Owner builder construction loans are complicated compared to simple purchase loans or refinance mortgages. Look for financing that has the features that will help you be successful. Managing the construction of your new home as an owner builder is no small job. Make sure your construction loan is set up to help you succeed. Always ask these five questions before settling on your financing.

People building a custom home, whether acting as an owner builder or hiring a general contractor, often have to be reminded of one simple, vital point: look at the big picture. Owner builders who lose sight of the big picture are the ones who end up using cheap materials, low quality labor, and low quality financing. When this happens, it is the owner builder who loses both time and money.

Cost Estimators are evil. Learn the real truth behind budget estimators, and why they only help owner builders to run out of money, ruin their project, and raise their blood pressure. If you are considering being an owner builder to build your new home, you need to know the real dangers of improper budgeting with cost estimators before it's too late.

Owner builders oversee the construction of their new homes, cutting out the costs of a general contractor. To do this, though, owner builders hire and manage their own sub-contractors. Choosing the right subs will make the difference between a successful owner builder construction project and a disaster. Owner builders need to ask these 43 questions when choosing their sub-contractors.

Owner builder residential construction projects offer a terrific point of comparison from which businesses can learn volumes about effective (or ineffective) project management strategies and techniques. Owner builders make many basic mistakes. Learn from them to refresh yourself on some project management basics.

Owner builders need to understand the owner builder loan and planning timeline before they make an offer on the land they want. Do these things in the right order, and you'll be well prepared for success. Owner builders who jump blindly into the process will set themselves up for disaster.

Owner builder construction budgeting is filled with potential pitfalls that can leave you in huge financial holes before ever finishing your home - if you are not prepared. On the other hand, by budgeting properly, owner builders will not only have accurate numbers with which to start building, but will have already lined up all of the people to do the actual construction.

Owner builder construction loans are for people who want to eliminate the costs of hiring a builder for their new home. Owner builders therefore manage the sub-contractors themselves. When hiring a sub-contractor, you will need a detailed contract to cover the specifics of the job. Owner builders should ensure their contracts include these basic items - or risk spending too much time and money.

Your local building department is dedicated to reviewing house plans and issuing permits to build. If you are hiring a general contractor, he or she should be intimately familiar with the local codes and procedures. But, if you are an owner builder, you need to learn all you can from your local permit office as soon as possible. It could change your mind about the land and blueprints you want.

When building a new custom home, either as an owner builder or with a general contractor, you'll need to decide on the right home plans. Do you buy stock blueprints or have them custom designed? Choosing incorrectly can lead to unforeseen construction costs that will blow your budget.