Dream house goals:
- A kitchen designed around the exact way I bumble about while cooking
- A quiet place I can retreat to in my home, alone, sequestered.
- A closet that rivals that of Cher’s in Clueless
Ok, maybe that last one is a bit much, but this is a dream house we’re talking about! Go big, or go home, right?! Is your dream house within reach? Thanks to a bump in home values and a bit of hard-earned equity, building something custom doesn’t necessarily have to be relegated to daydream territory. All over Rochester, many are starting to consider new construction as a possibility, especially on the west side. Towns like Greece, Spencerport, and Hilton have become magnets for people drawn by the promise of more space, more land, and approachable new-build prices.
If you find yourself torn between building something new and buying a home that’s already standing, here’s how you could approach custom home building on the west side of Rochester.
Why Buyers Are Building on the West Side
So what’s pulling people to the west side? Aside from the typical reasons like being closer to a job or family, there are a few specific qualities that make the west side appealing for new home builds:
- More available land, including larger lots, compared to more established east-side suburbs
- Money tends to stretch further for both land and new builds
- Proximity to Lake Ontario in towns like Hilton, Parma, and Greece
- A semi-rural feel in areas like Hilton and Spencerport, without relinquishing access to all Rochester has to offer
How to Approach Custom Home Building
If you’re leaning toward building your home, first off, congratulations! That’s a big step toward making your dream home a reality. But building a home from scratch is a whole different animal than buying a house that’s already there. The custom build process can feel overwhelming at first, so here’s a simple rundown of what you can expect.
Choosing a lot. You can purchase a lot on your own and bring in a builder, or buy into an established development where the builder already owns the lots and offers a set of home plans to customize.
Choosing a plan. Most builders have a handful of base floor plans to start from, and then you get to roll up your sleeves and work with their design team to make it your own with custom layout, finishes, the works. Honestly, aside from move-in day, this is the most exciting part.
What “fully custom” means. Usually, you can tweak the layout, pick your flooring, cabinets, countertops, and fixtures, and sometimes even adjust things like ceiling height or the fireplace’s location. But it doesn’t mean you can change absolutely everything. Make sure to ask your builder what’s included in the base price and what counts as an upgrade.
Timeline. Building a custom home can take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on how big you go, how busy your builder is, and how many custom choices you make along the way. Ask for a realistic timeline up front so you can adjust your expectations to match.
Common surprises for first-time builders:
- Permitting can take longer than expected
- Rural lots often require well and septic systems instead of municipal water and sewer
- Custom selections like flooring, fixtures, and appliances can add up fast if you don’t set a budget early on.
- Weather and material delays are common and should be expected
What to Know About Land on the West Side
If you’re looking at raw land instead of a built community, a few things to check before you buy:
Well and septic. Many west-side properties, especially outside village centers, run on well water and septic systems rather than municipal utilities. You’ll want to factor in the cost of installation and consider whether these are deal breakers for you.
Lot size varies. You’ll find small in-village lots and multi-acre rural parcels within a few minutes of each other. If your dream home must-haves include a large, multi-acre property, you’ll typically want to look at lots further out from the town center.
Agricultural districts. Parts of Parma, Hamlin, and the surrounding area are in designated agricultural districts. This can affect zoning and future use, so confirm what’s allowed on a specific parcel before you buy it.
Hilton and the Hilton School District.
The Hilton Central School District includes Hilton, Parma, and Hamlin. It’s smaller than most other districts in the county, but that’s part of its charm. There’s a real sense of community here. The area hugs Lake Ontario and Hamlin Beach State Park, and it still has that semi-rural feel that’s getting harder to find in Monroe County. Plus, bonus points for the annual Hilton Apple Fest!
If you’re searching for land or new construction in this district, Hilton gives you several options at a wide range of price points.
Stonewood Estates on Peck Road
We can’t talk about new construction in this area without talking about Stonewood Estates, located on Peck Road in the Hilton School District.
The community is built by Marc-Mar Homes Inc., a third-generation, family-owned builder based in upstate New York. Lots at Stonewood Estates are large and wooded, and each home is fully customized, inside and out, working directly with the builder’s design team.
If a custom build on a private lot in the Hilton School District sounds like your kind of place, you can check out the current lot map and all the details on our Stonewood Estates page.
See Stonewood Estates lot availability and floor plans
Other West-Side Towns Worth Considering
Greece. The largest town on the west side, with a wide range of new construction options and price points, plus access to Lake Ontario to the north.
Spencerport. A smaller, canal-side community with new home construction options in the more rural parts of the town.
Both are worth a look if Hilton doesn’t fit the bill for you.
Building vs. Buying: Which Is Right for You?
Building is the way to go if you know what you want and you’re willing to wait a few months (or even a year) to get it just right. If you need to move quickly or prefer moving into a home where someone else has already made the design decisions, buying resale might be a better fit.
There’s no wrong answer here. It all comes down to your timeline, your budget, and how clear your vision is.
Let’s Talk About Your Options
If you’re weighing your options between building and buying on the west side, or just want to see what’s out there in Stonewood Estates, Hilton, Greece, or Spencerport, let’s talk it through together.
Contact the Sharon Q Team to talk through your options
