How Long Does It Take to Build a Home in North Carolina

August 26, 2025

If you're wondering how long it takes to build a house in NC, especially a custom one, you're asking the right question. In most cases, expect 9 to 12 months, with some projects reaching 12 to 14 months depending on complexity.

What Affects Your Custom Home Timeline NC

No two home builds are alike, especially when you're building custom. The size of the home, the decisions you make, and even the weather forecast can all shift your schedule. Here's a breakdown of the major stages and what actually influences the pace of construction in North Carolina.

Home type matters

The kind of home you're building plays a big role. Production homes, where most finishes and layouts are pre-selected, usually take 4–6 months. Semi-custom homes, which offer some personalization, often land around 6–9 months.

Fully custom builds where every finish, feature, and layout is chosen by you, typically take 9–12 months. It’s a longer timeline, but that’s the tradeoff when your home is designed specifically for your lifestyle.

Permits and pre-construction

This phase includes everything from engineering and floor plans to pulling permits and prepping the lot. If you're building in Wilmington or coastal areas like Brunswick or Pender County, permitting can take longer due to floodplain rules or increased construction demand.

On average, this stage takes 1–3 months, though it can extend depending on HOA involvement, utility availability, or lot readiness. Getting ahead on selections and paperwork here can save you weeks later.

Foundation and framing

Once permits are approved and the site is prepped, the real visual progress begins. This phase includes footings, foundation work, framing, roof trusses, and exterior sheathing. In southeastern NC, this stage is often impacted by weather. One week of heavy rain can stall work and shift schedules quickly, especially if your site has standing water or poor drainage.

Mechanical systems & inspections

After framing, your builder will coordinate trades for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins. Each system must pass inspections before insulation and drywall can move forward. Inspection windows vary by county and backlogs are common.

A single delay from one trade or inspection can stall the entire build, even if everything else is ready to go. Coordinating this stage well is one of the biggest differences between a smooth timeline and a stalled one.

Interior work

Once the walls are closed in, it’s time for the finishes, trim, paint, cabinetry, tile, flooring, and lighting. This is where your personal choices really start to shape the space.

But with more choices comes more opportunity for delay. If you swap finishes, opt for specialty materials, or run into shipping delays (which still happen), it can stretch this phase from 2 to 4 months. Final selections made early on can make or break the momentum here.

Final walkthrough and finishing touches

After everything’s installed, you’ll do one last walkthrough, then address minor fixes. With smooth communication, this wraps in 2–4 weeks. Our team walks with you through every step of this phase so you’re never left guessing. We handle the details, so you can focus on getting ready to move in.

What Could Speed Things Up or Slow Them Down

Slow permitting in fast-growing coastal NC areas
Hurricane season or spring storms
Decision delays from choosing finishes or making tweaks
Long lead times for specialty materials
Busy subcontractor schedules during peak seasons

Brandon Construction Group keeps it straightforward: they guide clients, streamline selections, and give honest timelines.

Building in Wilmington, NC—What You Should Know

Coastal rules like flood zone requirements and storm-resistant construction standards add steps, but also build resilience.

Our team at Brandon Construction Group knows this geography inside and out. Founded in 2019, we’ve quickly become a sought-after custom home builder in the Cape Fear region, building custom homes starting from $400k and above , while keeping the process clear and direct from pre-construction to closing.

That means you get a team that knows local inspectors and stays transparent from start to finish. That kind of experience can help keep your custom home timeline NC realistic and on track.

Quick Timeline Breakdown

Stage	Estimated Duration
Pre-construction & permits	1–3 months
Foundation & framing	1–2 months
Mechanical systems & inspections	1–2 months
Interior finishes	2–4 months
Walkthrough & punch list	2–4 weeks

Realistic Timeframe for Your Build

For custom homes in mainland or coastal Wilmington, expect about 9 to 12 months. Some detailed builds may take up to 14 months. That aligns with national averages. Census data shows around 7.2 months for single-family home builds, which includes faster-built production homes.

Custom timelines reflect your design, your decisions, and a builder who communicates clearly.

Want to Get Started?

If you’re building a home in Coastal NC and value straight talk, local know-how, and quality from start to finish, Brandon Construction Group is built for that. They're hands-on from selecting homesites to finish selections and keep you in the loop every step of the way.

Need more? Take a look at:

Ready to talk timelines, finishes, or your budget? Visit our office in Wilmington or reach out through the site. If you’d rather explore now, our blog on building your dream home on a budget might help .

Let’s start an honest conversation about your next chapter and let’s build something that lasts, without surprises!

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