Your Guide to Building a Home on Your Own Land in Alaska
There are many reasons to build a custom home and finding the perfect location is one of them.
Whether you want a secluded estate for peace and privacy or the convenience and amenities of living in a community, Alaska’s sweeping landscapes offer plenty of options for residential building.
Use this guide to learn the considerations and process of buying land to design and build a custom home in Alaska. By following the steps in this guide, you can achieve your dream forever home in Alaska.
Undeveloped Land vs. Vacant Land
Choosing between undeveloped and vacant land is one of the first steps in determining what will become the grounds for your custom home.
Undeveloped or raw land is in its natural state. It doesn’t have clear access, a building pad, or utilities. While this offers a blank canvas for designing your custom home with architectural freedom, building the infrastructure you’ll need can be more expensive and time-consuming.
Vacant land isn’t currently being used but has some infrastructure. The land may have been developed previously for a construction project that never came to fruition. The initial setup on vacant land is often easier, but it might introduce building limitations, which can impact the architectural design of your home.
The Land Buying & Home Building Process
Buying land and building your custom home is an exciting journey. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what you can typically expect:
Find & Purchase the Land
The perfect plot of land factors in various aspects that can affect your lifestyle, including:
- Zoning and subdivision covenants
- Desired acreage and the land-to-building ratio
- Privacy
- Neighbors and community
- Commutes
- School districts if you have children
Whether you’re working with a realtor, partnering with a builder like Falcon Alaska, or finding the land yourself, these preferences will guide you to the ideal location.
Hire a Custom Home Builder Early in the Process
Selecting the right design-build team is essential. Falcon Alaska delivers ultimate transparency and careful curation to ensure an easy custom home-building project from start to finish.
You’ll work closely with our in-house architectural and interior designers, project managers, and construction team.
We’ll ensure all aspects of your home design will be feasible for the land you choose while maximizing its potential and ensuring that your build is up to code.
Design Your Home
The design concept phase is where you can start to see your vision come to life. From designing floor plans and an exterior 3D model, Falcon Alaska’s design-build process provides flexibility and expert guidance when crafting your dream home. Already have your home design finalized? No problem! Our architects can work with existing house plans, or we can help design your forever home’s floor plan.
Finalize Your Budget
Major costs you may expect when building a house include:
- Laying the foundation
- Framing the house
- Installing interior finishes, such as drywall, flooring, countertops, and cabinets
- Installing exterior finishes, such as roofing, siding, and gutters
However, some expenses may catch you by surprise, particularly if you’re building on your own land.
Set aside a portion of your budget for:
- Driveway paving
- Landscaping
- Window coverings
- Furniture
Unlike many custom builders, Falcon provides a final budget once the design is finalized to set clear financial expectations before construction begins.
Build Preparation
Once you’ve signed the contract, your design-build team will prepare for the build, which includes:
- Pre-ordering materials to avoid price increases and delays from long lead times
- Setting a realistic construction timeline
- Securing the necessary permits
Falcon Alaska ensures proper planning and project management to ensure your custom home design-build stays on budget and on schedule.
Construction
Proper inspections throughout the build ensure quality control, while regular communication with your project manager keeps you updated on how your home is coming along.
Once the final punch list and inspection are complete, you’ll get the keys and move into your custom home.
Design & Build Your Dream Home With Falcon Alaska
Now that you know what to consider when building a home on your own land, start your design-build custom home project with Falcon.
We’ve provided over 25 years of dedicated service to Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. We’ve completed a variety of custom residential projects, including lakeside estates, modern mountain homes, and remote ranch homes.
We’ll design and build a home that’s uniquely yours. Our uncompromising vision and commitment to seamless project execution ensure you’ll be incredibly happy with the process and results.
If you’re eager to build your forever home in Anchorage or the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, call Falcon to request a consultation.
