Building a house takes 10 main steps, from setting a budget and buying land to the final inspection and move-in. The planning steps usually take 2 to 6 months, and construction itself averaged 7.6 months in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
What are the steps to building a house?
| Step | What happens | Typical time | Share of cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Set a budget and get pre-approved | Estimate total cost and talk to lenders | 2–4 weeks | — |
| 2. Buy land | Check zoning, utilities, soil and access | 1–3 months | Land: varies |
| 3. Choose plans and a builder | Stock or custom plans; collect bids | 1–3 months | Plans: ~1–8% |
| 4. Finance and permits | Construction loan closing, building permit | 1–2 months | Site work: 7.6% |
| 5. Site prep and foundation | Clearing, excavation, footings, slab or basement | 2–6 weeks | 10.5% |
| 6. Framing | Floors, walls, roof structure, sheathing | 3–6 weeks | 16.6% |
| 7. Exterior and rough-ins | Roof, windows, siding; plumbing, electrical, HVAC | 4–8 weeks | 32.6% |
| 8. Insulation and drywall | Insulation, inspection, drywall hanging and finishing | 3–5 weeks | Part of interior |
| 9. Interior finishes | Cabinets, flooring, trim, paint, fixtures | 6–10 weeks | 24.1% |
| 10. Final steps and move-in | Driveway, landscaping, final inspection, walkthrough | 2–4 weeks | 6.5% |
Cost shares are from NAHB’s 2024 cost survey. Times are typical ranges for a contractor-built home and vary with weather, inspections and material availability.
1. How do you set a budget for building a house?
Start with the total you can afford, then work backwards. Get pre-approved for a construction loan, estimate the house with our home building cost calculator, and add land, permits and a 10% contingency. A useful rule: construction is about two thirds of a new home’s total price.
2. How do you choose land to build on?
Choose land that is zoned for a single-family home and has road access and either utility connections or room for a well and septic system. Order a survey and a soil or percolation test before you buy. See how much land costs.
3. How do you choose house plans and a builder?
Pick stock plans to save money, or hire an architect for a custom design. Then ask at least three builders to bid on the same plans and specification. See house plans and architect fees and how to choose a home builder.
4. How do you get financing and permits?
Close on a construction loan once the builder, plans and budget are final, then apply for the building permit. NAHB’s survey put average building permit fees at $7,640, plus $6,367 in impact fees and $6,260 for water and sewer inspections.
5–10. What happens during construction?
Construction follows the same sequence on almost every house: site preparation and foundation, framing, roofing and exterior, plumbing and electrical rough-ins, insulation and drywall, interior finishes, then the driveway, landscaping and a final inspection. Your lender releases money after each stage is inspected.
How long does each step take?
From permit to completion, homes built by a hired contractor took about 12 months on average in 2024, built-for-sale homes about 7.6 months and owner-built homes 15.1 months (U.S. Census Bureau). Read the full breakdown in how long it takes to build a house.
Planning guides
Sources
- NAHB: Cost of Constructing a Home in 2024 (stage-by-stage cost shares, survey published January 2025)
- Pennsylvania Association of Realtors: summary of NAHB 2024 cost figures (dollar amounts per stage)
- Autodesk: How much does it cost to build a house in 2026? (state totals for a 2,000 sq ft home, based on Today’s Homeowner data)
- NAHB: New single-family home size trends, Q3 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau data)
- NAHB: Single-family homes are built faster in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Construction)
- Redfin: How much does it cost to build a house in 2026?