Build or Buy Existing Home?

[olin137]

What about some type of "intermediate" strategy; i.e., a combination of using contractors and doing as much as possible yourself? In our case, one of us participated in building a house some years ago (mainly as laborer, not honcho), and we have relatives who have built there own homes and have offered to come over for at least weeks at a time to help. Assuming that we do extensive homework/planning, and can go with a 12-18 month timeline for the construction, would this sound feasible to "get the house you really want"? Thanks for any advice.

Olin