Buying a new home can be a daunting experience, and there are many options out there to choose from. Your new home could be conventional stick-built, modular, or a pre-engineered kit home, but whatever it is there are certain things to keep in mind:

1.)"The land choice is so important," said Greg Buhler, of Atlantic Custom Homes. Atlantic Custom Homes offers a wide range of post and beam designs, from Classic Lindal to the modern Turkel Design Lindals for the Dwell Homes Collection. Buhler added, "You have to know that you can build what you want to build on that land." Building a house is not as easy as just finding a piece of land and building any house on it. Depending on the area there may be certain height restrictions, zoning regulations, and it may even have to pass by many different boards. Just having a couple acres doesn't necessarily mean you can build the house of your dreams. It's incredibly important and worth your time to consult with a lawyer or real estate agent on local regulations before purchasing land. Share with them what type of structure you want to build, and they'll help you pick out the piece of land right for you.

2.)Energy efficiency is also another key point to consider. "The most efficient structure is a multi-story structure," Buhler said, "Because you're not increasing the footprint of the house. Whatever energy you're creating in that house to heat or cool it is staying within a vertical space." Heat rises. It's a simple principle, and when that principle is at work in your home it means that the heat created on the first floor is going to rise to second floor, and so on, and so forth, and in a multi-story home that energy is saved, whereas in a one story home all that energy just escapes through the roof. The least efficient design, according to Buhler, is the rambling ranch, because of the large amount of roof required for that structure, which means more surface area through which energy can escape.

3.) Modular is a great way to reduce on waste because of the ability to reuse materials at the factory, but consider the waste produced at the site as well. John Colucci, of Westchester Modular Homes, noted that he has seen a rise in demolish and rebuild construction projects in recent years. This method of construction is considered when it makes more financial sense to just level the old building and start from scratch, or when there is limited land available for construction projects. The area of concern in this type of building is what happens to the demolished materials. While certain elements such as copper pipes and concrete can be reused and recycled, there is still a large amount that goes to landfills, essentially negating the waste saved in the factory. Howard Kipnes, a builder associated with Westchester Modular through Cedar Knolls, said, "I don't know if I'd say the majority [of building materials get recycled], but a very big portion of it."

4.) Plan ahead, John Palmucci of Advantage Modular Homes, warns. Think about where you want to be in ten years, and if the house you're looking to build will still suit your needs for that long. Whether you're just starting a family or will be planning for retirement in a few years it is essential to consider your long term goals of the house. The last thing you want is to have to move every couple years because you've outgrown your old house.