New home construction
Custom Home Builder for the Lake Livingston Area
Lake houses, family homes and homes on wooded acreage, built around how you live, starting with the land itself.
A home built for you and your land
A custom home starts with two things: how you want to live, and the piece of land you want to live on. A lakefront lot with a view, a wooded tract with privacy, or acreage with room for a shop each shape what the house should be and how it should sit.
Onalaska Builders builds custom homes from the ground up with our own crews. Because we also do site work and foundations, your project can go from raw land to a finished home with one builder responsible for how every stage fits together.
We build:
- Lake houses and waterfront homes
- Family homes on wooded lots and acreage
- Weekend and retirement homes
- Homes with attached or detached garages and shops
How it works
How a custom home build comes together
Every custom home is different, but the path from idea to move-in follows the same general stages:
- Talk it through. What you want to build, the size, the style, how you will use the home and the budget you are working with.
- Settle the plan. Work out the floor plan and the details that matter to you before construction begins, since changes are easiest on paper.
- Evaluate the lot. Access, slope, drainage, utilities, septic and any rules that apply to the property.
- Prepare the site. Land clearing, grading, drainage, the driveway and the house pad.
- Build the foundation. A slab or pier-and-beam foundation suited to the lot and the plan.
- Build the home. Framing, roofing and the exterior, then the interior through final finishes.
- Finish the property. Concrete drives and patios, decks and landscaping.
Lake living
What is different about building on a lakefront lot?
Waterfront lots on Lake Livingston are what draw many people to the area, and they bring a few extra things to plan for:
- Slope. Many lots fall toward the water. That affects grading, how the house sits and whether a raised foundation makes more sense than a slab.
- Water on the move. Rain running downhill toward the lake needs a planned path around the house. See drainage solutions.
- Views and orientation. Placing the house, windows, porches and decks to make the most of the water.
- Outdoor living. Decks, patios and covered areas often matter as much as the rooms inside. See decks and patios and pavilions.
- Rules near the water. Work close to the shoreline, and property in mapped flood areas, can come with additional requirements. Check what applies to your lot early.
Budgeting
What affects the cost of building a custom home?
There is no honest one-size price per square foot for a custom home, because the biggest cost drivers differ from project to project:
- Size and layout. Square footage, number of stories and how complex the floor plan and roofline are.
- Finishes. Cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures and trim can move the budget more than people expect.
- The lot. Clearing, grading, drainage and the length of the driveway all add up on wooded or sloped land.
- The foundation. Slab or pier and beam, and how much the site asks of it.
- Utilities. Bringing in power and water, or planning for a well and septic system, on rural property.
- Outdoor extras. Garages, shops, decks and patios.
The most reliable number comes from a conversation about your plan and your lot.
Before you build
Permits and approvals to check before building
What a build needs depends on where the property is, so it pays to find out early. Things to look into include:
- City or county. Property inside city limits can have different requirements from unincorporated land in the county.
- Deed restrictions and HOA rules. Many lake subdivisions set rules on home size, materials, setbacks and outbuildings.
- Septic. On-site sewage systems generally need approval before they are installed.
- Flood areas and the shoreline. Lots near the lake may fall under additional rules.
- Utilities and driveway access. Service connections and a driveway onto a public road can have their own requirements.
We build custom homes within about 35 miles of Onalaska, including Livingston, Point Blank, Coldspring, Shepherd, Groveton, Trinity, Huntsville, Cleveland and Willis. See our full service area.
More new home construction services
Related services
Questions
Custom Homes questions
How much does it cost to build a custom home near Lake Livingston?
It depends on the size and layout, the finishes, how much work the lot needs, the foundation type, utilities such as a well and septic, and extras like garages and decks. The most reliable number comes from a conversation about your plan and your lot.
Can you build on my lakefront lot?
Lakefront lots are a big part of building around Lake Livingston. They often involve slopes, drainage planning, views and rules near the shoreline, so tell us about your lot and we will talk through what it needs.
Do you handle the site work as well as the house?
Yes. We do land clearing, grading, drainage, driveways, house pads and foundations as well as home construction, so the site and the house are planned together.
What permits do I need to build a house here?
It depends on the property. Check whether the land is inside city limits, any deed restrictions or HOA rules, septic system approval, flood area or shoreline rules, and requirements for utilities and driveway access. It pays to find out early.
How do I start planning a custom home?
Call (806) 480-0328 or send the estimate form with the town or ZIP code of your land, roughly what you want to build and whether you have plans already.
Get started
Let's talk about your home
Tell us where your land is and what you picture building. Send the form or give us a call.