Upstate NY Custom Home Building Blog

Close your eyes and picture your forever home. You’re envisioning a place where holidays are celebrated, grandkids run through the yard, and each room adapts to your life’s evolving chapters. For many families across Upstate New York, the Finger Lakes offer the ideal backdrop for making that long-term vision a reality.

Between its small-town charm, access to top-tier healthcare, award-winning school districts, and a growing array of outdoor amenities, the Greater Rochester Area is increasingly seen as a smart place to build a custom family home. Gerber Homes has been building custom homes in this area for decades, and we’re happy to walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing the right community and home design to incorporating universal design features and planning for future needs. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a perfect family home or the best tips when building a house, this one’s for you.

Starting your custom home journey is a unique thrill, but the early stages can feel like a waiting game. You’ve made the decision to build your dream home, but before the walls go up, there are crucial steps that happen behind the scenes. Permits, municipal approvals, and site preparation all play a vital role in setting your project up for success.

If your current home no longer meets your family’s needs, you might be ready to move to a new home. One question you might be asking yourself is, “Should I buy a spec home or build a custom home this year?” Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons you’ll want to consider—and whether the coming year is a good time to make a move such as this.

As custom home builders in upstate New York, we obviously think that custom homes are worthwhile endeavors, but we also understand that they're not for everyone. Here at Gerber Homes, we want everyone to find the perfect new home for their situation, and we're happy to use our experience to help you decide between spec and custom new residential construction by comparing the pros and cons of a custom vs. spec new home. Let's dig into the details together!

Building a custom home is a dream for many, and a construction loan can make that dream a reality. Unlike traditional mortgages, construction loans are designed specifically to fund the building process, ensuring you have the resources to create a home tailored to your needs. At Gerber Homes, with over 40 years of expertise in upstate New York, we’ve guided countless homeowners through the intricacies of financing their dream homes, and we’re here to guide your tour through everything you need to know about construction loans.