If you install from source, the program will compile in it's installation directory first (you can do this step as normal user
)
the "make install" copies to files to the right tree, like /usr, or /usr/local/ ...but never /home though
You could however, install an appliation in your home folder, with something like "./confgure --prefix=/home/me/local", and don't become root to install
If you install from source, I'd recommend downloading a tool called "checkinstall". This tool is capable of monitoring your "make install", and create a nice package for you.