Thanks for bumping. Attached is my drawing of the main floor combining our architects preliminary plans and my suggested tweaks. There will probably be a few more changes after we meet with the architect at the end of this month. Best Views are definitly our back (creek and green belt). Althoug not noted, both front porches are also covered -- required by the architectural guidlines. Our side is the right and will have a guest suite upstairs (the small bedroom downstairs on the right is really an office with a Murphy bed. The "kids" side will have a master and another bedroom upstairs. And I'm afraid that rug won't make the cut, just a bit too floral for the style we're shooting for -- i love it though. I'm hoping to find a rug more like this:

Your husband is correct. Keep saving. If you don't have a 20% cushion beyond what the cost of the home is estimated to be, you may not make final appraisal. Maybe the land is "worth" 200K as unimproved land, and you build a home on it that costs you 500K to build. That doesn't mean that the total resale value will automatically be 700K. Builds frequently cost more to construct than they are worth to the bank when they are finished. If the project appraises at 600K post construction, then the max that the bank will lend you for a permanent mortgage would be 480K, with you needing to bring 120K to the table. The bank only cares about what the resale value will be if you were to default. In other words, the home you are planning costs too much compared to both other homes in the area, and your budget. You need additional funds accumulated or you need a much smaller less complex home plan. Or both.

Your builder should be able to get in touch with the vendor to provide samples and locations of each house in the area where the same colors were used for siding and roof. If the builder can't do it, contact CertainTeed directly.

What the agent can do is guide you on optional construction items that would impact resale. Hardwoods here - yes, worth it on resale. Generator hookup - not worth it. Etc.... That being said, it isn't worth it. But I have seen some "horrible for resale" custom houses built and one could argue that a realtor would have strongly advised against some of those decisions. Doing our 3rd build without an agent currently.