Frequently Asked Questions


Is building more expensive than buying?

At the moment, there is a lack of existing inventory in our area. This lack of supply increases the demand, which makes finding an existing home within your price range more difficult, and when you do find it, you may overpay for it. Because of this, we’re seeing more and more families opt to build a new home. And they’re finding out that doing so is actually more cost effective than purchasing an existing home when you factor in the costs of maintaining and updating an existing home versus walking into a brand new product with builder’s warranties.

How long does it take to build a house?

There’s a huge misconception when it comes to a realistic building timeline. I understand that it goes over better to tell a client that a home can be built in just a couple of months, but that’s a misleading comment. In all reality, building a new home entails much more than just the actual construction phase of the process.

You’ve got a drawing phase where you’re actually designing a custom home that suits your families specific needs, which can take anywhere from two weeks to a a couple of months. After the drawing phase comes the bidding phase. It typically takes about two weeks for a builder to send out and receive hard numbers back from the subcontractors that will be making your home dreams a reality.  

How do we find a building lot?

If you already have a piece of land you’d like to build on, consider yourself lucky. Martin County and the surrounding communities are growing quickly, and so are land prices. So it’s a common question: how exactly do we find the perfect lot? Well the answer isn’t simple. It depends on who’s representing you. Quite a lot of land is unlisted and not easy to find for someone outside of the real estate industry. Having a good Realtor and/or builder on your side that will help you search for land that’s on and off the market is important. It’s also important to know that some neighborhoods only let one builder, or at best a select few, build in their neighborhood. All of these details can be found and sorted by a good real estate agent or builder. 

Can we choose from a list of floor plans?

That depends. Some builders have an in-house draftsman, while others use an outside draftsman. If you’ve chosen a builder who shares a draftsman, you may not get a completely custom floor plan. Many builders use templates as a jumping off point. These are nice places to start from and make custom changes without having to design the entire home. An in-house draftsman can sit down with you and design your home from start to finish, creating a custom dream home. Homes by JMC, offers our Select Homes series. Over the years, we have built many of these models and we have perfected every design detail.   

How does the financing work?

Depending on the builder you’ve chosen, you can carry the construction loan yourself or have the builder do so. The difference is if you choose to carry the loan yourself, you’ll save a bit in closing costs. The other option is to let the builder purchase the lot, handle the construction loan, and you purchase the full package on closing day, just like you would for an existing home. Some of this is dependent upon the builder, and if they offer financing. Often, they can recommend a bank they work with to make financing as easy as possible. 

How is Homes by JMC different from other home builders?

Homes by JMC combines the professional expertise and rigorous disciplines of the commercial construction industry with a passion for great home designs, quality construction and a personal dedication to building trust in relationships with our customers.  We build only a handful of homes each year so that every project gets personalized attention.  John Cherveny, owner and founder, will work directly with you from start-to-end, and then work hard to make sure you’re still satisfied after you’ve moved in.  We build homes like they were our own.  To us, each house isn’t a home until everyone is willing to put their signature on it as a gesture of pride and accomplishment.

 Do you have model homes or is each home built from scratch?

Of course, we offer our models for sale as they are built, and many times a prospective customer will decide to make it their own long before it is finished.  But we always make sure to reserve time to “show off” the latest Homes by JMC model home so we can meet new people to brainstorm with. Homes by JMC, offers our Select Homes series. Over the years, we have built many of these models and we have perfected every design detail.

How do we pick a good location and lot?

As in many areas, finding the right place to build can be challenging.  There often is great competition for lots in good locations, especially in good school districts for those families with children.  Homes by JMC can help you find one that’s perfect for your family.  We always look for that special “something” in a lot, perhaps a slope for an exposed lower level and a great view.  Some customers look for building opportunities on a golf course or by a lake.  With this in mind, Homes by JMC is constantly on the lookout for these special lots, and oftentimes will invest in a great property or lot just to secure it for a future customer. 

Can you help me relocate to Martin County?

Yes, we have assisted many families and professionals to relocate to Martin County. We are experienced in building for relocating attorneys, physicians, financial managers, and other professions that often require a work transfer or relocation. Our streamlined design and build process makes it possible to build your home long distance. We provide continuous photos and updates on every step of the building process and have an interactive system for selecting and approving finishes, appliances and equipment. We aim to provide the expertise in long distance building and communication as well as local information and contacts that help make your relocation to Martin County trouble-free and enjoyable.