Frequently Asked Questions
General
An appraisal is an unbiased opinion of the fair market value of a home. It can assure you and your lender that the price you've agreed to pay for a home is fair. Appraisers don't just look at your property and your home plans when they assign a value to your home. They also look at public records of other homes near yours. Because location is a major factor in determining the value of a property, appraisers will look at what similar homes have recently sold for, and how property values trend. After the appraiser finishes their research, they make a final valuation of the property in a formal report. The appraiser then delivers the report to your mortgage lender.
At Madison, we cover the expense of your first appraisal which is used to secure your financing. A normal appraisal fee these days can range from $500 – $650.
A construction loan is typically a higher-interest loan that provides the initial funding required to build your home. As your home is being built, your builder will draw down on this loan to fund its building costs. You are required to not only secure the construction loan, but also pay the interest each month on the outstanding amount of the loan. Also, with construction times running longer than usual, the costs associated with these loans is increasing.
Unlike other builders, Madison builds your house using our money, saving you the hassle and expense of a construction loan. Read more about it here.
We normally leave that up to our customers! You know what type of land is best for your family.
We have several trusted lending partners that have worked with Madison for many years! Our Building Consultants will be happy to direct you to the lender that is best suited for your situation.
Closing costs are the fees and charges in excess of the purchase price of the property due at the closing of a mortgage loan transaction.
At Madison, we agree to pay up to $5,000 towards your closing costs. This means even more savings for you!
All cash contracts receive 2% off the base price. On higher priced homes, you may be required to close up-front for secure financing, but Madison Homebuilders charges no construction loan interest- we build your home on the strength of our company.
Many customers will start the land search online through MLS websites like Redfin and Zillow. We have found that customers tend to have the best buying experience when working with the seller's agent direct – but feel free to work with any agent you prefer.
Our build times (from the time the footer is poured until we receive the certificate of occupancy) on average are around 200 days.
Madison Homebuilders is one of the leading scattered site homebuilders in North and South Carolina. To see if we build in you county, check out our map here.
Pricing
Our base pricing pricing is for the home itself, from the foundation through finishes, with all materials and labor included! You can see our list of standard features here.
Most lenders, including our trusted lenders, allow for land/home packages so you don't have to own your land outright to build your new home on it.
For qualified landowners, there is no down payment required. Most home builders require a hefty deposit when the contract is signed. At Madison, except for the $500 application fee, we don't ask to be paid until the job is finished.
If you own land, you are all set. If not, you will need to at least identify the property that you would like to purchase in order to include that in a land/home financing package, typically called a Construction to Permanent Mortgage Loan. If you own your land, but carry some debt on it, you may be able to arrange a similar type of bundled financing to build your new home and pay off the balance of the land debt. Your Building Consultant or Lender Representative can provide further details using the terms and conditions of each specific property.
Our social media posts will always have a JOB# in the description. For current estimates, relay the job number to your Building Consultant. They'll know what to do next! If you don't have a Building Consultant yet, fill out our Free Home Plan Book at the top of our website. A team member will reach out to you soon.
Every Madison Homebuilders home comes with a 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. 2-10 HBW is the leading provider of structural home warranties in the US. The warranty covers workmanship defects for 1 year, distribution systems defects for 2 years and structural defects for 10 years. This should give every one of our customers peace of mind!
We offer special benefits for a number of professions we identify as Local Heroes! Those benefits include $500 in free options as well as savings of up to 1% on your loan amount when you work with Hero Friendly Lenders, of which we have many. You can view our qualifying hero occupations here.
Financing
When it comes to financing your build, we do all the heavy-lifting and all these benefits mean more money in your pocket. 1) We pay for the initial appraisal to secure your loan commitment. 2) We build your home using our money instead of requiring you to get a construction loan. 3) Over 95% of our customers build with no down payment. 4) We pay up to $5,000 towards the closing costs on your mortgage loan. See how we save you thousands here.
The question should be, what is the lowest credit score a lender will accept and this question can only be answered by the lender you decide to use. One of the first steps you take will be to establish a budget for your home and to do that, you will need to meet with a lender to learn just how much you have to spend on your new home.
We build your home using our money instead of having to secure a construction loan. See how much you'd save on average here when looking at different home prices built with a construction loan.
Most builders will let you use your land equity to establish a line of credit for the construction loan/down payment. Since we do not require a down payment or construction loan, you can avoid these extra costs and keep your money! You can read more about using land as collateral here.
Additional costs may include:
- Land prep (clearing, grading, driveway)
- Utility connections (water, septic, electric)
- Permits and impact fees (varies by location)
- Any optional upgrades, allowances, or design selections
We'll help estimate these costs during the planning stage.
Our base price includes the structure and standard features. Site-specific costs (like land prep or utilities) are not included because they vary. We'll help get you an estimate before construction starts.
Yes, you're free to work with any lender you prefer. We can also recommend lenders familiar with our building process to make things smoother.
Yes, we work with both VA and FHA loans. Not all lenders are familiar with our no-construction-loan process, so we can recommend those who are.
Customization
We understand that every customer is different with different needs and wants and while we are not a custom homebuilder, we can modify our plans to a certain degree. Our staff of in-house draftsmen are typically able to make the changes you desire, saving you the expense of hiring an architect to draw your plans. We ask that you talk to a Building Consultant about what you are looking for in a home, our professionals are always here to help!
Madison Homebuilders is a Semi-Custom Homebuilder. After you purchase your lot, you'll choose between a number of different floor plans and elevations we offer. You can then choose to customize your home by choosing from our offering of design options, things like adding a garage, outdoor living spaces, luxury baths, and kitchens. You will also choose finishes inside the house such as cabinets, countertops, flooring, as well as colors and materials for the outside of your home. While the choices are more limited with a semi-custom home, you still can make it your own without the hassle and extra stress. In summary, semi-custom builders offer a more affordable way to build a home that is still unique to you.
No we are not a modular builder. We build on site, commonly known as "stick-built". We believe this traditional style of building gives you the quality home you deserve.
We currently only build from the plans we offer and allow for modifications and changes to some degree. With demand as high as it is, pricing as volatile as it is, the more familiar we are with a house plan, the better we can help control time and costs. You can view floor plans here.
This question varies from each house plan we offer. It is best to talk to your Building Consultant regarding the needs of your family and features you want in your forever home!
Since we build all over the Carolina's for active customers, we do not have any homes for you to walk through. We try to capture virtual walkthroughs on our social media and website by pictures and videos.
We can build basements if requested by the homeowners. It really depends on your land. We address your lot in our very first step of home ownership. You can read more about our process here.
Design
There are many areas of opportunity for upgrades in all areas of the home! Below are just a few: Cabinets, Countertops, Flooring, Exterior Siding, Faucets, Lighting, Appliances, Hardware, Interior and Exterior Doors, Tiled Showers, Fireplaces, Garages, Paint Colors, and even the Kitchen Sink.
Yes! Our Building Consultant will guide you as much as you'd like! In each of our sales and design centers, we have samples for see and touch. And, from experience, we can help you narrow down your options to pick out the perfect selections for your home!
Our Building Consultants will show you all the selections we offer, as well as what is standard and what are upgrades. Tight budget? No problem! We know our pricing like the back of our hands and can help you stay within your budget. The base price of your house includes our standard options which we believe are of high quality.
You have access to a friendly, capable, and resourceful pool of home experts throughout your build – be it your Building Consultant, your Construction Superintendent, Construction Assistants, our Admin Team, and our Closing Coordinators. Madison has built a team with decades of experience and they have YOU specifically in mind. Not every situation is the same, we want to get to know you and help craft the right solution.
If an item becomes unavailable, we'll contact you right away with similar alternatives that match your preferences and budget.
Yes — we have physical samples you can view in person during your design appointment. We also provide online resources to preview options ahead of time.
Yes! Once you've finalized your floor plan and financing, we'll schedule your design appointment where you can view finishes, colors, fixtures, and more.
Land + Location
Yes! If you already own a piece of land, we can build on it. We'll schedule a site evaluation to make sure the property is suitable for construction and determine any necessary preparation.
We can handle basic land prep like clearing, grading, and driveway installation. If additional work is needed, such as tree removal or soil stabilization, we'll walk you through the costs and process.
Yes. Before we begin construction, we complete a full site evaluation to assess utilities, access, topography, and anything else that could impact the build. This ensures we plan appropriately for your specific lot.
We build in a wide range of counties across North and South Carolina. If you're unsure whether your location is eligible, just reach out and we'll confirm.
We'll help determine whether your land has access to water, sewer, or if it will require a well and septic system. Utility needs vary by lot, and we'll guide you through what's needed during your site evaluation.
Construction + Timeline
You can view our full building process step-by-step on this page — just click here!
Weather, supply chain shortages, and labor availability can impact timelines. We work hard to stay on schedule and communicate proactively if any delays occur.
Yes, but for your safety, visits need to be scheduled with your construction coordinator. We want you to enjoy the progress without compromising safety protocols.
Minor adjustments may be possible early in construction, but once building begins, most major structural or design changes cannot be accommodated. It's important to finalize all decisions during the planning phase.
Warranty + Post-Move-In
We offer a warranty on your new home, and we're here to help if anything comes up. Simply contact our warranty department and we'll schedule a service visit. At Madison, we provide a 10-year insured transferable structural warranty through 2-10 HBW.
You'll receive contact info and instructions at closing. Most requests can be submitted online or by phone, and we'll respond promptly to get it resolved.
Yes — we'll schedule a full walkthrough before closing to review your home, ensure everything is complete, and answer any final questions.
Miscellaneous
Several of our plans include flexible layouts that can be adapted for multi-generational living. We can work with you to modify a plan that fits your needs.
Yes — our team is experienced in navigating local permitting requirements and can help you understand your land's zoning, setbacks, and boundaries.
Yes, many of our homeowners choose to add detached structures or pools after move-in. Be sure to check local codes and HOA guidelines.
We build your home using our own funds, so you don't need a construction loan. That saves you money, time, and risk. Plus, we include many features as standard that other builders charge extra for.
Because we self-fund the construction process, you don't need a construction loan. That means you avoid extra loan fees and payments during the build, making the process more affordable and stress-free.