The short answer
At Tennessee National, a private gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, you buy a homesite first and build when you are ready. There is no deadline to build. Homes are custom built: you design the home, take the plans through design review, then build. Ask the land consultant about builder requirements, and get the builder's schedule in writing.
Key facts
- There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite at Tennessee National.
- Homes are custom built and go through design review before construction.
- Buying the homesite and building the home are two separate decisions.
- The builder sets the construction schedule. Ask for it in writing.
- Land & Home packages, townhomes and finished homes are other ways to own. Ask what each includes.
At Tennessee National you buy the homesite first. Then you design the home, take the plans through design review, and build. There is no deadline to build, so you start when your life is ready for it.
Most people have bought a house. Far fewer have built one. Here is the order things happen in and who is responsible for each part.
Is there a deadline to build at Tennessee National?
No. There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite at Tennessee National.
That makes the purchase and the build two separate decisions. You can close on a homesite this year and break ground next year, in five years, or when you move. Nothing forces a rushed floor plan. For more on that choice, see buying a lot now and building later.
What are the steps from homesite to home?
There are six, and they run in roughly this order.
| Step | Who leads it | What you decide |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Buy the homesite | You, with your land consultant and the closing office | Which homesite, and how to pay for it |
| 2. Study the site | You, with a builder or architect | Where the house sits and which way it faces |
| 3. Design the home | Your architect or designer | Size, layout, exterior, budget |
| 4. Design review | The community's review process | Any changes needed for approval |
| 5. Permits and financing | Your builder and your lender | Loan type and contract terms |
| 6. Construction | Your builder | Selections, changes, the final walkthrough |
A few notes on the steps people underestimate.
Study the site before you design. The land decides more than the floor plan does. Slope, sun and view are covered in how to read a homesite.
Get the design guidelines early. Homes at Tennessee National go through design review. Ask your land consultant for the current guidelines before your architect draws anything. See design rules for homes at Tennessee National.
Line up money before you need it. If you will borrow, read how construction loans work. Lenders usually want plans, a builder and a budget before they approve a build.
How long does it take to build a home?
There is no honest single number, and anyone who gives you one before seeing your plans is guessing. Think in months and seasons, not weeks.
The time breaks into three parts:
- Design. As long as you make it. You can decide fast, or you can visit the homesite through four seasons before you settle on a plan. With no deadline, both are fine.
- Review and permits. As long as the reviewers need. Ask your land consultant how long to allow for design review, and ask your builder about permits.
- Construction. This depends on the size of the home, the site, the weather, material deliveries and how busy the builder is.
Ask any builder you are considering for a written schedule. Then ask what delayed their last two jobs. The second answer tells you more than the first.
Who builds the homes at Tennessee National?
Ask your land consultant before you buy, because we do not state the builder rules here. Homes at Tennessee National are custom built, and the builder is one of the biggest decisions in the project. The community may have requirements for builders, so do not assume you can bring any builder you like.
We do not name or rank builders here. Ask your land consultant two things, and get the answers in writing: whether the community has requirements for builders, and which builders have finished homes inside the gates. Then do your own checking:
- Confirm the builder's Tennessee contractor's license and insurance.
- Call recent clients, not just the ones on the reference list.
- Walk a finished home and a job in progress.
- Ask whether the contract is a fixed price or cost plus a fee, and how changes are priced.
- Ask who handles the design review submittal and the permits.
What drives the cost of building?
Four things drive most of it: the size of the home, the site, the finishes and the time it takes.
- Size. More square feet, more cost. Porches, garages and lower levels count too.
- Site. Slope, clearing, driveway length and foundation type. Two homesites at the same price can carry very different site costs.
- Finishes. Roofing, windows, cabinets, stone and flooring are where budgets drift.
- Time. While you build you carry loan interest, insurance, property tax and any association dues.
A builder's written estimate for your plans on your homesite is the only real number. Pricing for homesites and Land & Home packages is in the info pack.
What if you do not want to build?
Then look at the other paths. A custom home is one of several at Tennessee National, and not the only one.
Land & Home packages and townhomes are both among the five ways to own, and finished homes are shown on the properties page. Ask your land consultant what a Land & Home package includes and how much of the build it takes off your hands. If speed matters more than a custom floor plan, start with the finished homes.
The honest part
Building a home takes patience. There will be a hundred decisions, a few surprises, and at least one week when nothing seems to happen. You will also live somewhere else until the house is done, so plan that housing early. Loudon is about 5 minutes away, Lenoir City about 15 and Knoxville about 30.
What you get for the trouble is a home designed around how you live, on land you picked, inside 1,492 gated acres on Watts Bar Lake. And because there is no deadline, you get to start that clock yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit to build after buying a lot at Tennessee National?
No. Tennessee National has no deadline to build after you buy a homesite. You can hold the land for as long as you like and build when you are ready. Plans go through design review whenever you decide to start.
How long does it take to build a custom home at Tennessee National?
It varies with the design, the homesite, the weather and the builder's workload, so there is no fixed answer. Plan in months, not weeks. Ask each builder for a written schedule for your plans on your Tennessee National homesite before you sign a contract.
Can you bring your own builder to Tennessee National?
Ask before you buy. Homes at Tennessee National are custom built and go through design review, and the community may have requirements for builders. A Tennessee National land consultant can tell you the current rules and which builders have built inside the gates.
Do you need approval before building at Tennessee National?
Yes. Homes at Tennessee National go through design review before construction starts. Ask for the current design guidelines before your architect begins, so the plans are drawn to fit the rules the first time.
Facts about Tennessee National come from the community. Lake facts come from TVA. Rules, taxes, loans and insurance change, so confirm anything that affects a purchase with the right office or professional before you buy.