The pond sounds beautiful. Try googling "2500 square foot house plan". The many links will take you to many, many house plans. Some ideas from those plans will be helpful when you talk to an architect about designing a plan to work with your land.

If the pond attracts birds, you might want to look into "backyard bird sanctuaries" for additional ideas for windows that will enhance your viewing.

I've looked at some house plan websites but almost all the houses have no view from the front rooms of the home. Frustrating

Yes, that'd definitely be frustrating. I found quite a few plans when googling "house plans with view from front". Most were enormous with many gables and fussy windows. If you want a simple bow window with a window seat or a big tall bay window that will fit a couple chairs and table for coffee, or if you prefer a front porch, maybe looking at single story 2500 square foot house plans could get you some ideas.

That would be the ideal solution but we are trying to keep costs down but thank you.

HI -- Look up "mid century modern house plans " -- most are one floor ranch styles and many had features on the front for a pool or a court yards etc. That style are usually easy builds and that will save you money .

Ordering plans is of course necessary to build a home with. Hiring an architect to design a home is completely different and very costly. This will be the fourth new home for me so I am quite familiar with the process. Thank you for your concern.

It all depends on where you are building. As an owner builder, I can draw plans to be used for permitting and construction. I work with a retired builder who is building a couple of specs in Colorado. He drew the plans using pencil and paper. Needed an engineers stamp for the foundation, but that would be required for any plan.

HI -- So , Sandra what kind of house are you wanting to build ? Have you got an idea of the floor plan that will work for you ? Some of the web sites for house plans have an offer to make adjustments on any of the plans your interested in to make it more custom . There is also some of the pre-fab or modular, they have great floor plans . Not saying that is what your going to build , but you can go by the floor plans for ideas . There is also Lindel houses . Anyway sounds like an exciting project .

I am building in Delaware. I'm thinking 2,000 to 2,500 sf ranch house 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths living area on front of house with some nice big windows. I am not fond of the open concept but I can work around that.

apple_pie_order I love the bird sanctuary idea. Thank you!

You might look into Cliff May's designs. There are some books showing his houses. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_May

Google "cliff may floor plans".

I think you'd have to adapt ideas to the Delaware climate before building the Southern California designs... but they are spacious and have well thought out floor plans. Maybe smaller windows, all double paned, for Delaware snowy winters. Heated floors would be lovely.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-1950s-rebound-for-a-cliff-may-house-stsetivw-vs~7565871

I found this plan in my ideas folder. It was a start to a house on a lot where the views and approach were to the front.