by John Helj, REALTOR®

You’ve been out looking at existing homes. And you can’t find what you want. So, you decide to build a brand new home. The next question is, do you hire a builder or buy the lot first? Sometimes you can buy a package deal with a lot owned by a builder. Then you’re done. End of discussion. In today market though, developers or builders will sell you their lots outright.

So why buy the lot first? Well, of course there’s location. It’s the place you want to be because of work, school or other conveniences. You can pick the lot size. Design your home to fit and capture the right sun exposure. You also get to interview different builders, explore different home designs and compare costs. Sounds fun?  Maybe! It also takes a lot of time and knowledge.

Should you find the builder first? The builder will specialize in a certain type of home or price point.  If you love what they’ve built before but want some modifications, it’s easily accomplished.  A builder can give you guidance on the type of lot you’ll need to build the home you want. Your favorite real estate agent can show you lots for sale, different homes by different builders, and point out the differences and similarities.  Take your time. Developing the right house plan, choosing the right contractor and finding the ideal piece of ground to build on will take time. 

So which comes first, the builder or the lot? The answer is the one you find first once you decide to build. You might stumble upon right lot and buy it. If you come across an appealing builder’s design that “wows” you then the builder could come first. Whichever one you secure first the other should follow quickly. A bit of paperwork, a few detail discussions then in a few months, you can be living in your new dream home.