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will1883 
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2010
131 posts
| Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 8:37 am)
Does anyone know approximately what it is costing to build a home these days? When I was living in BR in 2007, the builder told me it would cost him appr. $82/sq ft. That wasn't including the lot price and his fee of 10K. The house was in University Club South to give you an idea of the house type. I'm not sure what material prices have done since then (and I am in MS now). Also, what kind of savings can someone expect to be their own contractor (assuming all goes right)?
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NaturalBeam
LSU Fan
Member since Sep 2007
12326 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:19 am to will1883)
I built a house last year in Shreveport - I know it's a different market, and gas money up here has kept housing prices above market, but the going rate was $135/sq. ft. all-inclusive for a house in the 1500-2000 sq ft range.
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Will Cover 
Nebraska Fan
Colorado
Member since Mar 2007
22460 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:21 am to will1883)
In my neighborhood (Ascension Parish), homes are being built and homes are being sold for $136 - 138 square foot, lot included.
Do you have any experience with being your own contractor?
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Catman88
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2004
36377 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:22 am to NaturalBeam)
Are yall talking about sq foot living or total?
$135 for total sq foot sounds rediculously high.
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guttata
LSU Fan
prairieville
Member since Feb 2006
18254 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:24 am to Catman88)
I just finished building last yr and it cost me $135/ft2 living. That included the lot.
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guttata
LSU Fan
prairieville
Member since Feb 2006
18254 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:26 am to guttata)
$10k to pay a builder to build in U club South sound like a good deal. Heck, see if he'll build you one about a 1/4 mile away for $10k and be in U Club. Then you're getting a real good deal.
This post was edited on 1/7 at 9:30 am
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NaturalBeam
LSU Fan
Member since Sep 2007
12326 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:29 am to Catman88)
Living definitely. $135 was still higher than I was expecting, but I got quotes from 3 builders and they were within $1 of each other.
There are new homes in my neighborhood now that the same builders are asking $140-142/ft for. I guess I'm hoping prices keep going up now.
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guttata
LSU Fan
prairieville
Member since Feb 2006
18254 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:32 am to NaturalBeam)
We have a home for sale in our neighborhood that the builder is asking around $165/ ft2. I figured $135 wasn't too bad considering.
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Catman88
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2004
36377 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:36 am to guttata)
Cant you buy a house on the market for around 115 that is well built though?
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bryso 
Clemson Fan
The Real Death Valley
Member since Dec 2006
26779 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 9:39 am to Catman88)
quote:
$135 for total sq foot sounds rediculously high.
this. you can buy a house in an established neighborhood in baton rouge for those types of numbers...
but if you want to live in a cookie cutter out in P-ville do ya thing
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snake2985
Member since Jan 2011
114 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 10:32 am to bryso)
I am building a house for myself right now in Prairieville.My cost is $91/sqft living and $60/sqft total area. Thats without the lot price included. Usually a builder will charge about $10-20/sqft on top of that as their fee depending on the customization of the home. My best advice is do it yourself. It isn't that hard and you can save a ton of money.
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Breadcrumbs
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2005
2797 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 11:00 am to snake2985)
quote:
I am building a house for myself right now in Prairieville
how the heck do you do that? what's involved?
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guttata
LSU Fan
prairieville
Member since Feb 2006
18254 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 11:06 am to snake2985)
I had a builder do mine and it took about a week to realize I made the right decision. No way did I have the time needed to dedicate to build myself. Our builder took 51/2 months. There's a guy down the street who started the same week as us and it took him a couple months longer and a lot more frustration than me. He saved on not having to pay a builder, however he's also paid a good bit longer on his construction loan. In the end, you definitely come out better by building yourself, however, I'm not convinced that it is as significant as some people tell you.
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ItNeverRains
LSU Fan
Franklin, TN
Member since Oct 2007
4613 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 11:25 am to will1883)
All location, in my area a custom home with contractor is 175/sq ft on average. And two story 3k sq ft is less expensive than one story 3k sq ft, so it's just tough to nail it down.
Find lot, draw up plans, bid plans out. Pay a contractor his 10-15% IMO, it'll be stressful enough
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guttata
LSU Fan
prairieville
Member since Feb 2006
18254 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 11:46 am to ItNeverRains)
I agree. We went with a 1 story, but ended up adding a bonus room over garage to bring down the cost/ft2 a little bit.
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SippyCup 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Member since Sep 2008
646 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 4:19 pm to will1883)
Do a search, you will find some decent information already discussed.
We just selected our GC and will start building in 6 weeks (hopefully).
We are at $129 s/f, (contractor at flat fee of 42k included) but Im sure we will exceed this. Price does not include the lot (85), pool(42) or outdoor kitchen(15+). Still, its hard to put a number on the price to build. We could build this same SIZE house for $100 s/f if we wanted. Its all about whats inside, therfore finding a "cost to build" will always vary.
This post was edited on 1/7 at 4:23 pm
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bamanmemphis 
Alabama Fan
Member since Sep 2009
433 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 4:38 pm to guttata)
quote:
In the end, you definitely come out better by building yourself
Not the case, most people that build on their own will use the cheaper of the options they have. They end up with a cheaper house in the end.
Also most builders will get a discount an individual will never come close to getting.
IMO
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ItNeverRains
LSU Fan
Franklin, TN
Member since Oct 2007
4613 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 5:05 pm to bamanmemphis)
quote:
Not the case, most people that build on their own will use the cheaper of the options they have. They end up with a cheaper house in the end. Also most builders will get a discount an individual will never come close to getting.
Yep. I knew the frame crew, brick crew, electrician I wanted to use, the rest I just priced out from contractors subs. If your doing heated floors, schluter systems, air/water purifiers, those guys save you a ton.
FWIW even getting the builders discount and kickback from appliance dealer, ajmadison.com was still cheaper apples to apples (All Bosch). Start pricing your appl now
Also have to see if hood has a builders guild, which if so, eliminates you from self contracting all together
This post was edited on 1/7 at 5:06 pm
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bamanmemphis
Alabama Fan
Member since Sep 2009
433 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 5:13 pm to ItNeverRains)
quote:
Yep. I knew the frame crew, brick crew, electrician I wanted to use, the rest I just priced out from contractors subs. If your doing heated floors, schluter systems, air/water purifiers, those guys save you a ton.
FWIW even getting the builders discount and kickback from appliance dealer, ajmadison.com was still cheaper apples to apples (All Bosch). Start pricing your appl now
Also have to see if hood has a builders guild, which if so, eliminates you from self contracting all together
I should have said...It is more or a risk to build your own house. Some people are very good at it. Some people are not. It is alot more risk if you build your own. Alot of factors play into this. Builders average between 3%-8% profit. It's a judgement call on your risk level, and who you know.
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ItNeverRains
LSU Fan
Franklin, TN
Member since Oct 2007
4613 posts
| re: Cost of building a home (Posted on 1/7/13 at 5:41 pm to bamanmemphis)
I am 99% sure i coud have built my own house, and still used a GC.
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