How many times have you dreamed about having that perfect home? You picture the entry with white and black checker board tile on the floor, which opens to the foyer facing the split staircase. How many times have you imagined yourself in front of the fireplace in the family room with a vaulted beam ceiling?

You know in your mind every inch of the perfect kitchen. A kitchen that has superbly finished oak cabinets and granite counter tops; the center island with a cook-top and breakfast bar on the back side with beautiful wood stools. You've designed over and over in thought and dream how the professional stainless steel range set in the perfect spot with plenty of counter space and all the other appliances in just the right space will look and feel.

More and more the thought of a small conservatory off of a den is speaking to your inner being. The soft warmth of a plush master bedroom with master bath, and oh that whirlpool tub.

And then you fall into that pattern of thinking that there is no way on your family income could you ever afford a home like that. Well, that dream home may be closer then you think. Closer and more affordable without having to make a lot of concessions, or give up all those nice aspects, because building it might be a lot cheaper then you think

First off, let's get that old concept of modular homes out of your mind. The one where you see that rectangular home split in two halves going down the highway kind of concept. Is that a modular home? Technically yes, but modular homes have progressed so much farther in the past decade that the old spit-it-in-two type modular home is a distant relative of the modern custom designed and constructed modular homes of today.

Let's look at the term modular. Something is modular if it includes or uses modules which can be interchanged as units. Modular homes of the past were built from standard floor plans usually Then the home was constructed in a factory usually using a modified one piece construction, split in two, and shipped out to the erection site location. What's modular about that? Not much in my opinion.

Today's modular homes are built truly from modules. The larger the home plan is, the more modules that will be incorporated into it. Each module can be split out of the over all design and replace with another for the most part.

Sure there are some constraints, but with computer aided design the building of modular homes is better able to make a home buyers ideal design take place. By plugging in pre-designed rooms or spaces one at a time the computer can formulate a plan that follows input design to a much greater extent then every before. More so the computer can allow the buyer to pick the rooms or spaces they want incorporated into a design allowing the program to select those finished designs that best utilize chosen design aspects.

Because most of all the work of construction including plumbing and electrical is done under controlled conditions, there are no construction design surprises halfway through the completed project. With the aid of the computer, the buyer knows right from design inception if there will be problems with structural layout. Elaborate designs that were once only able to the very wealthy who could afford to hire top flight architectural firms to work with construction crews during construction, are now available to almost everyone.

Then after the plan is formulated, the modules are assembled by design to be transported to the work site, where they will be assembled by a crew proficient in on site modular construction. It is not uncommon to have a Modular home delivered to the erection site in 4, 5 or more modules to be assembled.

One of the best things about the New Year is that it is a time to start making plans for the spring and summertime. It's especially exciting if we are planning on building a new home. It seems that we have renewed energy to start the building projects as soon as the snow leaves.

This is a great time to be building a new home if you plan on doing the work yourself. Once you have decided that a new home is on your "to do" list, you need to know where to start and what steps can help you get there the quickest.

The first place to start is the basic plan of what you need according to the people who will be living in the house. A good starting plan will have just what your family needs and you can worry about the wants after the needs are assessed. All homes regardless of size should have at least two bathrooms. Single bathroom homes won't easily sell these days.

Ideally, each person should have his or her own room, but sometimes our pocketbook dictates whether we get that or not. A sensible kitchen is a must. Modern kitchens need to have more space than ever before. As a whole, people are wider than ever before and even if you personally aren't losing the battle of the bulge, some prospective buyer further down the road probably will be.

Families have more junk than ever before so they need more space to put it in. We are now seeing very large TV entertainment systems and surround sound packages similar to theaters. That means the family room needs to be bigger than it was only a decade ago.

A full-sized laundry room is a must because almost everyone has a washer and dryer. Two decades ago people would just go to the Laundromat because they didn't have a formal laundry room. It was considered a luxury when older homes were being built.

Many modern homes are being built without dining rooms because the family sitting at the table is now the family in front of the TV or computer. Dining rooms will be much less significant in the future than they are now and were in the past. Besides that, kitchens are bigger with island counters and bars. That is taking the place of dining rooms.

Older homes had libraries built as part of the necessary home components. A person needed a lot more space to study in just a few decades ago. That has all changed with computers. Even the largest Encyclopedia sets are available on DVD's or the Internet so formal library study rooms are no longer needed.

There is also a big change in Living rooms. A living room to us in the west is the same as a formal reception room, salon or parlor. It's a place where you meet your guests, sit down, and talk about things. That is no longer considered a necessity or even a luxury in modern homes.

The simple truth about that is that we as a whole don't entertain guests like we used to. The only guests we invite are good friends and family, which are perfectly comfortable in our family rooms.

Almost all homes need some sort of office or business room. We are more business oriented than ever before. We now build bill-paying rooms. That's a funny thing. A century ago, people would have laughed at that, but in our modern day, we will spend many hours paying bills. An office really is necessary.

After you have decided what you need, then you can decide what you want. That's where it gets fun. Most of the fun extras will also be a selling point, but remember not to overdo the specialty home components, because realtors and bank appraisers when determining the cost of your home if you sell it will overlook most of those extras. Those are considered diminishing returns. A fireplace might be nice for you, but further down the road, they may be considered dirty and hazardous to the environment.

The evolution of homes is ever changing. The difference between homes built thirty years ago and now is dramatic.

Build for the foreseeable future if you can. Your home will have a lot more value. I have mentioned just a few areas of modern changes that should be considered when planning a home. Enjoy your home and planning for it.

Larry Angell is the author of Sweat Equity, building a house at half cost. He runs an instructional website about how to build homes that are strong financial tools, not financial burdens. He counsels low-income families how to obtain affordable housing and reach goals of home ownership.

Owning the home of your dreams always comes at a price. And whether you’re just starting out or you’re building your retirement cottage by the lake, chances are someone other than you will have to help finance the cost of building your dream.

Now, if you’ve been through the home building process before, you know that construction financing isn’t the same as taking out a conventional mortgage on an existing home. But if you haven’t had the pleasure of having a castle built just for you, there are a few things you should know about new home construction loan financing. For instance:

· Getting approved for construction loan financing can be tricky. Two loans are often required – one for the construction period and one for permanent financing. Which means you’ll have to shop for both loans separately and will likely incur closing costs for both. However, if you qualify for a loan with a company that offers Construction-to-Permanent loans, both loans will be rolled into one – and take the extra steps out of getting your dream home financed.

· Bridge Loans can help secure your new owner-occupied primary residence home loan before you sell your current home. If you already own a home, a Bridge Loan will allow you to tap into the equity in your existing owner-occupied residence and use it as a down payment on a Construction-to-Permanent loan. When you sell your current primary residence or your new home is finished, you will simply pay off the Bridge Loan and make payments on your new home construction loan financing (a.k.a. – your mortgage).

· If you’ve found the right location – but aren’t ready to build your dream home – you can buy only the land and build on it later. Simply find a lender that makes Lot Loans, which is short-term financing that will give you time to choose an architect and builder to give you your perfect escape. Of course, many lenders are cautious about lending money on land, because it can be difficult to resell if the buyer defaults on the loan, so many request a large down payment with a high interest rate. So shop around for the best possible loan and save your money for the down payment on your construction loan financing.

Going through the process and doing your research will certainly yield additional information from experts in the field. But if you know what types of loans to look for – and what they’ll mean for you as your new home is being built – making the right decision for you and your financial situation will be a lot easier.