Or does it have to be a settlement ? Is there a difference and am I [censored]?

I don't see why not.

From what I was reading, if it's in an already made settlement that place is yours and you're given access to remodel the other buildings.

I don't see why you can't. It's what I plan to do, make my own house with a doggie home for Dogmeat. I might attempt a settlement later on with another character, but not now.

Well I plan on building a Trevor Philips Raider trash character so a simple megaton type shack like Jericho's house is all I really need! Gonna decorate it with empty whiskey bottles and empty beer bottles strewn all over the place, tons of mole rat meat as well.

Will build my own house and hope someone makes a Feng Shui mod. Thematically, I'd want the house to appear rather ramshackle on the outside.

Something a raider wouldn't spot as exceptional except up close.

I'm sure you can. Would be a pretty significant "doe!" moment if we can build all these settlements but not a player house.

From what I've read on reviews it only becomes a "settlement" when you introduce food, water, energy and beds. Once those are setup it can become a settlement. So I guess you can create a big elaborate structure but not create those resources and just have it all to yourself!

Where is the Like button?

just build a settlement with one house and hope noone settles in there?

Yes, you can build a house just for yourself and you will not gain raider attention.

You must build a settlement where you attract and accept others to attract raiders.

I imagine you could. It'd be pretty silly to make a settlement that you couldn't live in yourself.

Well, a settlement starts somewhere. Meaning, one building. Likely your own that you live in. So I don't see why that would not be an option. You can either stop there or keep going to further your single measly home into a vast settlement.

As others have said settlement doesnt become a settlement until it has sustainable food water power and beds.. so just dont plant a farm or water pump and you can use it as your own home base and it wont be attacked by raiders... then if you want it to be a settlement just add more beds and food and water and there you go.

Yeah you can build a house just for you. As to whether or not you are [censored] I can't really speak to that

There is nothing holding you back from building a personal house, save for materials. What attracts raiders is having a settlement, and a settlement needs settlers.

To attract settlers you need three things; crops, water, and a bed for each. Water you can place without restriction, but to place a bed or crops, you need at least one rank in Local Leader which is a Perk obtainable at INT 6.

From what I've read, there are settlements you can build at, and premade houses I assume you can purchase with caps per usual method of player housing in fallout.

I would also assume that with lack of materials at the start of the game, you can just build a house for yourself and build up into a settlement later. Sanctuary Hills is one area that was said you can build into a settlement area.

My plans was to build up, make just one house, but build it as high as the game lets me. Put a big fence around it, with one way in. Make it defensible with some turrets similar to the housing video where all the raiders are coming in through one central opening and falling to turrets. I'll call it my Fivepenny Tower.

1st level will be the lobby area, where merchants can set up, along with a central corridor which will be defended. 2nd level will be some sniper perches and NPC housing. 3rd level will be growing area (if you can plant stuff in large pots or something). 4th level will be my player housing and companion housing (if your companions can join your settlement). 5th level will be my balcony with all my storage.

This is assuming you can build up pretty high, from what videos show you can build to atleast 5 levels.

You should be able to just build a single house for you.