Owner-Builder
An owner-builder is a homeowner who acts as the general contractor on their own home — securing permits, hiring subcontractors directly, ordering materials, and doing some or most of the labor themselves. Owner-builders trade time for money: a typical owner-built home costs 20-40% less than a contractor-built equivalent but takes 1-3 years instead of 6-12 months. Owner-building is permitted in most US states for primary residences, with rules about how soon the home can be sold afterward.