d have crystal chandeliers, a rockin’ outdoor entertainment space, a 3-story indoor slide, and a walk-in closet the size of an Olympic pool. Also, don’t forget a state-of-the-art home theater. Now I’m sure…
Life is full of dilemmas. Chocolate or vanilla? French fries or onion rings? Soup or salad? Perhaps the biggest dilemma of all, though, is deciding whether to build a new home or buy an existing home. Every situation is different. Let’s examine the differences between the two so you can be in your new home in no time. Pros of Buying an Existing Home Cost: There…
