If you are acting as your own general contractor, deduct at least 15 percent. If you can do a substantial part of the labor yourself, you can cut the cost even more. More than 40 miles from the downtown areas, prices begin to drop. Within the downtown areas, expect to pay more. If you plan to build in an area prone to earthquakes or hurricanes, expect to pay much more, but at least the land should be cheap.
Construction loans are available from some lending institutions.
They are usually good for one year, at which time you would pay it off with a conventional mortgage. The sites below have links to banks in every state of the U.S. where you can find all kinds of mortgages, including construction loans. It includes many detailed drawings and instructions on each of the trades. Practical Home Design Now that you have a rough idea of how large a house you can afford, you need to decide how large a house you need, and design it to fit on your lot. You should know where utilities will enter your property and therefore your home.