Get someone local to have a look.

I can already tell I am going to love these forums, and that you guys will probably get sick and tired of me asking questions in the near future! You've given me so much to think about. I think one problem is that for two years, this house has been at best a hypothetical..."if" we build, what type of house? "If" we build, how much land should we look for? So I believe that I got stuck looking at hypothetical houses online, picking a few that "could" work for us, should we find acreage. But now that we have and the hypothetical house is more a reality, I do think that an architect is the way to go. When I really look at that plan, the list of things I love about it is far shorter than the list of things I would change. Mrspete, you pointed out that the only real privacy downstairs would be the study, and that hadn't dawned on me. Since that bedroom would be occupied by our oldest (hence the reason for an extra half bath on the main level), then she would be the only one benefitting from that privacy. I hadn't thought about that before you said it. As far as visualizing how a plan would work for us in the foreseeable future, I've really only gotten so far as comparing it to the house we are in now. Bigger bedrooms for growing kids, doing away with the huge bonus room that we never use now, wider hallways and a better flow to the layout. You have all given me so much to think about and I really do appreciate it! Oh! And PS: I do know that the large southern porches are expensive to build, and we could potentially be persuaded to make them a smidge smaller, but for the most part they stay. One reason we fell in love with this land and snatched it up is that it comes with breathtaking views and all the acreage is clear and sprawling and usable and just lovely. So outdoor space was up there at the top of our must have list, just barely below "enough rooms to cram all our kids into" ;)

Most states have laws that require any survey work be performed by a licensed surveyor. They can do a simple boundary line survey or a survey that includes existing contours which is what you need. Once you have a survey with existing contours in hand, you'll need to produce a site development plan showing the driveway and garage footprint (and most likely the existing home for reference) and a strategy for managing storm water. Depending on the specific requirements for your property, the storm water management might involve simply grading the site to move storm water away from buildings or it might require the design of storm water management features such as water gardens, retention swales, etc. The design of the grading and storm water features isn't rocket science, but your municipality may require they be designed and sealed by a professional surveyor or engineer. The survey firm we use has both licensed surveyors and engineers on staff and is a "one stop shop" for everything from the basic survey to the design of storm water management features. If there are any issues we only need to work with a single entity.

I've always wanted a yellow magnolia, but I'm not sure how that would look with a yellow house. Ooooooh! Dude, you gotta get a magnolia. I have 2 petite Southern gals (Little Gem and Teddy Bear), with plans to get a big one (D.D. Blanchard). They are marvelous. I cut the flowers and bring them inside. HEAVEN. As I understand it, there are a few different shades of yellow available (although I think all are non-native deciduous?), so I'm sure you'll be able to find *something* that works. :-) Heck, pick your variety first *and then* pick your house paint? lol Most Mags I've seen are hardy to zone 5, some to 4. Can't recall which zone you're in...? But... Take my thoughts with a pinch or two of salt... I'm putting white and purple flowering things around a deep red (with raisin/purplish and ivory variation) brick house. :-D