Guides & Resources
Practical guides on cost, timing, and how to choose the right service, written for homeowners in our area.
Vancleave gives you room to breathe, but a rural lot comes with its own checklist. Here is what to know about permits, septic, wells, flood zones and wooded acreage before you build.
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A practical guide to building a custom home in Gulfport, MS: how the city changes from the beach to the north side, what to check on a lot, and who handles permits.
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A local guide to building a custom home in Biloxi: how East Biloxi, West Biloxi, North Biloxi and Woolmarket differ, what flood zones and elevation rules mean, and how permits work.
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A local guide to building a custom home in Ocean Springs: which areas to look at, what to check on a lot before you buy, and who handles permits inside the city and out in the county.
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A plain-English guide to construction loans on the Mississippi Gulf Coast: how draws work, one-time vs two-time close, VA, FHA and USDA options, and what the lender asks of your builder.
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A full home renovation goes smoother when you know the order of the work, what older coastal houses tend to hide, and how permits and flood rules can change the scope.
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Outgrowing your house? Here is how to weigh a home addition against selling and moving on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, from mortgage rates to the FEMA 50% rule.
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A practical checklist for comparing custom home builders in Mississippi, from checking a license on the MSBOC website to reading the contract and spotting red flags.
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Every stage of building a custom home on the Gulf Coast, in order: lot, design, budget, permits, foundation, framing, inspections, finishes and the final walkthrough.
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No house is truly hurricane proof, but a home built with a continuous load path, a sealed roof deck, rated openings and smart elevation can ride out Gulf Coast storms far better.
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Before you buy one of the lots for sale in Ocean Springs or nearby, check the flood zone, soil, drainage, utilities, restrictions and insurance. Here is the checklist we use.
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Custom, spec and production homes are three different ways to end up in a new house. Here is how they compare on design control, price, timeline, lot and resale, and who each one really fits.
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A local guide to building a custom home in Pass Christian: flood zones and elevation after Katrina, the Scenic Drive Historic District, live oaks, and who issues your permit.
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A realistic look at the timeline for building a home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, from design and permits to move-in day, plus what causes delays.
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A local guide to building a custom home in Gautier: picking a lot, reading the FEMA flood map near the bayous and the river, clearing, and City permits.
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A builder's plain-English look at what really moves the cost to build a house in Mississippi, from the lot and flood elevation to wind-rated features and finishes.
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