Custom Home Building Annual Share Declines

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC), reports that the custom home share declined to 19.5% of all single-family homes started in 2018—lowest since mid-2000. Contractor-built or owner-built houses – that together make up the custom home market – are built one house at a time for owner occupancy on owner’s land with either the homeowner or a builder acting as the general contractor. The alternative is a home built on the builder’s land, with the builders intention of selling the house and land in one transaction.