When you begin the process of building a home – whether you’re in State College or neighboring communities like Centre Hall, Houserville or Howard – the logical place to start is setting your budget. It is wise to do a personal financial audit. This offers insight into where your finances stand and provides the knowledge you need to make crucial decisions, like whether you can afford to take out a home building loan.

The costs and considerations when budgeting for a new home-building project can seem endless. As if choosing and purchasing land in the State College and Bellefonte area isn’t challenging enough, there are other considerations, including building materials, possible demolitions, labor, property taxes, local building permits, landscaping, HOA fees, and much more. 

Start a budgeting spreadsheet to keep your expenses in one place where you can see everything at a glance. The - ahem - nerds at Nerdwallet have done the backend work for you offering a Free Budget Planner Worksheet to help you corral those numbers in one place. Having concrete numbers and facts to review will save you time and money at crucial steps in your homebuilding journey in Clinton or Centre Counties.

Like any step in the home building process, buying a residential building lot can be highly nuanced, depending on your location. Consulting a local realtor or a new construction home builder near you is the best way to ensure you get what you're looking for when building a home in family friendly communities like Lock Haven, Julian and Lamar. 

Many reputable realtors provide service throughout Centre County as well as Clinton County. These include RE/MAXX Centre Realty, Next Home, Kissinger Bigatel Brower Realtors (KBB), and Keller Williams Advantage Realty. If you are looking for land to purchase on your own, search for ‘lots zoned for residential use near me’, as there are many different types.

With the many factors to consider when searching for a building lot near you, it is wise to create another spreadsheet or checklist to record answers to key questions, many of which will address critical concerns like does this property already have access to utilities? And will we need to build a driveway/access road? Is this a cul-de-sac, corner lot, key lot, etc.?

Be sure to gather as a family to ask additional questions of all your stakeholders, like, do we want to be in a neighborhood that is proximal to hubs of activity like downtown State College, Bellefonte, or Lock Haven or further away from the hustle and bustle? What will our commute be like to school, work, and the grocery store? Then record each and every answer on your spreadsheet for reference when you choose a lot for your new home build in Centre County.

Choosing a custom home builder and choosing a lot are daunting tasks on their own but are actually achievable simultaneously. Some properties have already been pre-purchased by a home development company. However, you may need to choose a home builder in Central PA and the greater State College area, including Bellefonte and Centre Hall. Because there are many home builders to choose from, it is essential to consider your selection carefully, as the home builders will be the “boots on the ground” – the team who will take the dream home plan you have in mind and turning it into reality. 

Triple E Homes is an Amish-owned custom home builder with years of experience in the time-honored tradition of Amish craftsmanship in local communities like Zion, Hublersburg, and Milheim. Our skills are well-suited for any type of custom residential build, and we invite you to consider our services for you and your family. For more information, check out the rest of our website and contact us with any questions or ideas.

One of the most exciting parts of the home-building journey is when it's time to choose a floor plan. Triple E Homes specializes in customized home floor plans, drawn to meet every client’s specific needs. We believe that because no two homeowners are alike, no two house plans should be alike. 

Should you decide that an existing floor plan is the better choice for you, home builders like Berks Homes and S&A Homes have numerous home plan options. A pre-drawn residential floor plan is a great choice if it suits your needs. The most important aspect of choosing a floor plan for a new home build is to take everyone’s needs into consideration. This ensures that the home you build is right for everyone who will be living there.

For many potential new home builders, this is the most stressful part. Many builders, including Triple E Homes, will guide you through this often-tedious process. If you would like to start researching the zoning laws of Centre County yourself, you can start by going to the Centre County Government website’s Planning & Community Development Page.

Doing the right research and understanding the first steps can put your mind at ease before taking the big leap to build your dream home. When you are ready, Triple E Homes is here to help your dream come true. We keep our clients in the know every step of the way, updating timelines, and resolving any issues that arise. Triple E Homes wants to be there with you on your journey to building a custom home in Central PA and the greater State College, Bellefonte or Centre Hall area. 

If you have other questions or are ready to schedule a free consultation with our team of experts, please give us a call at 814.424.4775 or email us at tripleehomes@sle.email. We look forward to starting a conversation with you about how Triple E Homes can help.