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Longer reviews cost more than time.“ The soft costs behind getting a home approved are tremendous. That’ s probably the biggest cost that’ s increasing. The process keeps dragging on,” agrees Brian.
Those delays shape how the brothers talk to buyers.“ We try to give people a realistic understanding from the start: how long the process may take, what could change, and what’ s involved in building a custom home,” Brian clarifies.
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The Sleepy Hollow development shows how that plays out.“ We’ ve been evaluating that property since 2020. We closed on it and submitted a permit application in 2021, and it’ s been a long process due to factors including some opposition from neighboring residents. We’ ve addressed their concerns with detailed technical reports that show the issues being raised aren’ t supported by the data,” Brian reports.
He explains that the wait also reshaped the plan.“ Our original plan was 31 smaller lots. As things developed, we began targeting a higher-end market. Now we’ ll have fewer but larger manor-style homes.”
ZappiCo once focused on building spec homes, but now customization drives much of the work. Buyers’ tastes are shifting too. The market is moving toward higher price points and more demanding finishes. Buyers are also placing a greater focus on outdoor living spaces, and are asking for outdoor kitchens, covered gathering areas, home gyms, saunas, and cold plunges.“ We typically presell and build exactly what the customer wants,” Brandon notes.
Wellness keeps coming up in design conversations. Alongside outdoor living areas, buyers continue to invest in spaces dedicated to health and recreation.“ We provide sidewalks in many of our subdivisions to enable interconnectivity with local amenities and encourage
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