If you are saving money on your lot today, you will have to pass this savings on tomorrow. The Number One Rule is… Go heavy on your Lot Purchase. This is Critical! 
Rarely, will you find a good deal on a lot. Great location comes at a price. If you are talking to a Home Builder who is promoting one of their lots, make sure you have done your homework and thoroughly analyzed the other available building lots in the area. Do not make your decision based on price alone.Look at the other homes that are in or will be built near your location.  Location truly is everything. This is one of those decisions in life, when you cannot make a mistake. Always, go heavy on your lot investment, you will never regret this decision.
 Creating drama is much easier when building a home from the ground up.
Within your building plan, you must design and designate some areas of unique opportunities. This is where you will be able to create the drama in your home. You do not necessarily have to spend a lot of money here, but you must think this process through. The additional cost for a Tray Ceiling, Niche, Barrel Ceiling, Unique Drywall Spaces, Dramatic Dining Room, or Grand Columned Entry Way, are minimal for what they can add to the total market value of your home. Bring your Interior Design team together when you are drafting your floor plan. Make sure you do not miss out on the many creative opportunities in the designing stage.
Custom floor plans are the Pinnacle of Home Building,but make sure your dream home is marketable in the future.  We have all seen floor plans that were not as well thought out, as they should have been.
If the floor plan for your dream home is truly unique, I would strongly encourage that you discuss your project with an Architect. We are fortunate to have many talented Architects in our area. They have the vision, to view a project from a prospective that is beyond what we can see. Your project is too important not to go the extra mile, to get a second opinion from an Architect. Your plan must flow naturally, create opportunities for drama, and be marketable. Finally someday, maybe sooner than you think, you will be selling your home. Could you sell your home tomorrow?
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Are they in the same price range? Are there water issues in the area? What are the current and future traffic patterns? What is the surrounding zoning? What direction does the lot face? What are the schools? 
An Architect can see where there are potential problem areas, discover additional areas of opportunity, and suggest options that you may not have considered. Take advantage of their valuable insight and ideas, when you are drawing up your dream home. 
