Building a home in West Michigan is an exciting opportunity that allows buyers to watch their home being built from the ground up. The path from floor plan selection to move-in requires careful planning and realistic expectations.
Knowing the key factors before breaking ground helps streamline the process and keeps you in the know during your homebuying journey. Our team compiled this West Michigan homebuyer checklist to make the process of purchasing your new home that much easier with Interra Homes:
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Financing
The first step to shopping for your dream home is to set a realistic budget that covers all homebuying aspects. Whether selecting a homesite and floor plan or choosing an already built home, it is key to set a realistic budget that matches your needs.
Assess your homebuyer wish list and review your budget. Are you in the market for a fully upgraded home? Do you wish to live on a corner homesite? Do you have use for a basement? These are all important questions to consider when reviewing the Interra Homes community list and floor plan offerings. Be sure to also factor in funds for design upgrades, as well as any fees and costs associated with the mortgage. If you purchase one of our completed homes, down payments typically range from 3-20% of the total home price. In addition, closing costs are due at the time of closing.
West Michigan’s competitive real estate market has affected construction costs, with material prices changing in recent years. We understand this financial complexity and offer a solution that eliminates construction loan requirements. Interra Homes carries the construction loan for you, relieving you from the stress of securing a loan and allowing you to move directly to a traditional mortgage upon completion. A $4,000 initial build deposit is due at the signing of a new build contract. A permit deposit of $9,500 plus 20% of options and upgrades is due before your pre-construction meeting. Please refer to your estimated build schedule for more details.
View our Interra Homes Mortgage Calculator to get an idea of how much home you can afford. The best way to determine your budget and find out how much cash is required at closing is to connect with one of our Interra Homes preferred lenders and get prequalified.
*Please note that you are not required to use one of our preferred lenders and may choose a lender to represent yourself.
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Homesite & Floor Plan Selection
Once you have figured out how much home you can afford and how to finance your Interra Home in West Michigan, it is time to select your homesite and floor plan!
The best way to select your future homesite is to visit our Neighborhoods page! After selecting a city and home type, choose a neighborhood to virtually explore. Each community boasts its own unique collection of homesites and floor plans. Please note that floor plan options will vary per homesite selection – our onsite team can help you determine the right combination.
Our team is proud to showcase a lineup of plans that spotlight today’s top trends and popular homebuyer wish list items. Whether you are looking to downsize to a ranch-style condo home in this next chapter of life or find a forever home plucked straight from your dreams, we have the home for you:
After selecting your neighborhood, homesite and floor plan, now the real fun begins! Call or fill out the contact form on your preferred community page to reach our team.
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Plan & Design
Planning your home’s appearance requires balancing personal preferences with practical needs and budget limits. In West Michigan’s diverse architectural landscape, you’ll find everything from traditional colonial styles in Grand Rapids suburbs to contemporary lakefront homes near the lakeshore. Your choices impact both home price and long-term satisfaction:
- High ceilings create an open, airy feeling but may increase heating and cooling expenses.
- Vinyl siding offers low maintenance and affordability.
- Stone exterior accents command premium prices but deliver exceptional longevity in Michigan’s varied climate.
- Open floor plans maximize space but may sacrifice privacy.
- Kitchen islands provide extra workspace and storage
- The placement of your primary suite affects both daily comfort and resale appeal.
- Also known as a sunroom, Michigan Rooms are a great way to introduce indoor-outdoor living to your home. These rooms feature an abundance of windows, adding sunlight and added warmth to your home during the fall and winter months.
- Finished basements give you the opportunity to add extra living areas, bedrooms and bathrooms to your home plan for an additional cost.
Other added options, such as folding stations in the laundry room, additional shelving, optional doors, benches in the mudroom and more, increase the cost but boost the overall value and integrity of the home.
*Please note that upgrade options vary per floor plan.
With Interra Homes, we partner with you to choose exterior and interior selections that will bring your dream home to life! Each community features its own lineup of floor plan and elevation options to make the process a breeze.
You can design your future home from the comfort of your couch and will meet with our team at the Interra Homes Design Studio once your homebuilding process has begun.
Want to make the process of selecting your home’s interior even easier? Explore our Curated Collections to make choosing your home’s palette as easy as clicking a button.
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Construction
Homebuilding typically takes four to eight months, depending on size, complexity and seasonal factors. West Michigan’s climate creates unique challenges, with winter weather potentially extending schedules for exterior work and foundation pouring. Note that peak building season occurs from April through October when weather conditions are most favorable.
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Closing with Our Team
Successfully navigating the building process requires partnering with experienced professionals who understand local conditions and regulations. We bring decades of West Michigan homebuilding experience, guiding our buyers through every phase from initial planning to final walkthrough.
Our thorough approach, which includes detailed project schedules, regular progress updates and coordination with local suppliers and subcontractors, ensures that your project stays on schedule. Once you are under contract with Interra Homes, your price is locked! We will not raise it if the cost of materials goes up or if unforeseen circumstances arise during construction. This systematic process maintains quality standards that exceed industry norms, giving you peace of mind throughout the construction process.
Stop waiting to unlock the door to your future West Michigan home! Let us hand you the keys. Contact us online or at 616-514-0262 to schedule an initial meeting and start turning your dream home into reality.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ shisu_ka