XBoxBoy kid of beat me to it, but to possibly build (ha) on what he said:

I thought about doing this during the bubble. I actually have some experience in building houses (I used to help my dad build houses back east in the 80’s). I thought I had enough experience and if I needed a little help it was just a phone call away from an expert (or a trip out here for a few weeks if I really got stuck). I did some rough calculations (I don’t remember the number but he gave me a figure ‘$X per square foot just for the house’) + cost of land + $X for basic landscaping + etc. = total cost. Again this was 2 years ago and the savings at that time was to me not significant compared to just buying a house.

In today’s market the savings probably IS enough to get excited about but a few things you seriously have to consider: 1) from experience DO NOT try to do electrical stuff unless you have a lot of experience – some electrical needed to build a house is not ‘house voltage’ (it’s not 110) & it is enough to kill you, 2) as mentioned by surveyor getting the okay is from the city/county can be painful and expensive, 3) once you start there is no going back, 4) building a house takes a lot of different kinds of talents (cement pourer, carpenter, plumber, electrician, dry-wall’er, painter, carpet-layer, landscaper, ‘roofer’) if you, or someone you know willing to help you, don’t know how to do most of these then either your progress will be extremely slow or your costs go up to hire an expert. I agree if you build it yourself you can better insure good quality and work but that is assuming that you are an expert. 5) if you are taking way too long to complete the house, your neighbors will start to complain (even back east people get mad, out here with all the concern over property values – the HOA’s will be breathing down your neck at the drop of a hat if you take your time).

Good luck to you if you have the courage to do this!