"Hubby and I are going to try to build our dream home and to finance as little as possible...
Those things you listed are identical to our plans (except the finance part for we have enough loot saved to buy outright) - the only key component we changed is that the "dream home" won't be built in the former united States but in a friendlier country.
This one is likely to be on fire in the next few years.
Where are you going?