Custom homes vs. tract homes in NOVA area (Chantilly, Springfield: how much, neighborhoods)

[taxidriverx]

I don't hear much about custom build homes with custom floor plans in the NOVA area. Is it just too expensive here to do? Everyone is all into tract homes with "options" such as Toll Brothers, Ryan Homes, NV Homes, etc.

In the Raleigh/Cary area, if you are spending over 600k, then people go with a custom builder and get the floor plan they want instead of a tract home. Is that too much of a premium to pay in NOVA compared to other areas? I'm talking about places like South Riding, Haymarket, Chantilly.

[reebo]

I believe the land parcels are owned by the builder, or their holding company, so you can't bring in a custom builder to build on a Toll Brothers parcel. If you built on a piece of property you pruchased you can obviously hire whomever you wish to build your home.

Don't the builders/developers own the parcels in Raleigh/Cary? I'm interested in knowing how it works there.

[spencgr]

We had a thread about this last year. Basically, it is more expensive to go the custom route. And, in an area where it's already super expensive, people don't want to (or can't) pay any more.

//www.city-data.com/forum/north...m-home-go.html

[michgc]

Originally Posted by taxidriverx

I don't hear much about custom build homes with custom floor plans in the NOVA area. Is it just too expensive here to do? Everyone is all into tract homes with "options" such as Toll Brothers, Ryan Homes, NV Homes, etc.

In the Raleigh/Cary area, if you are spending over 600k, then people go with a custom builder and get the floor plan they want instead of a tract home. Is that too much of a premium to pay in NOVA compared to other areas? I'm talking about places like South Riding, Haymarket, Chantilly.

In the NoVA area, if you are spending $600K, you are lucky to even get a new tract home. Custom homes would likely be in the $1 Mil range unless you are far out.

[eerickso]

Originally Posted by michgc

In the NoVA area, if you are spending $600K, you are lucky to even get a new tract home. Custom homes would likely be in the $1 Mil range unless you are far out.

+1

For more expensive homes you usually have the option of going semi-custom. That's what we did when we bought a Gulick home and had them move some walls, change the location of a bathroom, etc. When it came to changing the overall footprint of the home or the facade, though, there were other restrictions that came into play so those types of changes were fairly limited. In general, the further out you look, the more flexibility you'll have.

[PolandSprings]

If you can buy a piece of land, then you can have a custom builder build on it. Some of the custom builders can build you a 3000 sq ft home for $300k. Depending on the location and price of the land, a custom built home for $600k is possible.

[mdcrim]

In the communities the OP mentioned (South Riding, Haymarket and Chantilly), most tract homes are located in communities with community amenities. So by purchasing land and building a custom home they may miss out on what attracted them to those areas to begin with.

[CAVA1990]

There are many older neighborhoods where you can buy a tear-down and custom build. However your house will likely look like an odd-ball.

[NovaOne]

I am not sure if a "custom home" is the right choice that far out in South Riding unless you were building something HUGE and just couldn't find a tract home.

Ask yourself why exactly you would want a custom home. Most custom homes in the $100/sqft range isn't going to be truly custom. Or if it is, the elevations are going to look like ass because they are not going to be able afford a talented architect in that price range to make your custom design look good. The result is going to be an awkward looking thing with large swaths of featureless brick broken only by small windows.

Smaller custom homes being built in quantity in Vienna look nice but they are not cheap - most are $200/sqft or more.

The other issue is the lot - if you want to build your own, you will have to find a lot. What will the neighborhood look like? Do you want to be in something like a neighborhood? How much is a 0.5 acre lot in the area you are looking? Tract homes where a developer comes in to subdivide a huge swath of land can have the lots averaged down to 100-200k per lot for single family homes, and that includes neighborhood features like nicely paved roads, side walks, common areas, master planning, and etc. You are not going to be able to find similar quality lots for that low of a price.

As others have mentioned, at $600k and out in areas like South Riding, a tract home makes a lot more sense.

[kww]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

There are many older neighborhoods where you can buy a tear-down and custom build. However your house will likely look like an odd-ball.

i.e. Springfield