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Cost of building a home
Posted on 1/7/13 at 8:37 am
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)?
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.
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?
Do you have any experience with being your own contractor?
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.
$135 for total sq foot sounds rediculously high.
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.
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 1/7/13 at 9:30 am
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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?
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.
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
Find lot, draw up plans, bid plans out. Pay a contractor his 10-15% IMO, it'll be stressful enough
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.
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.
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 1/7/13 at 4:23 pm
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
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 1/7/13 at 5:06 pm
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.
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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