Homebuilding Tips

Purchasing your very first home is one of the most exciting, important steps you’ll ever take. However, the process can be stressful and even scary at times, since there’s so much riding on it. One of the most common questions we encounter from first-time homebuyers revolves around how much to save for their new home.

Although the answer to the question, “How much do I need to save for my first home?” will vary for each individual homeowner, there are several factors that will likely come into play for everyone:

If you’re planning to build a new custom home, you’re about to make a lot of design decisions. Many people find this part of the process to be the most fun, but even if you enjoy it, making so many choices can feel overwhelming. Using Pinterest is a great way to find inspiration, generate new ideas, and keep your thoughts organized. With millions of images at your fingertips, you can find the design details that resonate most with your style and customize them for your own home.  

Whether you’re a new Pinterest user or a seasoned pinning veteran, there are a few tips you can try to get the most from your boards when looking for home design ideas.

Most people can’t fund the construction of a new home using cash, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to build your own custom home. Much like getting a mortgage to purchase an existing home, you can get financing to pay for the costs of new construction. Also like a typical mortgage, there are several different financing options available to you. The one that makes the most sense for you will depend on factors such as:

• Cash available for a down payment
• Ability to make monthly payments
• Credit score and history
• Household income
• Existing debt and assets

If you’ve never built a new home or gone through the financing process, it can feel intimidating. There is always a lot of paperwork, and the many options can be confusing if you don’t understand all the details. However, you don’t have to go through it all alone.

You can buy a new house at any stage of life, but there are a few key points when it just makes sense to own a home that truly matches your lifestyle. Living in a space that is too large or too small can create unnecessary challenges. Trying to stay in the same place because change is hard might actually be more difficult in the long run. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or are ready to move on from your current situation, it might be time to think about taking the next step toward purchasing a new house.

When is the right time to buy a new home? Often it’s when there are major changes happening in your life, such as:

One of the biggest perks of calling the Pacific Northwest home is the nearly endless array of outdoor fun we can enjoy throughout the year. From kayaking and mountain biking to surfing, snow skiing, and camping, our landscape offers a bit of everything. But for true outdoor enthusiasts, this variety of hobbies can lead to a big problem: lack of storage space.

It’s a common dilemma for those who love the outdoors. If your interior storage space is spoken for, you might have a bit of room in your attic or garage. But even those with larger homes may not want to stow muddy boots and dripping kayaks in their attics, garages, or closets. The ideal solution is to store outdoor gear where it belongs: outdoors.

If you’re planning to build a new home, you might hire an architect and select a builder to construct the house based on your plans. Although this is a common approach, it’s not the best fit for every homeowner, especially those who are working with a budget and need predictable pricing. For this type of homeowner, home packages are an excellent alternative because most of the costs are lumped together.

There are multiple types of home packages available in all types of styles and locations. The type that makes the most sense for you will depend on whether you already have land, the floor plan you’re looking for, and the types of features you want. As you are considering which approach you should take, consider these options.

If you are thinking about building a new custom home, you might be tempted to buy a spec home instead. After all, the design is already done, the decisions are already made, and the home is either already built or on a construction schedule that matches your timeline. This might sound appealing, but it’s not the whole picture. Before you sign on the dotted line, consider these downsides to buying a spec home.

There’s nothing quite like a beautiful garden to make a house feel like a home—especially when it’s done in an environmentally friendly way. In the Pacific Northwest and around the globe, sustainable gardens are becoming increasingly common, which is a trend that homeowners, neighbors, and the environment itself can all appreciate.

Installing solar panels on your roof or on the ground near your home is a great way to reduce both your environmental footprint and your utility bill. Solar panels can also increase the resale value of your home because future owners will enjoy lower energy costs. Many solar panel systems have a lifespan of 20-30 years or more, which means you continue to enjoy savings long after the cost has been paid off. By saving on installation costs, you can reach that point even faster.

While many companies provide solar panel installation, it is possible to install some systems on your own. Whether you are an avid DIYer or just want to save a little cash, these home solar panels are designed to be installed by people with basic construction skills.

When building a new home, budget is always a consideration. If you’re like most people, there is an upper limit to what you can build with the resources you have available. If you don’t yet have the funds to build your dream home, you can save money by using your existing space to your advantage. Spare room rentals will allow you to save money for a down payment on a construction loan or pay off more of your existing mortgage faster to build more equity.