According to the American Time Use Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends nearly two-thirds of their life at home. That’s where we sleep, eat, work, raise our kids—just live our lives.
So when you step into a house that doesn’t feel quite right, it’s more than just a small annoyance. That’s years of your life shaped by someone else’s decisions.
And that’s when the real questions start to settle in.
Because this isn’t just about buying a house.
It’s about setting up the next 10, 15, maybe even 20 years in a home that fits your life—not one you’ve gotta fit yourself into.
So the question isn’t just, “Should you be building your next home?”
It’s: “Do I really want to spend the next chapter of my life adjusting to a house—or finally living in one that’s made for the way we live?”
While some folks keep looking, others realize none of those homes were designed for the way they live.
And those are usually one of two families:
1. Young Families Who Don’t Want to Miss the Window
They’re in the thick of it—sports practice, school drop-offs, backpacks piled on benches, and cereal bowls in the sink. And at some point, they start thinking:
“We’re gonna be doing this for the next 15 years. Might as well build a house that makes life a little easier.”
So what are they after?
- A layout that flows—enough space to move in the mornings without bumping into each other or getting stuck in a hallway traffic jam.
- A kitchen that flows into the living space so they can pack lunches, cook dinner, or load the dishwasher while still keeping an eye on the kids without shouting over a wall or walking between rooms.
- Bedrooms that make sense now and later—close enough when the little ones need you, far enough apart when they hit those teenage years. A setup that grows with them so you’re not moving again in five years.
- Open, livable spaces where everyone can spread out. Connected areas that don’t feel cramped. And enough storage so the house doesn’t feel like it’s busting at the seams with toys, gear, and laundry.
They’re not trying to be fancy. They’re just tired of squeezing a growing family into a house that was never built with one in mind.
2. Empty Nesters Who Know What They Don’t Want More Children
They’ve done the child-raising, stair-climbing, big-house-cleaning phase. Mowed the yard more times than they can count. And now they’re ready for something different.
Not bigger. Better.
What they’re looking for is:
- Fewer steps. No more haulin’ laundry up and down or strugglin’ to get groceries in from the garage.
- A layout that actually works for two people—something open and easy, where the kitchen, living room, and bedroom flow together without feeling like a big ol’ barn.
- One great guest room that’s ready when the grandkids come to visit—not a bunch of spare rooms that sit empty 350 days a year.
- A kitchen that finally fits how they cook. Maybe that’s more storage. Maybe it’s a better stove. Maybe it’s just having the lights right over the island for once.
- Less upkeep. No more climbing up to clean high gutters, no giant bushes to trim, and no surprise repair bills lurking in the walls.
Truth is, when you know what’s not working, building stops feeling like a wild idea—and starts feeling like plain old common sense.
And you know what else? You get a home that runs better, too
When you decide that you’ll be building your next home, you’re starting fresh. You get better insulation, tighter sealing, smarter systems—stuff that makes a real difference in your bills and your comfort. That means lower energy costs, better airflow, and more consistent temps across the whole house.
And since everything’s brand new, you’re not crossing your fingers hoping the water heater holds another year or that the roof won’t spring a leak next spring. You’re starting clean—with materials that last and systems built for how people live today.
That’s why building your next home often makes more sense. Because it gives you control over how you live, what you spend, and what kind of home you’ll still be happy in years from now.
You’re Not Just Picking a House — You’re Choosing How You’ll Live
If you’ve made it this far, you’re not just thinking about what’s on the market. You’re thinking about how you want to live.
And that’s not always an easy thing to figure out. But it sure is easier than trying to wedge your life into somebody else’s old floor plan.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot more to building your next home than knowing what doesn’t work.
That’s why we’ve put together this no-nonsense guide to help you start smart:
7 Things You Must Know Before Designing a New Home
Inside, you’ll find what most folks only learn after they’ve made the expensive mistakes:
- What to plan before you ever sit down with a designer
- The sneaky cost traps that catch most folks off guard
- And how to make sure you’re building for your life—not someone else’s idea of it
If building your next home even crossed your mind, this guide’s worth a look.
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Victor Myers Custom Homes is a proud member of TAB and NAHB.
