THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 3, 1995 TAG: 9506010349
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
How many times have you been on a Sunday drive through one of your favorite old neighborhoods, daydreaming about living there?
It's possible that you no longer have to daydream; reality is closer than you think. In the last year or so an affordable custom home trend, a dream-come-true for many an average couple, has trickled its way around Hampton Roads.
In most people's minds, the term ``custom home'' usually equates to big bucks. In this area, custom homes normally cost at least $250,000. However, the term actually refers to a home designed and built to the owner's specifications, which doesn't has to equate to a top price.
Affordable custom housing, priced from about $75,000 to $150,000, is within grasp for people who desire a new home within a well-established neighborhood.
One group of businessmen have been involved in affordable custom housing for the past few years. Mike Johnson, president of Countryside Remodeling and Home Improvements and Countryside Building is a general contractor for O&R Inc. Development, which is owned by Ed O'Brien and Dave Rusotto.
O'Brien and Rusotto also own a building company, Centurian, a division of O&R. O&R handles the developing side of the group. Rusotto is a real estate lawyer, which comes in handy for difficult title searches and messy multiple deed obstructions.
``It takes a team,'' says Johnson. ``We're two separate companies who work hand-in-hand. It's better this way, it's less complicated regarding conflict of interest.''
The three men first worked together about five years ago. Now they consistently team up, finding and building affordable custom homes.
Some Virginia Beach areas that they've recently built in are Salem Woods, Woodstock, King's Grant and some townhouses behind Loehmann's Plaza. They anticipate building 40 to 45 homes this year.
Countryside Building uses a computer program that was initially used with the remodeling and improvements.
The program brings blueprints to ``life,'' allowing customers to walk through their future home (complete with their own furniture) in three dimensions.
Johnson can use the program to show customers what changes can be made to a set of blueprints, customizing the house to fit their unique wishes.
In many neighborhoods there are unused pieces of land. ``So, a lot of times,'' says Rusotto, ``instead of going to the outskirts and starting a new development, we try to develop what is there to its fullest potential.''
This can involve an individual lot, a few lots, or several lots surrounding a very old house (the house might be renovated or torn down and another built, then the land would be subdivided into more lots).
O&R has an inventory of such lots, in case customers are interested in buying a lot and custom building the house, instead of finding and purchasing their own lots. They also have homes under contract available as models.
They generally use about 10 building plans for homes, which are available for viewing and customizing on the computer.
``There's an increasing market of home buyers who don't necessarily want to be in the newer subdivisions, with small lots and no trees,'' says Rusotto. ``They want to live in an older neighborhood, but want the feel of new construction.''
``Windshield'' lot finding (finding a lot as you drive through an area), says Rusotto, is the easiest way to find one.
``There are affordable customs homes available,'' says Johnson. ``A lot of people think that they'll have to buy a `cookie cutter house' or only what's available.
``But, if you're willing to work with a company that will sit down and help you design a house within your price range, that will fit your needs, you can have a custom-built home. I feel that the builder has a responsibility to the customer to give them the best product for their money.''
The builder should also be specific about what changes can and cannot be made to standard house plans for a particular amount of money. If you're on a tight budget, some basic changes can be made to standard floor plans that are affordable.
So, if it's old trees and a new house you'd like, pay more attention to vacant lots during your Sunday drives. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
[Color Photo]
RICHARD L. DUNSTON/Staff
Custom-built and affordable
Contractors Mike Johnson, left, and Dave Rusotto specialize in
building inexpensive houses to order like this one in Virginia
Beach.
Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
The front of a Virginia Beach house custom-built by O&R Development.
The company constructs on single or double vacant lots in older
built-up neighborhoods.
by CNB