Is it a warning sign or a test?

[Gluvhand]

Do you really think a god would take the time out from the mess we're in now to play games with you? Think on that.

 

[Lowendchamp]

First world problems? You are still blessed my friend everything happens for a reason. Sounds like a time for a new bass.

 

[fhm555]

Is your dream home non standard construction? Maybe a design that is challenging structurally? i can’t imagine a conventional stick built house being that difficult to get a set of plans for.
The problem with top shelf builders is they are rarely not busy and you may need to get on a waiting list to get a start date.
As for all if it since COVID hit, it just further complicates an already fairly daunting task. If it’s truly your dream it's worth putting in the time money and work.
As for a sign from above? Maybe take it as a sign to learn how to do your own title searches when shopping for land, and how to ask for verifiable references when vetting potential architects and builders?

 

[Pilgrim]

I'd say you got lucky in one respect. Finding errors in the architect's drawings will save you a lot of time and money when it comes to building the actual house.

The rest is timing and a bit of bad luck. Be thorough in your planning and work through it. As noted, it's a big project and complex. Nothing very special going on there...

 

[4Mal]

Honestly, this is a good time to be planning ... building not so much. Lumber is still high, though not as high as it was. In my are contractors are turning away work as demand is high and labor is in short supply. There is no incentive for contractors to be price sensitive at the moment. Everything is too expensive.

Sell and buy pre-built if you really feel the need to leave the 'hood. Look at a property that you can either learn to live with or one that will hold value and turn when the construction market improves.

 

[Alkali Ike]

This is kind of a Bermuda Triangle time to be planning and building a custom home. Maybe next year will be better.

Wait, that’s only 2 days from now.

 

[MJ5150]

Honestly, this is a good time to be planning ... building not so much. Lumber is still high, though not as high as it was. In my are contractors are turning away work as demand is high and labor is in short supply. There is no incentive for contractors to be price sensitive at the moment. Everything is too expensive.

Sell and buy pre-built if you really feel the need to leave the 'hood. Look at a property that you can either learn to live with or one that will hold value and turn when the construction market improves.

The situation is similar up here. A friend is a general contractor, specializing in home remodels and medium sized projects. It's just him, and he likes it that way.
He's not aggressive and he doesn't bid high just to do it, but he does charge a higher than normal rate than other GC's. He doesn't advertise, no signage on his work truck. Not even a website.
He was just telling me the other day he is turning down work almost daily.

-Mike

 

[bolophonic]

OP, I feel your pain completely. My wife and I bought the historic farm adjacent to our land in November of 2020 and exactly five weeks later, someone began to lay siege on the neighborhood with a series of terrifying attacks — home invasions and daytime robberies, vandalism, livestock poisoned, pets hacked up with machetes... it culminated with an arson attack on our next-door neighbor, who was an elderly stroke victim nearly burned alive on a Saturday morning. After that was a shooting.

It was months before the crimes were solved (they were perpetrated by the woman who lives directly across the street from our home.). During that time, our project house lay abandoned and boarded up.

I was finally able to return to the project this summer and I am finally past the halfway point, but instead of making good progress for most of the first year, I was floundering under too much stress, in complete despair over my mental health, and reeling from regret over the way everything had played out.

In the end, I was able to somehow gain a foothold and restart the engine, but my project is different from yours. Good luck, man.

 

[steve_ss]

OP, I feel your pain completely. My wife and I bought the historic farm adjacent to our land in November of 2020 and exactly five weeks later, someone began to lay siege on the neighborhood with a series of terrifying attacks — home invasions and daytime robberies, vandalism, livestock poisoned, pets hacked up with machetes... it culminated with an arson attack on our next-door neighbor, who was an elderly stroke victim nearly burned alive on a Saturday morning. After that was a shooting.

It was months before the crimes were solved (they were perpetrated by the woman who lives directly across the street from our home.). During that time, our project house lay abandoned and boarded up.

I was finally able to return to the project this summer and I am finally past the halfway point, but instead of making good progress for most of the first year, I was floundering under too much stress, in complete despair over my mental health, and reeling from regret over the way everything had played out.

In the end, I was able to somehow gain a foothold and restart the engine, but my project is different from yours. Good luck, man.

OMG, I don't know where to begin. I feel so bad for you. I'm glad to hear you came through the issues successfully in the end. Good luck with the rest of the project. I'd love to see pictures. Happy New Year.