[grumpy@turton.us]

Originally Posted by txfan

Construction currently underway with closing date Nov. 24.

Process started with lot selection and $2,500 "hold" deposit. We had 10 days to secure it fully with $10,000. (the $2,500 was returned to my credit card)

** "Winning" the lot is a whole other story! **

That started a 45-day clock within which we had to complete the design process and "contract" the build.

Design actually began virtually with about five separate 2-hr meetings to design the OML (outer mold line) of the house. This is where we stretched everything we could to accommodate our requirements.

The in-person design and selection process began on a Monday and the pool design meeting was the following Monday.

Within that first week, we completed all the selections, made adjustments to the basic OML and changed windows/sizes. Also within that week were meetings with landscape and closet design.

The pool took most of a day, but others will tell you it can take only 1/2 a day most of the time. Again, this depends on the specifics of the "customization."

After about two weeks, we contracted which requires 20 percent down. At that meeting, you are given the closing date. It will not be sooner. It will not be later. It is that date. That 20 percent does two major things: It secures the funding to buy and order all of your selections so they're on hand when needed for installation, and it guarantees no PMI on a mortgage (if you'll have one) since you will have instant 20 percent equity in the property.

If the house is completed early, it will sit there until your closing date. If you want to close early, you pay extra.

Our construction start date was Oct. 5. The house and pool are being build in integrated fashion and will be completed sooner. It's an assembly line in new neighborhoods, which is good in that all of your workforce is in one concentrated place until it's time to move down the road to the next row of lots.

So far, all is going quite well and quite fast. We visit about once a week and a friend stops by once a week. We've caught one minor issue thus far, but that's it. They are thorough and know what they're doing.

Curious, when we bought our lot the clock for finishing the design was 120 days.