[quote=permabear]Custom vs tract home boils down to one thing: Windows

Tract homes use vinyl windows.

True custom homes use wood or metal.

Once you notice this, it’s hard to consider paying $1.3M for a mass-produced 2×4 box with vinyl windows. It’s like buying the jumbo size at Costco. XXL mediocrity.[/quote]
My tract home built in the early 80s had dual pane aluminum windows. How much more expensive are wood vs vinyl windows? Can’t possibly the that much. Maybe another $20k to cover the entire house? What’s $20k in a $1.3M house?