Why plan a new home build in the winter?
Winter is the season to choose your homesite and work through design, because the design stage alone can take one to six months. If you pick a lot now, you can be finished with plans and ready to start construction when the ground thaws. Right now I have six wooded homesites at Stoney Creek in Augusta, where Cornerstone Construction is the exclusive builder, and a 1.87-acre lot at 6029 Far Hills Way in Alamo Township, which is owned by Hoogstraten Builders and exclusive to Hoogstraten. Winter is a great time to walk all of them.
By Jason Veenstra, REALTOR® | Veenstra Team brokered by eXp Realty | November 11, 2026
Most people start thinking seriously about building a home in the spring, when the weather turns nice. By then, the people who planned over the winter are already breaking ground.
If you've been picturing a home on a wooded lot, the next few months are your head start. This is the season to pick the land and make the design decisions at the kitchen table.
The Stoney Creek lot map, with the available homesites highlighted in yellow.
Why winter is a good time to walk a lot
I love showing wooded lots once the leaves are down. Summer foliage hides a lot. In late fall and winter, you can read the lay of the land: where the ground drops off for a walkout, how far back the woods go, and what the view toward the parkland looks like.
How the timeline works
Each of these neighborhoods has its own builder, and every builder has its own process. At Stoney Creek, Cornerstone Construction lays theirs out clearly, and it shows why starting now makes sense:
Initial meeting. Talk with the builder about what you want.
Land and design deposit. You purchase the lot and put down a small deposit to begin design.
Design. Every detail, from the floor plan down to the cabinet hardware, gets worked into a final contract price. Cornerstone puts this stage at one to six months.
Contract and financing. Then the foundation gets scheduled.
Construction. Cornerstone estimates six to twelve months, from permitting and excavation through framing, rough-ins, insulation and interior finishes.
Hoogstraten Builders runs its own design and build process for 6029 Far Hills Way, and I'll walk you through it when we talk. Either way, spend the winter on steps one through three, and you're in position to break ground in spring instead of just starting the conversation. If you want the bigger picture first, read How to Start Building a House in SW Michigan and How to Interview a Lender for Your New Home Build, or browse my new construction guide.
The homesites available right now
Stoney Creek is in Ross Township along M-89 between 46th and 48th Streets, in Gull Lake Community Schools. The neighborhood covers more than 160 acres with over 30 acres of parkland and a trail system for residents and their guests, and utilities are underground. Cornerstone Construction owns all of the available Stoney Creek lots and is the exclusive builder there. Here's what's open today:
Lot 7, Stoney Creek Drive (vacant): 0.66 acres, secluded and wooded, sized nicely for a ranch
Lot 10, 7406 Stoney Creek Drive: 1.77 acres, backs to parkland, with no neighbors behind you
Lot 49, 7336 Pin Oak Circle: 0.85 acres, high ground with oak, poplar and maple, and north-facing walkout potential
Lot 52, 7319 Pin Oak Circle: 1.07 acres, on the cul-de-sac with wetland views, backing to parkland, with walkout potential
Marsh Ridge Trail (vacant): 1.32 acres, deep and wooded, a walkout lot backing to protected parkland
Marsh Ridge Trail (vacant): 1.57 acres, deep and rolling, with the build area at the back among mature oak and cherry
6029 Far Hills Way: 1.87 acres in Alamo Township, rolling and wooded with walkout potential, and pole barns are allowed
6029 Far Hills Way sits in Alamo Township and Otsego Public Schools, and it's a separate opportunity from Stoney Creek. The lot is owned by Hoogstraten Builders and is exclusive to Hoogstraten, a family builder crafting custom homes since 1956. If a shop or pole barn is part of your plan, read How Could a Custom Home and Pole Barn Work Together at 6029 Far Hills Way?
A few of the Stoney Creek lots have power lines, and the lot maps show exactly where they run. Stoney Creek has a homeowners association with covenants and bylaws, and Far Hills has plat restrictions. I can share all of those documents whenever you're ready.
For daily life nearby, see how trail access extends everyday living at Stoney Creek and Living in Ross Township.
Picture next fall
Imagine it's a year from now. Instead of scrolling listings, you're watching the leaves turn from a back deck you designed, looking out at the woods you picked last winter.
Still just thinking about it? That's the right time to call
You don't need a floor plan or a final budget to reach out. Whether you're wondering if building makes sense or which lot fits the house in your head, the thinking stage is when I can help the most. I'll help you sort out which decisions come first. Call or text (269) 350-5514, email sold@veenstrateam.com, or book a 15-minute call.
Your 3-step plan
Reach out. Tell me what you picture building and when you would like to be in. Call or text (269) 350-5514, email sold@veenstrateam.com, or book a 15-minute call.
Walk the lots. We will tour the Stoney Creek homesites and 6029 Far Hills Way while the leaves are down.
Start design. Meet with Cornerstone Construction for Stoney Creek or Hoogstraten Builders for Far Hills Way this winter, so you are ready to break ground in spring.
Want to walk a few lots while the leaves are down? I would love to show you around.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to design a custom home?
At Stoney Creek, Cornerstone Construction puts its design stage at one to six months, from the floor plan down to the cabinet hardware. At 6029 Far Hills Way, Hoogstraten Builders handles design, and I can walk you through their timeline.
How long does construction take after design?
At Stoney Creek, Cornerstone estimates six to twelve months for the building process, from permitting through interior finishes. Hoogstraten Builders sets its own construction timeline for 6029 Far Hills Way.
What school district is Stoney Creek in?
Stoney Creek is in Ross Township and served by Gull Lake Community Schools.
Who builds at 6029 Far Hills Way?
Hoogstraten Builders owns the lot at 6029 Far Hills Way, and it is exclusive to Hoogstraten. Cornerstone Construction is the exclusive builder at Stoney Creek.
Can I build a pole barn at 6029 Far Hills Way?
Yes. Pole barns are allowed on the 1.87-acre lot at 6029 Far Hills Way.
How do I schedule a lot tour?
Reach out to the Veenstra Team: call or text (269) 350-5514, email sold@veenstrateam.com, or book a 15-minute call.
About Jason Veenstra
Jason Veenstra is a REALTOR® with the Veenstra Team, brokered by eXp Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Greater Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan. Licensed since approximately 2010, Jason brings extensive local market experience and a family real estate tradition dating to the 1980s. He helps clients navigate existing-home purchases and sales, relocation, and new construction.
Reach Jason and the Veenstra Team: call or text (269) 350-5514, email sold@veenstrateam.com, or book a 15-minute call.
