There is something to be said for owning the lot for a bit before building and spending time at it with various floor plans imagining how/where it will sit on the lot and how the light will come in the various windows, etc.
Pay attention to where the front door faces in regards to wind/rain prevalence. My front door faces into the prevailing bad weather. Had I thought about it I would have flipped or mirror imaged the layout on the lot so the door was on opposite side and sheltered by the house.
Do you and your wife have the fortitude to live in a camper while your house is being built?
LOL!!! We eventually want to winter in AZ and I joke about getting a trailer and she always tells me to enjoy it with the dog, so no.