Brand New House Vs. Custom Built House - Blu-ray Forum

djluis2k6 · 02-22-2009, 07:47 AM

I about to start shopping for a new house and I was wanting to know what would be cheaper to do, buy a brand new house, or hire a contractor to get one custom built?

BluHavik · 02-22-2009, 07:54 AM

I'm an apartment dweller but if I had the money to make that choice I'd go custom. Get a house exactly the way I want it. Nice problem to have, I'm hoping to make the move to a house by the end of the year and it's gonna be a decades old one for sure.

STARSCREAM · 02-22-2009, 07:56 AM

I'd think custom built. Plus you can have everything tailored exactly to how you want it.

Themoth · 02-22-2009, 07:57 AM

have to say after looking at the market of houses for sale and what your dollar can buy you right now its a no brainer. Buy a house already built, that's what we are doing. Found a great house for about 40% of what it would have cost.

Rob71 · 02-22-2009, 12:52 PM

Right now, most builders are desperate. There are deals to be had either way. But if you can find a builder that overbuilt, and has homes sitting vacant, you can get a very nice deal. Provided a bank will talk to you.

phlydude · 02-22-2009, 05:37 PM

If you buy a new house in a development, there is generally an additional thing to consider...the H.O.A. - the biggest pain in the ass of living in a development.
You can't even put up a fence or a shed without approval.

Next place I buy is going to be a land purchase and have a house built on it. Yeah, you generally have to pay more for utilitiesto be run but you don't have to answer to anything other than the code of law for your area...no snivelling losers with too much time on their hands to try to fine you when you leave your trash can out when you go on vacation.

Stick with the custom built option if you can find the right land in the right place for the right price.

Blu-Dog · 02-22-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djluis2k6

I about to start shopping for a new house and I was wanting to know what would be cheaper to do, buy a brand new house, or hire a contractor to get one custom built?

Lots of snakes with custom built...I'd advise against it, especially with the huge inventory of homes out there right now.

Clark Kent · 02-22-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlydude

If you buy a new house in a development, there is generally an additional thing to consider...the H.O.A. - the biggest pain in the ass of living in a development.
You can't even put up a fence or a shed without approval.

I totally agree about those insane Home Owners Associations that are run like totalitarian regimes. Stay away from them as much as possible. But there are many new houses already built that can be had very cheaply right now.

graf1k · 02-22-2009, 08:11 PM

Depends on the H.O.A.

Ours isn't too bad. Maybe southerners really are nicer and less nosey. Anyway I would imagine right now it'd be much cheaper to buy a home that is already built, especially if the seller is, as a realtor would say, "highly motivated".

jc480 · 02-22-2009, 08:21 PM

If you want to save money, buy an existing house

If you have money to burn, build your dream home...fiber optics everywhere, ethernet jacks in everyroom, HDMI jacks everywhere, built-in speaker systems throughout the house...yeah

My_Two_Cents · 02-22-2009, 08:28 PM

In today's market, there's no way I would have a home built unless you can get it done for a similar $/sq. ft. as buying an existing home. Look for new homes that have been sitting vacant for some time. Most builders need these to move to keep cash flow up. We got real lucky last fall when we moved. The builder of our house needed cash to start another project, so he slashed the price by over 25% just to get the place sold (it was sitting for over a year). Thank God he did that, because now the market value of our home has dropped to the price we paid instead of way below like most other folks.

Beta Man · 02-22-2009, 08:43 PM

I'd at least look for one that is already built.... maybe you'll find one with the features you want, or even ones you hadn't thought of.....

If you truly can't find something worth buying, then by all means, have one built

I know you're obviously looking at a "NEW" house.... but keep in mind, new homes have their share of maintenance issues too.... and I'd take an older home that needs some TLC over a new home that was built by someone who cut corners ANY DAY...... The beams etc. they use for floor joists etc. just don't compare to what was used in the past......

Also, one great "plus" to having it custom built, is your ability to install features that will save you money...... Many of the things you aren't going to find in home built a few years ago, or even a new home that wasn't built under your supervision, such as....

1) Best Insulation
2) Low Maintenance materials such as Hardy-board or brick etc.
3) On-Demand Hot Water Heater
4) Metal Roof
5) Better quality items like Windows.

Some things, like heated floors, custom built cabinets with built-in "hidden" appliances etc are a LOT cheaper to do during initial construction, than after the fact.....

I'd love to have my hand in creating an "Open" floor-plan..... I love "Great" areas......

Either way.... Good luck!

Movie-Grrl · 02-22-2009, 10:42 PM

I'd wait 6 months. The economy is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Lots of deals forth coming.

PH3AR · 02-22-2009, 10:52 PM

Do wat i do its the cheapest house possible......

Buy a really big rear-projecton tv, throw the tv away and use the box its like a $5,000 house just make sure u move under something when it rains

DiverSpear · 02-23-2009, 12:17 AM

My next house will be a custom built home. My current house is awesome but it took me 10 years to get it that way. It would be easy for me, I would be my own GC/Electrician, my oldest son is a framer, and the company I work for is also a HVAC contractor, and I have friends in all the other trades.

What I'm saying is if you can afford it and have the time, go custom. But think long and hard about what you want and where you want it, especially electrical/HT.

Anthony P · 02-23-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

I was wanting to know what would be cheaper

existing home. The issue with custom is that it starts off with X$ then you start, "oooh, I like those tiles, they are just a bit more expensive" then " lets go with ....." in the end it is twice as much as you thought. And once built, lets add some trees, some grass some shrubs....

The issue is not what costs more, but that with dream homes the costs just go higher with every turn with a "let's built it with what we want" or "let's do it right"

Mr. J · 02-23-2009, 09:16 PM

Me & The Wife are moving out of our apartment this time next year into a home, so this thread helped me out a lot!

02-22-2009, 07:47 AM	#1
djluis2k6 Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2007	Brand New House Vs. Custom Built House I about to start shopping for a new house and I was wanting to know what would be cheaper to do, buy a brand new house, or hire a contractor to get one custom built?

02-22-2009, 07:54 AM	#2
BluHavik Active Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:STL Blu-ray collection:32	I'm an apartment dweller but if I had the money to make that choice I'd go custom. Get a house exactly the way I want it. Nice problem to have, I'm hoping to make the move to a house by the end of the year and it's gonna be a decades old one for sure. Last edited by BluHavik; 02-22-2009 at 07:56 AM.

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02-22-2009, 07:56 AM	#3
STARSCREAM Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Dagobah Blu-ray collection:148 Trading Score:67	I'd think custom built. Plus you can have everything tailored exactly to how you want it.

02-22-2009, 07:57 AM	#4
Themoth Active Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:May 2008 Location:Chicago Home Theater Gallery:23 Blu-ray collection:6	have to say after looking at the market of houses for sale and what your dollar can buy you right now its a no brainer. Buy a house already built, that's what we are doing. Found a great house for about 40% of what it would have cost.

02-22-2009, 12:52 PM	#5
Rob71 Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Florida Home Theater Gallery:13 Blu-ray collection:295 Trading Score:5	Right now, most builders are desperate. There are deals to be had either way. But if you can find a builder that overbuilt, and has homes sitting vacant, you can get a very nice deal. Provided a bank will talk to you.

02-22-2009, 05:37 PM	#6
phlydude Power Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Winter Garden, FL USA Playstation ID: phlydude Blu-ray collection:132 Trading Score:1	If you buy a new house in a development, there is generally an additional thing to consider...the H.O.A. - the biggest pain in the ass of living in a development. You can't even put up a fence or a shed without approval. Next place I buy is going to be a land purchase and have a house built on it. Yeah, you generally have to pay more for utilitiesto be run but you don't have to answer to anything other than the code of law for your area...no snivelling losers with too much time on their hands to try to fine you when you leave your trash can out when you go on vacation. Stick with the custom built option if you can find the right land in the right place for the right price.

02-22-2009, 08:11 PM	#9
graf1k Blu-ray Guru Member since:Aug 2008 Location:🆇🆇🆇🆇 Trading Score:198	Depends on the H.O.A. Ours isn't too bad. Maybe southerners really are nicer and less nosey. Anyway I would imagine right now it'd be much cheaper to buy a home that is already built, especially if the seller is, as a realtor would say, "highly motivated".

02-22-2009, 08:21 PM	#10
jc480 Power Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Detroit, MI Home Theater Gallery:28 4K collection:22 Blu-ray collection:747 DVD collection:10 Digital collection:882 Prime collection:2 Blu-ray reviews:15	If you want to save money, buy an existing house If you have money to burn, build your dream home...fiber optics everywhere, ethernet jacks in everyroom, HDMI jacks everywhere, built-in speaker systems throughout the house...yeah

02-22-2009, 08:28 PM	#11
My_Two_Cents Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Wherever I may roam.... Home Theater Gallery:40 4K collection:35 Blu-ray collection:507 DVD collection:19 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:4	In today's market, there's no way I would have a home built unless you can get it done for a similar $/sq. ft. as buying an existing home. Look for new homes that have been sitting vacant for some time. Most builders need these to move to keep cash flow up. We got real lucky last fall when we moved. The builder of our house needed cash to start another project, so he slashed the price by over 25% just to get the place sold (it was sitting for over a year). Thank God he did that, because now the market value of our home has dropped to the price we paid instead of way below like most other folks.

02-22-2009, 08:43 PM	#12
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	I'd at least look for one that is already built.... maybe you'll find one with the features you want, or even ones you hadn't thought of..... If you truly can't find something worth buying, then by all means, have one built I know you're obviously looking at a "NEW" house.... but keep in mind, new homes have their share of maintenance issues too.... and I'd take an older home that needs some TLC over a new home that was built by someone who cut corners ANY DAY...... The beams etc. they use for floor joists etc. just don't compare to what was used in the past...... Also, one great "plus" to having it custom built, is your ability to install features that will save you money...... Many of the things you aren't going to find in home built a few years ago, or even a new home that wasn't built under your supervision, such as.... 1) Best Insulation 2) Low Maintenance materials such as Hardy-board or brick etc. 3) On-Demand Hot Water Heater 4) Metal Roof 5) Better quality items like Windows. Some things, like heated floors, custom built cabinets with built-in "hidden" appliances etc are a LOT cheaper to do during initial construction, than after the fact..... I'd love to have my hand in creating an "Open" floor-plan..... I love "Great" areas...... Either way.... Good luck!

02-22-2009, 10:42 PM	#13
Movie-Grrl Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009	I'd wait 6 months. The economy is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Lots of deals forth coming.

02-22-2009, 10:52 PM	#14
PH3AR Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Dover, Pennsylvania PSN:WORKINtheCORNER Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:325 Blu-ray reviews:2	Do wat i do its the cheapest house possible...... Buy a really big rear-projecton tv, throw the tv away and use the box its like a $5,000 house just make sure u move under something when it rains

02-23-2009, 12:17 AM	#15
DiverSpear Active Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:St. Cloud, Florida Blu-ray collection:154 Trading Score:1	My next house will be a custom built home. My current house is awesome but it took me 10 years to get it that way. It would be easy for me, I would be my own GC/Electrician, my oldest son is a framer, and the company I work for is also a HVAC contractor, and I have friends in all the other trades. What I'm saying is if you can afford it and have the time, go custom. But think long and hard about what you want and where you want it, especially electrical/HT.

02-23-2009, 09:16 PM	#17
Mr. J Gaming Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Arkham Asylum Home Theater Gallery:6 4K collection:393 Blu-ray collection:768 DVD collection:7 iTunes collection:628 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:181	Me & The Wife are moving out of our apartment this time next year into a home, so this thread helped me out a lot!

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