I want to respond here because I actually built (am still building) my own house. I looked around for this type of thing back when I started, which was 2008. At the time I didn't really find anything. My wife and I ended up drawing it out ourselves, and my dad and I ended up sort of winging it during construction. As in, "These plans don't quite work here, so we'll make these adjustments right now." It should be said also that neither I nor my wife are architects. At the time I would have said my dad was an extremely experienced and proficient amateur builder (he also built his house around 1980), and that I was just an amateur. After 15 years of working on this project, I will call myself a proficient amateur as well. I know that we could have done better at planning - I did not know enough about building before we started and relied too heavily on my dad during those times. If I had the opportunity to do it a second time, it would be better, but I'm not doing it! (Probably).

Here are some of the benefits of building your own house:

1. You know everything about it. Well, some things you forget, but most of it remains in the back of your mind. "Didn't I run some extra wire here just in case?"

2. You learn all of the skills that you will need to maintain your home, if you don't already have them. This means you never need a handyman (but your weekends are shot).

3. Just like nobody will watch your money like you, nobody will build your house like you. There are a lot of really crappy houses being built in 2023, and for the last 75 years or so. The reason for the crappiness, of course, is money.Being able to make the decision to use quality building materials instead of collecting 10% more profit, for example, can result in a really big improvement over conventional building.

4. It's really satisfying living in your handiwork. I'm sure there are more reasons - I can't write all day.

Now the pitfalls and reasons it sucks:

1. It's really frustrating living in your handiwork. For me, every time I walk past something that still needs my attention, it's a little stressor. Of course that's not too different from regular homeownership, I think. There are also a lot of times that I wish I would have planned it better.

2. Regulations (and financing) are really, really not in favor of building your own home. Unless you are a professional builder as well. Permits will expire way too soon, you won't understand their processes, they won't understand your processes. Assuming you need to borrow money, the bank won't know what the hell to do. They will literally freak out and nobody will be able to help you. This is too far outside of their routines.

3. It's a lifetime commitment. I mean, I guess it doesn't have to be, but for me it definitely feels that way. I built too big, and now I'm stuck working on it for what feels like forever.

Also, I'm in a temperate climate (Georgia, USA) where I don't have to worry about cold weather too much. I'm back in the woods where people don't ask too many questions. I have the support of my family, which I couldn't have done without. Overall, I'm happy with where I am. I usually enjoy the work, and at this point I don't mind taking time to do other things as well.