"We hired MNBE to build our ADU in Bellevue, and the entire experience was amazing. They handled everything from foundations and framing to kitchen, siding, windows and HVAC."
Zena Heywood
Bellevue, WA · Attached ADU
4.8 STAR RATED40+ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
LICENSED · BONDED& FULLY INSURED
Lot Owner Custom Home Builds on land you already own
Family land, investment lots, long held parcels. MNBE designs, permits, and builds your custom home end to end across Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and the Eastside, one team from lot walk to keys. King, Snohomish & Pierce County.
Free lot walk
Permits handled in house
Founder supervised
The Path
When you already own the land.
Owning your lot is the most common path to a new custom home in the Seattle metro. You inherited the parcel, bought it years ago, or held it as an investment, and now you want to build. We handle the rest across Seattle and the Eastside, from Bellevue and Kirkland to Redmond, Sammamish, and Mercer Island: site visit, zoning analysis, architectural design, structural engineering, permits, construction, and certificate of occupancy.
The advantage of owning the land is that there is no land acquisition financing, so your construction loan is typically smaller and your equity position is stronger. The challenge is that long held lots can carry stale survey data, deferred maintenance, outdated utility connections, or covenants that need legal review. A site feasibility study surfaces all of that early, before design begins, so nothing derails the build later.
Schedule Free Lot Walk
4.8 STAR RATED40+ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
LICENSED · BONDED& FULLY INSURED
By The Numbers
What a lot owner build looks like.
Honest timelines and scope for a custom home on land you already own. Start with a site feasibility study →
14to 20 months
Contract to move in
A typical custom home, on Aharon's pace, signed contract to certificate of occupancy.
5
Managed stages
Lot walk, drawings, plan check, construction, and warranty walkthrough.
3
Counties served
King, Snohomish, and Pierce across Seattle and the Eastside.
1year
Workmanship warranty
Covering the entire build after your final walkthrough.
What does building on your own lot cost?
Priced to your lot.
Every custom home is priced to your specific parcel, never a generic per square foot number. Soils, slope, setbacks, utility availability, critical area constraints, and finish level move the total far more than floor area does, so we walk your property and run feasibility first. Because you already own the land, there is no land acquisition financing, which usually means a smaller construction loan and a stronger equity position. After a free lot walk you get a written, milestone based scope, and if your lot can be split we will scope any middle housing subdivision at the same time.
Every MNBE lot owner build includes
- Site feasibility, zoning, and survey verification
- Architectural drawings and design development
- Structural engineering and energy modeling
- Permits, plan check corrections, and inspections
- Full construction, founder supervised, one year warranty
Five Stages
Lot walk to move in, five managed stages.
No handoffs and no surprises. Here is exactly how a home on your land goes from your parcel to a finished, code compliant build.
01
Lot walk + feasibility
We walk your property, review zoning, and discuss buildability: soils, slopes, setbacks, sightlines, and easements.
Week 1
02
Architectural + structural drawings
Schematic design, design development, then construction documents, with coordinated structural engineering and energy modeling.
Months 1 to 4
03
Plan check + approvals
Submittal, corrections, and approvals managed by us through King County or Seattle DCI new build review.
Months 4 to 10
04
Construction + inspections
Foundation through finish, supervised personally by Aharon, with weekly updates, draw inspections, and full city sign-offs.
Months 10 to 18
05
Walkthrough + 1 year warranty
Punch list completion, certificate of occupancy, and a one year workmanship warranty on the entire build.
Move in day
Reviews
What Seattle homeowners say about building with MNBE.
Verified five star reviews from owners who built their custom home, ADU, or renovation with us.
"We hired MNBE for a full renovation of our 100 year old home and the results exceeded expectations, structural upgrades, new insulation, a luxury bathroom, a high end kitchen, a new roof and mini split AC."
Dave Gierok
Sammamish, WA · Whole home renovation
"We hired MNBE for a major exterior renovation: a 900 sq ft custom deck with metal railings, full exterior painting and new siding. From start to finish the experience was exceptional, responsive, meticulous and patient."
Santosh S.
Redmond, WA · Deck & exterior
Schedule Free Estimate
4.8 STAR RATED40+ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
LICENSED · BONDED& FULLY INSURED
FAQs · What Clients Ask Us
Lot owner build questions Seattle homeowners ask before they sign.
Six practical answers from a builder who runs custom home projects every year. If yours is not here, call us. We answer the phone Monday through Saturday.
Start with a free site visit. We walk the property, review the zoning code for your jurisdiction, and discuss what's realistically buildable: setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, critical area constraints, and any easements or covenants. About 60 minutes on site. By the end, you have a clear picture of what your lot can support and roughly what it would cost.
Common scenario, especially family land or long-held investment lots. We coordinate the title check, survey verification, current zoning analysis, utility availability assessment, and any deferred maintenance. Most undeveloped lots in Seattle and the Eastside are buildable; the question is what shape and what cost. A feasibility study is the right first deliverable.
Plan on 14 to 20 months from signed contract to certificate of occupancy for a typical custom home in the Seattle metro on Aharon's pace. That breaks down roughly as 3 to 4 months of design, 3 to 6 months of permits depending on jurisdiction, and 8 to 12 months of construction. Aharon's crews build faster than the regional average. Critical area lots and large homes can extend timelines.
Yes, owner-builder paths are legal in Washington, and we do offer design only engagements when you have a builder lined up. But it's rarely a good idea on a custom home: coordinating the architect, engineers, geotech, surveyor, trades, and city is full-time work, and we've seen owner-builder projects double in time and cost. Coordinating the build is what we do best.
Yes. Some lots qualify for subdivision under HB 1110 (middle housing) or local short plat rules. We coordinate the survey, the legal description work, the platting submittal, and the new build permits on each resulting parcel. Time and cost depend on jurisdiction and lot characteristics; we scope this during feasibility.
We publish every question Seattle homeowners ask us about lots, permitting, and custom home construction. Browse the full FAQ library for expert guidance.
View all FAQs
Contact Us · Free Lot Walk
Tell us about your project.
We'll get back to you within one business day with a clear next step.
Contact information
Thank you for considering MNBE for your custom home on land you already own. We respond within one business day, Monday through Saturday.
(206) 637 0044
info@mnbe-wa.com
2014 Fairview Ave Unit 2308, Seattle, WA 98121