I don't know where you live, but I did that two years ago in Texas and it was... straightforward [0]. First buy the land. I didn't even use a real estate agent

I don't know where you live, but I did that two years ago in Texas and it was... straightforward [0]. First buy the land. I didn't even use a real estate agent. Seller and I figured out the forms ourselves and went to a title company to do the deed and make sure everything was correct. Next sign a contract with a builder, get financing for the (detailed) contract, and build the house. The bank will inspect the house every time they give the builder money to make sure you and the bank are getting what you're paying for. Edit: actually other financing arrangements are more common, since most people can't afford or don't want to buy the land outright then finance construction. Usually you package the land loan and construction under the same mortgage which takes more up front work. [0] Searching for the right word here. Simple doesn't quite fit because construction is a complex industry and it is easy to over pay. The more you know and the more you can be involved in the process the better the outcome will be.