The Vista Blog

Deciding whether to build or buy a house is a significant consideration for those exploring home ownership, and it's not a decision to be taken lightly. While both options have their merits, today we'll explore the compelling advantages of building a custom home from the ground up.

Most obviously, building a home gives you the chance to make your dream home a reality. If that's not a good enough reason, remember that most homes on the market today have been previously owned, and they often come with time-consuming challenges such as repair, remodeling, and upfront maintenance costs.

When buying a house, most people are very familiar with the process of applying for a mortgage, purchasing, and moving into a home that is already built. However, the situation is slightly different when building a new home from the ground up.

Spec home vs custom home - that is the question. What makes these two types of builds different and how do I know which one is best for me?

The short and simple answer: Custom homes are homes that are made from entirely scratch - using unique blueprints that are designed by a home builder. You get to customize to the "T". Spec homes, on the other hand, are a neat little term for a house that is pre-designed and pre-built, ready for a potential buyer to move in.

But there is more to this than this watered down response. How can you know which fit would be best for you? Let's dig into the specifics of specs and custom builds.

Open or closed off? That's the question many homeowners face when deciding between an open concept kitchen or a formal dining room. The choice may seem like a mere arrangement of walls and furniture, but it embodies a profound shift in how we envision and experience our living/dining/cooking spaces. 

A glance at your friends' home designs or a quick online search will reveal that neither design philosophy holds absolute superiority over the other. In fact, the ONLY determining factors are your personal style and unique needs. 

In this regard, this post lays out the differences between open concept floor plans and formal dining rooms, including the pros and cons of each design alternative.

Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a unique experience, and it’s important to build your home in a way to maximize the potential views. By strategically placing windows and doors and creating the proper flow in the living areas, homeowners can create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living, allowing them an immersive experience.

Today, we will explore design techniques to enhance this connection, ensuring your dream home embraces full mountain views while offering comfort and luxury.

If you ever have sat down and pondered about your future, the visualization of your dream home has probably come to you a time or two. You may have pictured your house deeply secluded in the woods or in that cookie-cutter neighborhood you've always dreamed of.

But what you may not have wondered about was the square footage of your home, and today, we want to provide you with a few things to remember before you purchase a big home. 

Building a custom home is a long and complex process that has many variables. While the finished product can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, the path to getting there can be quite stressful if you're not prepared. Before you begin the process of building your custom dream home, there are a few things you should know that will help everything go more smoothly so you can have peace of mind throughout the planning and building process.

Do you have a small half-bath or powder room and you’re just not sure what to do with the space? Just because it’s a small area doesn’t mean you can’t make it one of the coolest rooms in the house! Here are some great ideas to make your half-bath pop and get the most out of that small space.

Significant life changes tend to be one of the most common reasons for a family to begin searching for a new home. For many, buying a new home means that the kids have flocked from the nest and started lives of their own -- either at college, in their careers or with their new spouse and children.

The empty nest years are a time for parents to look at their future and reconsider the house they call home. Think about it... There you are in this big empty house with a yard to maintain and more space than you need as you head into your golden years.

We have all dreamed of our "forever home" including luxury features like beautiful granite or quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, or outstanding curb appeal with a spacious front porch.

Will all those luxury features truly serve to create a lasting perfect home for you? 

Let's face it, we are all going to get older, and when building a custom home we tend to get lost in that exact moment and forget about the accessibility we will need later on. Here are 3 things that you want to consider when preparing to build your custom "forever" home without compromising your must-have features.