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Building Your Custom Home on the Washington Coast

What is Build-to-Rent (BTR)?

Homes on the Washington coast range from charming beach cottages to modern, luxury homes. We often emphasize maximizing ocean views, natural light, and outdoor living spaces. These features that are unique from standard homes reflect the laidback lifestyle of Washington’s coastal towns, from active communities for surfing and whale watching to quiet retreats for relaxation.

Building a custom home in a desirable coastal location can offer significant equity potential as property values appreciate. At HiLine Homes, we help homeowners maximize equity through careful planning and quality craftsmanship.

Find and Buy a Lot in Northern California

Building your custom home on the Washington Coast can be more affordable than purchasing an existing property. For instance, you can control every detail of your custom home building process—design, floor plans, and standard/custom features—to match your vision and lifestyle.

However, coastal construction comes with its own unique challenges. Building codes, zoning laws, and county requirements vary along the Washington Coast. From coastal terrain alone, factors like soil stability, flood zones, and specialized foundation types must be considered. Furthermore, environmental factors like salt air, wind exposure, and moisture require durable, energy-efficient building materials.

HiLine Homes has almost 30 years of custom home builder experience along the Washington Coast. Through our expertise, we ensure compliance with building permits and regulations. We work with skilled local contractors familiar with Washington State requirements and coastal construction methods.

From land evaluation to project completion, our process helps you own a coastal home with a smooth and predictable homebuilding experience.

Once you have purchased your coastal lot, we will assist you in preparing your site for custom home construction. Through our guidance, we help direct you on what to do, where to go, and who to call for permitting approvals, documentations, and more.

On-Your-Lot Land Evaluation
As part of our homeowner participation items, your HiLine Homes Home Consultant provides you with the resources to begin your land feasibility study and site plan. Once your lot is cleared, our Land Evaluation services guide them on the required distances for utility connections, advise on the best methods for trades to access the building site, and provide a general estimate of foundation costs.
Evaluate Environmental Resilience
Although not part of our homeowner participation items, we greatly recommend that homeowners seek a coastal appraiser who can assess their lot for advantageous terrain. Strong natural barriers, good drainage, and higher elevation can reduce the future home’s maintenance costs and storm damage. Lots with these qualities often have greater resale value in Washington State’s coastal real estate market.

Review Your Elevation Certificate
Another document a homeowner is required to obtain is an elevation certificate. An elevation certificate determines your home’s position relative to the base flood elevation (BFE). This data is critical for safe custom home building, securing building permits, and setting insurance premiums.
Secure Coastal Insurance Early
Coastal homes often require flood insurance and sometimes windstorm coverage. Their premiums vary widely based on location and flood zone designation. The factors must be considered in your custom home budget to prevent surprises later.
Know Your Local Zoning Laws
Zoning regulations influence home plans, foundation design, and construction methods. This is because they are made to protect dunes, wetlands, and scenic views, which impacts where and how your custom home can be built.

Here are tips on how to choose the best floor plan for your Washington Coast Home. Once you have an idea for the ideal plan for your coastal home that matches your taste, browse our gallery of over 50 home plans. You can also download our HiLines Home Plan Guide to see each plan’s layout and exterior design options.

Lifestyle-Oriented Coastal Living
Coastal homes often reflect a more relaxed, social lifestyle compared to inland home building designs. Consider open, multifunctional spaces over rigid, formal layouts for a harmonious transition from indoors to outdoors and vice versa.
Flexible Floor Plans
Flex rooms can adapt over time—serving as a guest suite, home office, media space, or reading nook. Additionally, kitchen-dining-living combinations encourage social connection and maximize natural light and views of the Washington Coast.
Efficient Space Utilization
While cottages have their own charm, we often recommend layouts with plenty of room. By utilizing its space, we ensure every square foot serves a purpose, adding value to your custom home building project. Large homes are also ideal for multigenerational living, hosting guests, or accommodating changing family needs.

Lastly, materials must be carefully selected for your coastal home construction. The coastal environment is unique compared to the landlocked environment. Marine air along the Washington Coast carries salt that accelerates corrosion, especially within the first 1,500 feet of the shoreline. Even inland properties can face long-term rusting and weather-related wear.

Consult With Us to Build Your Coastal Home in Washington

Custom home building on the coast allows you to design for your specific lifestyle, whether it’s active outdoor living, investment income, or long-term retirement planning. At HiLine Homes, we help homeowners address their unique coastal construction challenges. We don’t just build beautiful homes fit for coastal towns. We also have homes in compliance with coastal building codes, permitting, and zoning regulations, making their properties built to last.

Reach out to a HiLine Homes Home Consultant today to begin your journey towards coastal homeownership.

Contact your local HiLine Homes office to speak with a knowledgeable Home Consultant about our home building process. If financing is needed, be sure to ask about our approved lenders, whether you need to purchase land or not.