The journey to building a new home starts with two fundamental questions: What will it look like, and what will it cost? Finding clear answers can be the most challenging part of the process. This guide is crafted for homeowners in North Carolina and beyond who are searching for reputable home builders with plans and prices presented upfront. We've eliminated the guesswork by curating a list of builders who prioritize transparency, providing detailed floor plans and associated pricing so you can begin your project with confidence.

As South Eastern General Contractors (SEGC), a Fayetteville-based, Native American-owned firm with over 21 years of proven results, we understand that building a home is about creating a legacy. Our experience, including our 8(a) and HUBZone certifications, has shown us that trust is the most critical component of any successful build. We have proudly served the Fayetteville and Lumberton communities, building a reputation for quality and client partnership. We believe an empowered client is a successful client, and our goal is to educate and guide you through this important journey.

This roundup article is designed to be your direct resource. We will explore several top builders, providing screenshots and direct links to their plan libraries. You'll gain actionable insights into each company's offerings, helping you find a partner who can translate your vision into a tangible, beautiful, and fairly-priced home.

1. South Eastern General Contractors: Building Legacies with Custom Designs & Unmatched Transparency

South Eastern General Contractors (SEGC) elevates the search for "home builders with plans and prices" by shifting the focus from a transactional catalog to a collaborative, bespoke experience. While many builders start with pre-designed plans, SEGC begins with your unique vision. This firm specializes in a truly custom home design and build process, making it an exceptional choice for those who refuse to compromise on their dream home.

Based in North Carolina, SEGC has built a stellar reputation, not just for its craftsmanship, but for its foundational commitment to transparency and partnership. Their process is ideal for clients who want to be deeply involved in creating a budget and design from the ground up, ensuring every detail aligns with their goals and every dollar is accounted for. This client-centric approach is validated by over 100 five-star reviews from homeowners who often describe the relationship as feeling like family. For example, one Fayetteville family came to us after struggling with unresponsive volume builders; we worked with them to design a multi-generational home that perfectly suited their unique needs, a project that is now a landmark of trust in their community.

Why It Stands Out: A Partnership in Building

SEGC distinguishes itself through a rare blend of personalized service, local leadership, and deep-seated accountability. As a Native American-owned, SBA 8(a), and HUBZone-certified firm, they bring a level of trust and compliance that is uncommon in the residential construction industry. This isn't just a certification; it's a promise of quality and integrity, deeply rooted in their service to the Fayetteville and Lumberton communities.

The firm’s unique process includes:

• Collaborative Budgeting: Rather than handing you a fixed price for a pre-set plan, they build the budget with you, providing detailed breakdowns and expert guidance.
• Advanced Communication: SEGC leverages modern tools like Otter and Loom to provide real-time visual updates, so you can see progress on your home from anywhere, ensuring you are always informed.
• 21+ Years of Proven Results: With over two decades of proven results, they have mastered the art of building everything from sprawling ranch-style homes to timeless neo-classical estates.

Actionable Tip: Before your first consultation, create a visual mood board using a platform like Pinterest. Collect images of architectural styles, interior finishes, and landscape designs you love. This will give the SEGC design team a powerful starting point for translating your vision into a viable, custom plan.

Key Features and Practical Benefits

While SEGC focuses on higher-end custom homes primarily in North Carolina, the investment reflects a commitment to quality that creates a lasting legacy, not just a structure. Their process is meticulously designed to help clients avoid common pitfalls in home construction. To better prepare for your journey, it is beneficial to understand the typical challenges that can arise.

Learn more about the most common mistakes people make when building a custom home and how to avoid them with expert guidance from southeasterngc.com.

• Website: South Eastern General Contractors Custom Homes
• Best For: Clients seeking a fully custom, high-quality home built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and expert partnership.

2. Pulte Homes

Pulte Homes stands out as one of the nation's largest and most experienced home builders, offering a seamless online experience for prospective buyers looking for a blend of pre-designed efficiency and personal customization. With over 70 years in the industry, their website serves as a powerful starting point for anyone exploring home builders with plans and prices, providing extensive resources that simplify the initial stages of the home-building journey. Their platform is particularly strong for those who want a structured yet flexible design process.

The user experience on Pulte's website is a major advantage. It allows you to filter homes by state, city, and specific community, immediately narrowing your search to relevant options. Once you select a community, you can view available floor plans with starting prices, square footage, and key features clearly listed. This transparency helps you align your budget with your desired home size and style from the very beginning.

Key Features and User Tools

What truly sets Pulte apart are its interactive design tools. After choosing a floor plan, you can use the "Interactive Floor Plan" feature to visualize different structural options, such as adding a loft, extending the garage, or converting a den into an extra bedroom. The "Design Your Home" tool takes this a step further, allowing you to experiment with interior finishes, from flooring and countertops to cabinet styles and color palettes.

• Pricing: Base prices are displayed for each plan within a specific community. The final cost will increase based on lot premiums, structural options, and design upgrades you select.
• Availability: Pulte operates in over 20 states, primarily in major metropolitan and suburban areas across the U.S.
• Quality: Known for its "PulteGroup Build Quality Experience," which includes rigorous inspections and energy-efficient building practices, ensuring a durable and sustainable home. While they offer many personalization options, they differ from a fully custom home builder. You can learn more about the custom home builder process to understand the distinction.

Ultimately, Pulte Homes provides an excellent platform for buyers who value a proven process, extensive choices within a structured framework, and the backing of a large, reputable company. Their website effectively empowers users to explore, design, and price their future home with confidence and clarity.

Website: https://www.pulte.com/build

3. D.R. Horton

Known as "America's Builder," D.R. Horton has a formidable presence in the home building industry, offering an extensive range of homes designed for affordability, quality, and accessibility. Their website is a comprehensive resource for buyers looking for home builders with plans and prices, providing a straightforward path from initial search to exploring community details. The platform excels at showcasing a wide variety of floor plans across multiple brands, each catering to a different lifestyle and budget, from first-time buyers to luxury seekers.

The D.R. Horton website is engineered for user-friendly navigation. You can easily search for homes by location, which then reveals a map of communities. Each community page provides a clear overview of available home plans, complete with base pricing, square footage, bed/bath counts, and virtual tours. This upfront transparency is a significant advantage, allowing you to quickly assess which communities and plans fit your financial and spatial requirements without having to make an inquiry first.

Key Features and User Tools

A key differentiator for D.R. Horton is its portfolio of distinct brands like Emerald Homes for luxury and Express Homes for entry-level buyers, all accessible through the main site. This allows you to explore different market segments from a single portal. While on the site, you can view photo galleries and 3D tours for most floor plans, giving you a strong sense of the home's layout and flow before ever stepping foot inside a model.

• Pricing: Base prices for each floor plan are clearly listed within their respective communities. The final cost will vary based on the specific lot, chosen structural options, and any design selections you make.
• Availability: D.R. Horton is one of the most geographically diverse builders, with active communities in over 30 states across the country, covering a vast number of metropolitan and suburban areas.
• Quality: The company emphasizes its commitment to quality construction and energy efficiency. While they provide a well-defined selection of finishes and features, their process is geared more toward streamlined production, meaning customization is less extensive than what you would find with a dedicated custom builder. For those weighing their options, it's valuable to understand the custom home building process to see how it differs in flexibility and personalization.

Ultimately, D.R. Horton's platform is ideal for buyers seeking value, a wide selection, and the security of a large, well-established builder. Their website makes it easy to find and compare homes, ensuring you can begin your search with a solid understanding of your options and potential costs.

Website: https://www.drhorton.com/

4. Lennar

Lennar simplifies the home-buying process with its unique "Everything's Included®" approach, making it a standout choice for buyers searching for home builders with plans and prices that are transparent and predictable. The company streamlines decision-making by including popular high-end features like smart home technology, modern appliances, and energy-efficient construction as standard in their base price. This philosophy removes the complexity and hidden costs often associated with upgrades, offering a more straightforward path to homeownership.

The Lennar website is designed for efficiency. You can easily browse communities by state and city, then filter by price range, home size, and desired features. Each community page provides a clear overview of available floor plans, complete with starting prices, virtual tours, and photo galleries. This comprehensive online experience allows you to explore detailed home information from the comfort of your own home, making the initial research phase both thorough and convenient.

Key Features and User Tools

Lennar’s primary differentiator is its value-driven "Everything's Included®" package. This means the price you see often covers features that other builders would list as expensive upgrades, such as quartz countertops, advanced home automation, and high-quality flooring. Their website also offers robust virtual tools, allowing you to take 3D tours of floor plans to get a realistic feel for the space and layout before ever stepping foot on a property.

• Pricing: Base prices are listed for each floor plan and are inclusive of many luxury features and smart home technology, providing excellent upfront value. Final pricing depends on the specific homesite and any available structural options.
• Availability: Lennar has a massive presence, building homes in 26 states and over 78 popular markets across the United States.
• Quality: Lennar is committed to building high-quality, energy-efficient homes. While their model focuses on pre-packaged designs for efficiency, they deliver a consistent and reliable product. For those seeking a ground-up, fully personalized build, exploring the differences with a dedicated custom builder is key. Understanding the distinct advantages of a true custom home building process can help clarify which path best aligns with your vision for a legacy home.

Lennar is an ideal option for buyers who appreciate simplicity, value, and modern technology integrated from the start. Their website provides all the necessary tools to find a high-quality home with clear, inclusive pricing, removing much of the guesswork from the building process.

Website: https://www.lennar.com/

5. Schumacher Homes

Schumacher Homes carves out a unique space in the market by specializing in the on-your-lot custom building experience. This approach is perfect for individuals who already own land and are looking for a builder who can bring their vision to life with expert guidance. As a leader among home builders with plans and prices, their website serves as a comprehensive resource, blending an extensive library of floor plans with a high degree of personalization, making them a top choice for buyers who prioritize flexibility and tailored design.

The user experience on Schumacher’s website is designed to inspire and inform. You can browse their vast collection of plans by style, from modern farmhouses to classic traditional homes, and immediately see base pricing. This upfront transparency allows you to quickly assess which designs align with your budget before diving into the exciting customization process. Their focus is on providing a clear path from initial idea to final construction, empowering you at every step.

Key Features and User Tools

Schumacher’s strength lies in its blend of pre-designed efficiency and true custom-level flexibility. Their state-of-the-art Design Studios are a major draw, allowing you to physically see and touch the materials for your home. The website's interactive floor plans are a powerful tool, enabling you to make structural changes like moving walls, adding rooms, or altering layouts online, with price adjustments updated in real time. This highly integrated process mirrors a design-build approach, ensuring your vision and budget stay aligned. You can discover more about the design-build construction model to see how this collaborative method streamlines projects.

• Pricing: Base pricing is clearly listed for each plan. The final cost is determined by your chosen customizations, structural modifications, and the specific requirements of your lot.
• Availability: They operate in select states, including parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas, among others.
• Quality: Schumacher emphasizes energy efficiency and quality craftsmanship. Their process is built on decades of experience, ensuring that even with extensive personalization, the final home is built to high standards of durability and performance.

Ultimately, Schumacher Homes offers an ideal solution for landowners who want more than a semi-custom home. Their platform and process provide the tools and support needed to create a truly personalized home with the reliability and pricing structure of an established national builder.

Website: https://www.schumacherhomes.com/

6. Clayton Homes

Clayton Homes carves out a unique and essential space in the home building industry, specializing in high-quality manufactured and modular homes. For individuals and families searching for home builders with plans and prices that prioritize affordability and efficiency, Clayton's platform is an invaluable resource. The company has streamlined the process of finding, customizing, and purchasing a factory-built home, making homeownership accessible to a broader audience without sacrificing modern amenities or energy-efficient standards.

The website experience is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly. You can easily browse an extensive gallery of floor plans, filtering by the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and even specific features like kitchen islands or front porches. This transparent approach allows you to explore numerous designs and see how they align with your lifestyle and budget before ever stepping into a sales center.

Key Features and User Tools

Clayton Homes excels at providing clear information and helpful digital tools. Their "Find a Home" feature lets you search for available models near your location, and each listing includes photos, floor plans, and often virtual tours. A standout feature is the ability to view different designer-selected style packages, which helps you visualize how finishes like cabinetry, flooring, and backsplashes come together to create a cohesive look. Their commitment to sustainability is also notable through their partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.

• Pricing: Prices are generally listed as a starting point for the home itself. Final costs will depend on delivery, site preparation, foundation, utility hookups, and any chosen upgrades.
• Availability: Clayton Homes has a vast network of home centers and building facilities, making them available to buyers in nearly every state across the U.S.
• Quality: Known for constructing homes in climate-controlled facilities, which protects materials from the elements and ensures consistent quality. They also focus on energy efficiency with their EnergySmart Home packages. While highly efficient, this process offers less design freedom than a ground-up custom build.

Ultimately, Clayton Homes offers a compelling solution for buyers who need an affordable, quality-built home with a faster construction timeline. Their website effectively demystifies the manufactured and modular home buying process, providing the plans and pricing information needed to make a confident decision.

Website: https://www.claytonhomes.com/

7. Meritage Homes

Meritage Homes carves out a distinct niche among home builders with plans and prices by placing a significant emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. For buyers who prioritize lower utility bills and a smaller environmental footprint without sacrificing style, their platform is an ideal starting point. Meritage has established itself as a leader in creating homes that are not only beautiful and functional but also designed for long-term savings and healthier living, making them a forward-thinking choice in today's market.

The website experience is designed to be straightforward and informative. You can easily browse communities by state and city, with each listing providing clear starting prices for the available floor plans. Meritage transparently details the energy-efficient features included in every home, such as advanced framing techniques, spray-foam insulation, and high-performance windows. This focus on standard green features helps set clear expectations for the quality and performance you receive.

Key Features and User Tools

What makes Meritage Homes truly stand out is its commitment to building every home to meet or exceed ENERGY STAR standards. This isn't an optional upgrade but a core part of their building philosophy. Their website offers virtual tours and photo galleries that allow you to explore their various home designs, giving you a strong sense of the finished product. This is particularly valuable for understanding how their innovative building science translates into a comfortable and efficient living space.

• Pricing: Base prices are clearly listed for each floor plan within a community. Final costs are influenced by lot selection, structural customizations, and your choice of design finishes.
• Availability: Meritage Homes operates in key markets across nine states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
• Quality: Renowned for its M.Connected Home® automation suite and industry-leading energy efficiency, Meritage delivers a modern, high-performance home. While their focus is on thoughtfully designed production homes, those seeking a ground-up, fully bespoke experience may find a local custom builder better aligns with their needs. A custom builder, like North Carolina's South Eastern General Contractors, offers a more collaborative, one-on-one process for creating a truly unique legacy home.

For environmentally conscious buyers seeking a high-quality, efficient home from a reputable builder, Meritage Homes offers a compelling and transparent online platform to begin the journey.

Website: https://www.meritagehomes.com/

Home Builders: Plans & Pricing Comparison

Your Legacy Begins with the Right Partner

Navigating the landscape of home builders with plans and prices can feel overwhelming, but this guide has equipped you with the foundational knowledge to make an informed choice. We've explored national giants like Pulte Homes and D.R. Horton, known for their standardized processes and widespread availability. We also delved into builders like Schumacher Homes, who offer a more customizable approach to pre-designed plans. Each option presents a unique path toward homeownership, balancing cost, convenience, and customization.

The most crucial takeaway is that the "best" builder is entirely subjective and depends on your specific priorities. While pre-priced plans from large-scale builders offer a streamlined and often more predictable financial path, they may not capture the unique character and specific needs of your family or your land. Your decision should hinge on a clear understanding of your non-negotiables.

Making Your Final Decision

As you move forward, consider the following action steps to narrow down your options and select the right partner for your project:

• Revisit Your Priorities: Are you prioritizing speed and budget efficiency above all else? A national builder might be your best fit. Do you value unique design, superior craftsmanship, and a close working relationship with your builder? A dedicated local expert is likely the better choice.
• Verify Local Expertise: A builder's national reputation is important, but their local track record is critical. Investigate their work within your specific community, like Fayetteville or Lumberton. Look for builders who understand the local building codes, climate considerations, and subcontractor network.
• Evaluate True Transparency: Plans and prices are just the starting point. Dig deeper. Ask potential builders about their change order process, allowance packages, and what is explicitly not included in the initial price. A truly transparent partner will welcome these questions.

Ultimately, choosing a home builder is about more than just floor plans and cost sheets; it's about entrusting someone with your future. It's about finding a partner who listens, understands your vision, and has a proven process for turning that vision into a physical reality. This is particularly true for clients with unique needs, such as military families requiring a smooth relocation process, business owners developing commercial properties, or families wanting to build a lasting legacy home.

At South Eastern General Contractors, we've spent over 21 years building that trust within the Fayetteville and Lumberton communities. As a Native American-owned, 8(a), and HUBZone certified firm, our commitment to quality and integrity is woven into every project, from complex government contracts to deeply personal custom homes. We believe the building process should be collaborative, empowering, and centered on you.

While many home builders with plans and prices offer a starting point, a true legacy home is built from a unique vision, not a template. If you’re ready to partner with a local, trusted expert committed to building legacies, not just structures, contact South Eastern General Contractors. Let’s build your legacy, together.