The Vista Blog

Have you ever dreamed of living in a big house? For many Americans, owning a home represents the pinnacle of the American Dream — a symbol of success, stability, and personal achievement. But when you build a house, deciding on the right house size is more than just chasing a dream. It’s about finding a balance between practicality and personal preference.

While the average house size in America has grown significantly over the years, bigger isn’t always better. Ultimately, the ideal home size should align with your lifestyle, family needs, and long-term goals. 

Let’s explore the key considerations that can help you determine how big you should build your custom home.

It's finally time! You’re going to begin building a home, and you’ve thought it all through – or so you’ve thought.  While most future homeowners fantasize about decorating, we want to make sure you consider the true reality of building a home. To guarantee a smooth home-building process, check out our four tips and never feel overwhelmed.

When it comes to building or designing your custom home, every square foot matters. One of the most exciting aspects of your floor plan is the flexibility to include a spare bedroom.

But what if you could do more with that space? At Vista Developers, we love helping homeowners think creatively and make the most out of every room in their house. Here are some spare bedroom ideas to transform your space, enhance your lifestyle, and add more value to your home.

Building a custom home is an exciting but complex journey that involves countless decisions, from initial floor plans to final touches. Working with a professional home designer can significantly ease this process, helping make your new home not only look beautiful but fit your lifestyle flawlessly. If you’re considering designing your dream home, here’s why partnering with a home designer can save you time, stress, and even money in the long run.

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.