It’s generally less expensive to build a home versus purchasing an existing home. Currently, the national average to build a house costs around $281,000, while the national average to buy an existing home is around $447,000.  However, this depends on many factors, including how customized your home will be, how much work you do yourself, the price of land, and where you live. Talk to a local realtor or home builder near you to better understand the current housing market and what will work best for you.