[borjo]

Come to think of it, we were one of the last 10 to be able to build custom back in 2004 before they went all spec for a while.

[SpicyCajunPugs]

I agree with Gracie and several posters that there are many nice spec homes that would meet many people's needs, and no, I do not think they are charging more for spec homes. But the problem my husband and I saw is that most of the designers, especially on oversized lots, are being built with very expensive upgrades such as granite, tile, upgraded cabinets, etc. We also had specific wants for the color of the home, roof and interior, as well as wanting a corner cul de sac lot. We even wanted a specific model to accommodate our furnishings in the living room, which could never be changed easily from one model to another. We had very specific wants and needs based on our past experiences and desires, so for us, it would have been ridiculously expensive to remodel or tear out and replace these things to suit our color and style preferences. For us, we aren't picky or spoiled by any means, but after settling over the years and moving many times into houses that were not just right for our tastes and needs, we really needed to build ours to our desires this time. Others it is not a big deal, but I am sure there must be some that feel the same way since there seems to be some dissatisfaction with the possible ending of design and custom builds.