Here is a basic run down on hearthfire housing.

Buying a property:
Go to one of the three cities and wait for the courier if he does not show talk to the steward. They should offer to sell you land if you already own a house. If don't you own a house ask to buy one and they'll sell you the land instead. Cost is 5000 gold

Once you have the charter check your quest log under misc. to find a quest to lead you to the property.

Tools:
once at the property you will find a Workbench,anvil,chest and Drafting table. The Drafting table and work bench you will be using to do all outside construct of your home.

Materials:
The basic materials need to build your home are Clay,Quarry stone, and logs. These materials are all nearby your house and can be farmed multiple times. All other Materials need for building you must find or buy. A pick axe should be next to the quarry stone site if you don't have a pick axe

Inside/outside customization:
The Outside of the house has stated above is customized using the drafting table and work bench outside. Once you got the basic house built a work bench inside the house will let you build all the furnishing's for decorating your home the way you want.

I will expand upon this post more as I play through hearthfire.

Thanks for the info.

how can i build beyond the first house? for some reason, i'm only able to make the plan for the second part of the house, but after that, nothing is available at the drafting table? i must be goofy on this or something...

Yay for Buggers.

ok, so are you saying this is a bug, then, and if so, can you give me some info on when you should be able to build the other additions to the manor? thanks.

You have to go over to the carpenter's table and fully build the main hall before the plans for additions are available.

thanks, but, the only thing i can build with the main hall is the very first selection for it - which creates the roped off area. after that nothing becomes available to build... am i still missing something or is it a bug? thanks.

You create the plans (the roped off area) at the drafting table. You actually build the house at the carpenter's table immediately to the right (has the building guide book on it)

This. You'll have to do this for each aspect of the actual building.

i gotcha on the carpenter's table, been using it to build the various things so far - ever aspect of the first house. i think i just figured something out though - the only next building selection is for another main door... and i haven't built that yet because i'm in need of the ore for the lock. let me ask you, is the secondary main door the next step towards building the next addition?

Yes. You must fully build the small house first. Then fully build the main hall (door, foundation, framing, walls, roof). Only then will the plans to build the three wings become available (back at the drafting table).

Edit: By the way, if you're still having trouble figuring it out, there's a video on gamespot.com's main page today that can show you exactly how to do it.

thanks DejaVooduWM! i appreciate the info. getting underway!

Tool time!