Rob, those houses look fantastic, but I want a GC I can go back to when the roof leaks. If he's going to be the builder, I bet he's looking for something much less elaborate. All I can think is, wow, look at all the flashing.

I have the same problem getting an acceptable loan but they are out there. I've got offers from BoA but the terms are not acceptable to me.

I did find a couple of internet links to (what I gather must be mortgage brokers) companies doing construction loans. Some specialize on owner builder projects.

Wow, those houses look pretty nice. Not my style though. Too much foo-foo. I like things a little (lot) simpler. I guess the engineer in me wants function over form. Too many places for the hurricane winds to take hold and launch portions of the house into the neighbor's yard! I am putting in a couple dormers upstairs though, that should break up the roof line a little bit.

Here is the house I live in now:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232293238.jpg

I like the style and layout, so I was using it as a base. I added another garage bay, made the whole house a little deeper, added a bath, and added another MB suite upstairs. Keep the lines simple, the house functional, and construction costs minimal.

Nothing wrong with that house! Looks fine, has nice curb appeal. The dormer over what is probably the living room breaks it up nice enough. Also the porch inset helps; just a few touches like these make all the difference imo.

Now when you say upstairs are you talking about the main floor as opposed to the lower level basement? I don't see an upstairs (2nd floor) in any of your homes?

Here's an idea of how you can spruce up the elevation?
The plan is very chopped up, but it does show how much you can fit into a 2000 sqft footprint!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232314424.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232314439.jpg

This home is just under 1200 sqft....
I liked the elevation, so I tweaked the plan into a bi-level, added a raised basement. The main floor ended up at 1400 sqft with a total of 2800 sqft with a finished basement. Still under construction until the end of the month.

It doesn't take much to add the curb appeal and spruce up your elevations!
A little color goes a long way too.
Cheers,

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232314634.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232314645.jpg

Under construction:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232314773.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232314885.jpg

Plans and Elevations for home above ^^^
Doesn't cost much at all to have a proper set of building plans with Architectural input, such as these.
Cheers,

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232315683.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232315706.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232315722.jpg

It's been a while since I've seen so many Builder-Esque houses in one spot.

I hope it's even longer before it happens again.

About the mail-order plans. The sets I've brought up to code for builder/clients were pretty bad. Really bad structural layouts, details not appropriate for our climate and just lots of missing information (like elevations of walls in alcoves). No landings for doors, bad dimensions the list is too long. I cleaned them up, not glamor work but it often lead to better things from the same people.

OK, here's a couple of renderings of mine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232409028.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1232409056.jpg

Why I'm I getting the X rather than the jpeg?