Building a house vs buying

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by ZipZap

We've built twice. Both times were after extensive searches did not produce an existing home that met location and design needs.

Bottom line is that if you find the home you really want in an area in which you want to live, then seriously consider existing. Building is long, and frequently frustrating, especially if you are wanting, like me, to be in on all decisions. You will absolutely spend more money building, but you could also use that extra money to get an existing home "perfect".

Good Luck.

I was once told long ago by a wise man that there are two really tough test for a marriage:

1) start a business and work together
2) build a home together

In 33 years I have learned NOT TO TEST A MARRIAGE, therefore I have done neither.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by NEED-A-VETTE

Over 5,000 sq ft for $715k?

Maybe it’s time to look at houses in Michigan.

That is a smoking good deal...and it is not the norm. We like the design but its about 800' from a major freeway and although not shown in the pictures I am sure it is a walkout or something to count the basement toward square footage since it is finished.

Our old house was 5,100, but that includes 1,600 basement since it was completely finished with a walkout, bathroom, etc.

[Onebadcad]

Backyard, pool, outdoor seating is very nice, no need to live inside.

I think the consensus is to take it,,, where would you put the bar, as did not see a spot in the photos.

[Steve_R]

What do two people do with 5k+ sq ft? We have half that and don't really use all of it.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by MidLifeinMI

Looked at the Zillow listing; great looking house but too close to M-53, would be noisy with traffic. I know a guy who has a place in Washington Twp (near Stony Creek) who will probably be selling in about 12-18 months (he's building a place in FL, but hasn't even bought a lot yet). It's a bit smaller than the Zillow house, but everything in it is high-end (3-car garage, 10 ft ceilings, etc; backs up to a golf course, too). PM if it sounds like something you'd be interested in seeing.

Yeah there was a reason it is so cheap being near 53.

Washington was where we were looking, or that area. Don't feel like paying Rochester taxes. My business is in Lake Orion but I only need to be there for 2 days a week, Her's is in Shelby and has to be there more so we were looking that way.

We looked at new construction in Shelby last week, 1.1M, about 4200sq ft finished.

Prices are insane here.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by NoOne

We looked at new construction in Shelby last week, 1.1M, about 4200sq ft finished.

Prices are insane here.

That's not insane. Not even close.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

What do two people do with 5k+ sq ft? We have half that and don't really use all of it.

That was part of the reason to build.

Our ideal home? 2 bedroom, roughly 2500sq ft, finished basement of equal size.

My old house was 5,100 with finished basement. We used every square inch. Upstairs was my office, sauna room, soaking tub in work out room. Spare Bed room. Our master was first floor with huge double shower, large gourmet kitchen with great room and dining.

Basement was our main living area, bathroom, plus bar/poker room, pool table.

2 people can use 5K sq ft easily if they have plans for the space. Our work out room had not only equipment but massage table, sauna, huge 3' deep soaking tub...plus the storage.

We bought and redid it for entertaining and regularly filled it with guests.

[VITE1]

We had our Home in NH built for us. We made the deal in February of 97 and moved in in September. Our builder and RE agent were wonderful to work with and walked us through the process. Wee had one issue due to the phone company lying to us but that's the only major issue.

We stayed friends with the RE agent until he died and the builder until we moved out of NH.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

That's not insane. Not even close.

In Broward there is almost no SFRs being built due to limited land available.
Next door to me in Parkland, you can still buy new SFR, BUT you can save 20% if you buy existing.

These townhomes are about 0.50 mile from me, $450/sq ft, and I think the association fee is about $400/month, you get a community pool and a key access front drive.

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...6_M97230-36469

[Kevin68]

Building isn't necessarily more expensive. If you are in a depressed area, I think you can do better buying existing, but if RE prices are inflated in a hot market you can probably build for less.

[MidLifeinMI]

Originally Posted by NoOne

Yeah there was a reason it is so cheap being near 53.

Washington was where we were looking, or that area. Don't feel like paying Rochester taxes. My business is in Lake Orion but I only need to be there for 2 days a week, Her's is in Shelby and has to be there more so we were looking that way.

We looked at new construction in Shelby last week, 1.1M, about 4200sq ft finished.

Prices are insane here.

Shelby & Washington are great areas; we were in Macomb (a bit cheaper) but really didn't like being in the middle of the Lakeside/Partridge Creek craziness. We moved from there to W. Bloomfield, and then out of MI for good. Don't miss the traffic at all.

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by MidLifeinMI

Shelby & Washington are great areas; we were in Macomb (a bit cheaper) but really didn't like being in the middle of the Lakeside/Partridge Creek craziness. We moved from there to W. Bloomfield, and then out of MI for good. Don't miss the traffic at all.

I lived in WB for a while. I'd never want to be near 59 or Partridge, ever...we like to be close to Downtown Rochester. My last house was in Auburn Hills but I was 100' from the Rochester Border.

The sub was split in half, same homes, one on either size. 75 percent the cost and 30 percent of the taxes.

We were thinking of around 31-36 and Rochester getting up near Romeo just because its a quick drive downtown or to Troy.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

I was once told long ago by a wise man that there are two really tough test for a marriage:

1) start a business and work together
2) build a home together

In 33 years I have learned NOT TO TEST A MARRIAGE, therefore I have done neither.

We did both…started a business together building houses.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by LATB

We did both…started a business together building houses.

You must have a very patient, understanding wife.
I do also, but try not to test her.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

You must have a very patient, understanding wife.
I do also, but try not to test her.

On top of 30+ years of building for others (spec and pre sold) we built plenty for ourselves. I think the current build is #11 or 12. Along with probably 15 or more moves.

My wife is a saint. I call her SuperWife.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by LATB

On top of 30+ years of building for others (spec and pre sold) we built plenty for ourselves. I think the current build is #11 or 12. Along with probably 15 or more moves.

My wife is a saint. I call her SuperWife.

What a coincidence, my wifey has been known to call me SuperWipe.

[MidLifeinMI]

Originally Posted by NoOne

I lived in WB for a while. I'd never want to be near 59 or Partridge, ever...we like to be close to Downtown Rochester. My last house was in Auburn Hills but I was 100' from the Rochester Border.

The sub was split in half, same homes, one on either size. 75 percent the cost and 30 percent of the taxes.

We were thinking of around 31-36 and Rochester getting up near Romeo just because its a quick drive downtown or to Troy.

How's the Oxford/Metamora/Leonard area these days? (Or are you trying to stay in Macomb for lower taxes?)

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by MidLifeinMI

How's the Oxford/Metamora/Leonard area these days? (Or are you trying to stay in Macomb for lower taxes?)

Accessibility is the main issue going up 24 is a nightmare going home.

It's a dead stop from Auburn hills all the way to the end of lake Orion and into Oxford at the end of the day.

Where I was at in Auburn hills was probably the best. Reasonably priced extremely safe since we bordered Rochester and being the last subdivision in the city it's where the police turned around so 9 to 10 times a day and that's just during sunlight hours we had police driving through the sub.

I was 10 minutes from 75 10 minutes from 24 10 minutes from 59. I could be in downtown Detroit or downtown Lapeer in the exact same amount of time.

What we're trying to find out is a place where it's close for her to go to her business. She owns a retail shop and has to be there more than me.

My lease is up in my office in lake Orion in a year and it can be anywhere.

[MidLifeinMI]

Originally Posted by NoOne

Accessibility is the main issue going up 24 is a nightmare going home.

It's a dead stop from Auburn hills all the way to the end of lake Orion and into Oxford at the end of the day.

Where I was at in Auburn hills was probably the best. Reasonably priced extremely safe since we bordered Rochester and being the last subdivision in the city it's where the police turned around so 9 to 10 times a day and that's just during sunlight hours we had police driving through the sub.

I was 10 minutes from 75 10 minutes from 24 10 minutes from 59. I could be in downtown Detroit or downtown Lapeer in the exact same amount of time.

What we're trying to find out is a place where it's close for her to go to her business. She owns a retail shop and has to be there more than me.

My lease is up in my office in lake Orion in a year and it can be anywhere.

I imagine Rochester Rd, 75 and 53 are all nightmares, too. Sounds like you're looking in the best area for your situation; GLWSearch.

[roadpilot]

I have built a home. It was easy for me and I bought the land,got the
permits and built a house in less than a year.
1. find a piece of land . You will look at a lot of propertys
2.find a small contractor with a proven record of building
3. No how to say NO and mean it. You will tell everybody no that is not
how something should be,
4. expect to be at the job site once a day. Measure ask questions,say no
5. stay within budget , and demand it from others
6.go to whatever office is handing out permits and get involved. Administraters
dont want conflicts, they will move the process along quickly.
7.dont except excuses make that party squim.
8. dont pay until the contract has been fullfilled
9. be a ass hole, it makes everybody sweat
10. you are the big boss, you are the one paying the bill.
11. always be polite and friendly unless someone gets in your way.
12. building a house is fast and easy if you get involved