If you’re interested in quality, craftsmanship, family, friendship, and bucking the trend, check out the house under construction by Clay Chapman.  http://hopeforarchitecture.com/blog/ He has the crazy idea that craftsmanship doesn’t have to cost a fortune & he’s testing the theory by building a brick house (structural brick, not the typical paste-on veneer) for less than the cost of a stick framed house.  His blog, and the blog of the family who will make the house their home, http://thegreengate.blogspot.com/ are wonderful journals of the process.  Seeing what they are doing gives one hope & joy….