Your 2nd step in home construction is deciding what kind of house to build. This includes architectural style, size, number of rooms, floor layout, building lot location, etc.

1. Start Developing Ideas
   
   
   • First Thing, Get Your Ideas Down on Paper
     this topic will review design considerations, deciding the number and type of rooms, calculating square footage, and aligning the rooms for best layout:
     
     link to designing your home
     
     
     
2. View Home Building Sites
   you got to have a place to build your home. Places to search:
   
   
   • View Home Building Communities
     home builders often have lots for sale in communities where home building plans are in place. You will be able to build your home in an established development.
     
     look up home building communities
     
     
   • Classified Ads
     many lots and raw land are posted via classified sections of the local paper
     
     link to search newspapers by state - community
     
     
   • Hire an Agent - Lot Broker
     real estate agents have access to builder communities and lots that are available for sale.
     
     find an agent - lot broker
     
     
   • Location - Location - Location
     One last item, understand these all important location issues when searching for a lot:
     
     finding your lot and location
     
     
     
3. Search House Plans
   review existing house plans to find something that matches your design considerations. You might find something exactly what you are looking for; or you can take a similar plan and have an architect tweak it to meet your specifications:
   
   
   • Two places to look:
     

     search house plans to buy
     search building plans from builders
     view this topic on architectural designs and history
     

   • Get Some Design Help
     this is a good time to find an architect. They will design a plan that meets your specifications. You will use the plan to negotiate the contract with a builder and to arrange financing.
     
     search for an architect

For Support:

• download this home construction steps
  pamphlet as a support and reference file