Brush up on building code requirements: in basements you're looking for egress windows that are 5.7 sq feet or more openable (3ft by 3ft casement style windows work best), and ceiling heights 6ft 8 inches or greater (as little as 6 ft 4 inches is ok under ductwork and beams though)3.

the location was not as desirable as we expected. the market stayed soft and construction is really expensive right now. learned to be way more conservative with rehab and arv numbers. also not to budge on negotiations. dont stretch.

If you look up his recent posts however I think it is worth pointing out this is a very soft market and he personally is not recommending purchasing yet at this time. 

Most new construction only makes sense when you push sales price to north of $1M+ and then make your money on "builder upgrades"Builders need to be able to build higher density with less zoning and soft cost restrictions so that we can put up 400-500k townhouse in solid areas with 10 year tax abatements. 

This is why lenders typically like to see borrower's equity contribution allocated to the project first and the lender then covers the rest of improvements and in some instances soft/carrying costs.  

But the Zestimate doesn’t mean much unless it reflects land or finished value.Buyers will reverse-engineer their offer based on resale potential minus build and soft costs.

Week of September 8, 2025The labor market is cooling faster than expected, inflation stayed right on script, and housing still looks solid. Here’s what stood out!💼 Job Growth Revised Down by 911,000The Bureau of L...

In 2025 it's a soft breeze or no wind at all.

I would agree, the market is a little soft when it comes to home sales. 

Starting with a new set of plans every time is going to certainly increase soft costs for sure.