Thinking About Rebuilding My Home in Bellevue – Looking for Advice

I live in Bellevue and own a house that was built back in the 1960s. It’s been renovated and is about 1,800 square feet, sitting on a pretty big lot—around 8,000 to 10,000 square feet.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about something big: tearing down the current house and building a new one, maybe around 3,500 to 4,000 square feet. I’m not sure where to start or if it’s even the right move. There’s a lot of new construction happening in the area, so part of me wonders if it would be easier to just buy one of those homes instead.

I’d really love to hear from anyone who’s been through this. Did you build or buy? What was your experience like? If you built, how did you find the right contractor—and would you recommend them?

Thanks in advance for any advice or stories you’re willing to share.