[onewhippedpuppy]

Another thought, for 300k, don't you have options beyond a development? Shop around, you may find that you can have a custom floorplan, with the additions you want, for the same price as the cookie cutter. Or maybe it's just my personal dislike of developments, the whole clear cut lots with houses crammed together just doesn't appeal to me.

A couple of thoughts on Janus's post. Though a fun idea, I think it's a mistake for anyone without any construction experience to think that they can just build their own house. Though I'm sure many could handle it, when I did remodeling I saw so many HGTV inspired DIY projects gone wrong, that I would very strongly warn against it. I'll just leave it at hose clamps, duct tape, and lots of silicone. I did remodeling for seven years, everything from framing to custom cabinets and countertops, along with electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. I would NEVER try to build my own house. There's just too many variables that someone without experience does not take into account.

The ebay $10/ square ft. house "kits" scare me, but concrete block construction is cool stuff. We built my in-laws a house out of Eco Block, it's a hollow foam block (24" x 12" x 16") if I remember right), with internal bracing. They lock together, kind of like big legos, you put rebar in laterally and vertically, then fill them with concrete. You end up with concrete walls about a foot thick, the manufacturer claims they're tornado proof. We built a 6000 ft^2 house, their heating/ cooling bills actually went down from their 3000 ft^2 house. It's almost silent inside too, and they save on homeowner's insurance. It's a little more, but in the long run they'll get it back.