You sign with a builder, then the relief sets in. You chose your trusted builder, and the home of your dreams is starting to feel more real than ever. Then, one day, the stakes go into the ground, and something shifts. All those conversations about floor plans and finishes are
Fourteen months sounds like a long time until you see what fills it. The National Association of Home Builders tracked 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data on custom owner-built homes and found the average permit-to-completion time was 15.1 months. Your number will depend on home size, site conditions, and your local
A custom home is a big investment. The exciting part is that every dollar you put in shapes the place your family will actually live. NAHB’s 2024 Cost of Construction Survey found that construction costs accounted for 64.4% of the average new home’s price last year, the highest share they’ve
86% of home buyers list a patio as essential or desirable, per NAHB’s 2024 What Home Buyers Really Want study. In Southeast Michigan, that preference has a seasonal edge. Outdoor time runs roughly from April through October, and a lot of that gets cut short by rain, bugs, or too
Buyers recently paid 31% more for homes with a garage, according to an analysis of over 42,000 home sales, a difference of about $115,000 compared to similar properties without one. Your garage deserves the same attention you’d give your kitchen or master suite when planning a custom ranch home. For
A 2024 American Home Shield survey found 93% of Americans own at least one smart home device, and 42% say most of their devices are now “smart.” Luxury homebuyers no longer view automation as an upgrade. They expect it. The houses they want respond to their daily routines without constant
When you’re choosing a homesite, a natural slope creates opportunities that flat lots can’t match. Walkout lots turn what most people consider secondary space into a true extension of your main floor. According to industry research, incorporating a walkout basement can increase property value by 5-10% over comparable properties with
Southeast Michigan is seeing renewed interest in single-story living. It’s not just nostalgia driving the trend. Custom ranch homes built today mix practical one-level advantages with a design that works for different buyers. Young professionals want them. So do growing families and empty nesters. They’re figuring out that ranch-style homes
