Custom Home Builders Vs Tract & Spec Homes – What’s the Difference?

When you are considering buying a newly built home, you will have a few different options. You can choose a tract, spec or custom home. These are all very different from each other in terms of how they are built and your involvement in the overall design of the home. To help you make a better-informed decision, it helps to look at the different features of a custom home vs. spec home vs. tract home.

Tract Homes

Tract homes are what you would probably call a subdivision. These homes are built to specific floor plans that are chosen by the builder. The builder usually buys a large piece of land on which to build homes. You will likely be able to decide which floorplan you like when buying a home, as long as that floorplan style is still available. If the homes have been selling quickly, your floorplan options may be limited.

Spec Homes

Spec homes are similar to tract homes in that they are built to be sold and not necessarily sold before they are built. However, you can buy before the home is completed.  You may be able to choose certain options to customize your home, making it a semi-custom home. However, the builder typically works off specific floor plans when designing the homes.

Custom Homes

Custom homes are the most flexible option. They are built to your specifications. You would choose the land and the overall home design. This allows you to build the home to your specifications, not the builder’s. When comparing a custom home vs. a spec home, you would get to choose all the details, not just some.

These three options all offer you the chance to move into a newly built home. However, the main differences lie in how you can customize the floor plans and design features when comparing a custom home vs. spec home vs. tract home.