Building On Your Lot

At Smithsonian Homes, we specialize in building high-quality, fully custom homes on land you already own or plan to purchase. Whether you have your property ready or need guidance finding the right location, our team will walk you through every step — from evaluating the site and reviewing utilities to helping you design a home that matches your vision and budget. We work with experienced architects, engineers, and trusted trades to ensure your home is built to last. Because every property is unique, we tailor our process to your land’s specific conditions, ensuring your home is structurally sound, energy-efficient, and perfectly suited to your lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions – Building on Your Own Lot

WHAT DOES “BUILDING ON YOUR OWN LOT” MEAN?
Building on your own lot means choosing a piece of land that you own—or plan to buy—and constructing a custom home on that specific property. This method gives you full control over the location while selecting a home plan that fits your lifestyle, whether it’s one of our designs or your own vision.
Not at all! You can get started even if you haven’t purchased land yet. Our experienced team is here to guide you through the process, including how to find the right property and what to consider before buying.
One of the advantages of building with us is access to a selection of floor plans we’ve successfully built in the past. If none are the perfect fit, we’ll collaborate with you to create a customized design—allowing you to focus your budget on the features that make your home uniquely yours.
Yes! While some builders may take several weeks to provide pricing, we typically deliver your estimate within 4–7 business days once we have a finalized plan in place. Your bid will be valid for 30 days and is subject to adjustment based on developmental costs. Our detailed cost breakdown will reflect any modifications, upgrades, and finishes you select—so you know exactly what to expect. Any line items that exceed the agreed budget will require your approval, and the builder will not be responsible for costs beyond the approved budget sheet.
A deposit equal to 10% of the construction cost is required upfront and will be applied toward ordering materials, ensuring the building process can begin without delays.
Definitely. You can choose the floor plan that works best for your family and make it your own by selecting finishes such as brick, paint colors, flooring, roof shingles, and appliances. You can also make structural changes like adding square footage, expanding closets, or moving walls. Our available upgrades make it easy to tailor your home to your personal taste—without the expense of a fully custom build.
Yes, in many situations the value of your land can count toward your down payment. In some cases, the equity in the property may even eliminate the need for a cash down payment entirely.
Often, yes. Depending on the financing program, the cost of a well, septic system, property payoff, and even certain closing costs can potentially be rolled into your mortgage. One of our consultants can walk you through what’s possible for your specific situation.
We require all projects to be financed through a construction loan. All costs will be funded by your lender and disbursed in draws, which are released based on the completion of work. This process ensures each stage of construction is properly funded and inspected before moving forward.
Yes. Since we require a construction loan, you will be responsible for making interest payments—or any other payments required under your lender’s terms—throughout the build. We do not offer an EasyBuy-type program where payments are deferred until completion.