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How much per square foot have you built a house for recently?

Posted on 10/16/19 at 7:30 am
Posted by Bill_86
Member since Oct 2013
94 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 7:30 am
How much per square foot have you built a house for recently minus the cost of the land? Looking to build around the baton rouge area and trying to see what builders are charging these days.
This post was edited on 10/16/19 at 7:32 am
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21303 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 7:42 am to
it will be hard for you to get a usable answer to your question as everyone has different tastes in finishes. The finishes drive the price.
Posted by Bill_86
Member since Oct 2013
94 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 7:45 am to
Yeah I know it varies depending on what everyone builds. Just trying to see what some people are paying.
Posted by 4WHLN
Drinking at the Cottage Inn
Member since Mar 2013
7628 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 7:53 am to
$183 per sqft is the cheapest Ive seen lately.

But this is impossible to answer without more information. Its like asking how much a car is. We talking Mercedes or KIA. They both have A/C and leather but there is a huge price difference in the two.
Posted by Rize
Spring Texas
Member since Sep 2011
18639 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 8:06 am to
I’m at $142.50 per sqaure foot with 2800 soft down plus 1000 soft up. 5400 sqft under roof with a outdoor kitchen. It’s probably going to end up at about $150 once we finish up making changes as we build.
Posted by bamaswallows
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
1203 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 10:56 am to
I built 2 years ago.

Lots of assumptions, but If you assume 3,000sf living, Quartzite and Granite counters everywhere, real wood (job finish) floors in majority of house, outdoor living space with outdoor kitchen, not including any lot cost or fence or pool or landscape, etc., you are probably looking at $165-$185 per foot, which includes builder overhead and profit.

This is a very rough, ballpark price, but building is super expensive at this current time in the market, and has been for about 4 years now. I really don't see prices coming down all that much, even if a recession hits in the coming years. A lot of that has to do with people wanting nicer and nicer finishes, and also the outdoor kitchen and living spaces that everyone wants these days.

It's crazy - I built a house for about $90 per foot 15 years ago, then another one for about $100 per foot 12 years ago. Now it's just a lot higher. I blame all the HGTV shows - people see those and they want a lot of extras in their homes that they didn't even know about a few years ago!
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 12:39 pm to
Guest house is costing me under $14 sf.
Posted by achenator
Member since Oct 2014
3242 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 6:49 pm to
quote:

I built 2 years ago.

Lots of assumptions, but If you assume 3,000sf living, Quartzite and Granite counters everywhere, real wood (job finish) floors in majority of house, outdoor living space with outdoor kitchen, not including any lot cost or fence or pool or landscape, etc., you are probably looking at $165-$185 per foot, which includes builder overhead and profit.

This is a very rough, ballpark price, but building is super expensive at this current time in the market, and has been for about 4 years now. I really don't see prices coming down all that much, even if a recession hits in the coming years. A lot of that has to do with people wanting nicer and nicer finishes, and also the outdoor kitchen and living spaces that everyone wants these days.

It's crazy - I built a house for about $90 per foot 15 years ago, then another one for about $100 per foot 12 years ago. Now it's just a lot higher. I blame all the HGTV shows - people see those and they want a lot of extras in their homes that they didn't even know about a few years ago!

Yes I am finding this as well. I've been told by a couple high end builders in Covington/Mandeville that they just now quote the whole house as per sq. ft UNDER BEAM due to all the high end porches with beaded ceilings, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces etc. I was told to expect about $185 per foot under beam to build on my lot in Covington for 4000/5800. We are meeting with someone to get a detailed bid tomorrow. Crossing my fingers lol.
Posted by Capital Cajun
Over Yonder
Member since Aug 2007
5601 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 7:24 pm to
$3.50
Posted by pakowitz
Scott, LA
Member since Jul 2005
2359 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 9:12 pm to
We are building here by Laffy right now. We are at $134/sq not including land cost
Posted by bamaswallows
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2007
1203 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 9:14 pm to
quote:

We are building here by Laffy right now. We are at $134/sq not including land cost


How big is house? How much was lot? What do you think it will appraise for?
Posted by DVA Tailgater
Bunkie
Member since Jan 2011
3421 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 10:11 pm to
quote:

We are building here by Laffy right now. We are at $134/sq not including land cost


Contractor or yourself?
Posted by East Coast Band
Member since Nov 2010
66950 posts
Posted on 10/16/19 at 10:57 pm to
Here in central Alabama, we have seen around $120/sf heated and cooled area. that would be for basic, but many, many factors, not even just about the house: how much excavating, how much to bring in utilities, architect fees.

Just pay close attention to whatever quote you get. some builders may give you a low price, but when you look at it, you may see their "allowance" for , say, doors, is extremely low, forcing you to "upgrade" and run your costs higher.
There literally is nothing in a building of a house that you can't pay more for an item. Even a light switch cover, you could pay 50 cents a piece, or $5 / piece. Multiply that by the 25 or so light switches a average size house has and you could pay up to $120 more than the basic ones. Costs will almost always be higher than you think.
Posted by ItNeverRains
Offugeaux
Member since Oct 2007
28166 posts
Posted on 10/17/19 at 7:41 am to
Labor is the killer right now in Nashville. Materials are steady but labor keeps going up. Framers are making $9/ft. My “A” tile guy wants $750/day. Drywall...do not need to learn to code

We are at $170-190 foot right now cost to build, dwelling only
Posted by rilesrick
Member since Mar 2015
6704 posts
Posted on 10/17/19 at 1:47 pm to
Should get everything you want for $150.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 10/17/19 at 6:07 pm to
Got the front porch done today. Cost, less then $100 for the deck boards.



Been working on the house a few years. No hurry on my part. It's more for health rehab for me then anything. In fact, it has help a lot.

If one would like to read about this build, you can read about it here. Pictures from ground breaking to were I am at. It's a two bed/ one bath house. A lot of wood work thru it.

LINK
Posted by Vacherie
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2017
460 posts
Posted on 10/18/19 at 7:45 am to
I'm wrapping up my build now. Its a 2350 sqft living country style modern farmhouse (3 br 3 bath) on 3 acres. I am owner building having subbed everything out but paint. I painted the entire house in and out (a pro could not have done it better; it looks great). I'm at $136 sqft living which includes 900 sqft large deep cypress porches, 11' and 10' ceilings, all rooms trimmed out with 7" cove and 10" baseboards, plenty of cabinetry, cypress beams and shelves, multiple call out walls and ceilings, metal roof, whole house generator, gutters and garden shed to match the house. I interviewed 5 subs for each craft and stayed on them until they completed their work. My tile guy took a large job right before he was to start working my house so I had to hire my next in line who was a little more but I am satisfied with his work. OB comes with some stress but stick with it and it will work out.
Good Luck on your project!
Posted by DVA Tailgater
Bunkie
Member since Jan 2011
3421 posts
Posted on 10/18/19 at 10:32 am to
quote:

Vacherie




Thanks for this post. It’s encouraging and informative.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 10/18/19 at 8:37 pm to
Just a heads up on subbing out to build. Your bank can help with that. They can provide a sub contract open form.

Always hire a contractor that has insurance and check that.

Time is money if you have a loan, keep that in mine.

If you really don't know how a house is built, hire a home inspector.

Always if you have a construction loan, try to draw from it the lest amount per draft.

Remember, always stay three steps ahead, talk to your subs and time line and stay on the phone.

Time is money due to the cost of a construction load.
This post was edited on 10/18/19 at 8:45 pm
Posted by Big Bill
Down da Bayou
Member since Sep 2015
1604 posts
Posted on 10/20/19 at 9:25 pm to
I'm a little south of you. Ours was destroyed by fire last August. We should be finished with the new one by Thanksgiving. 2000 sq feet as it's only the wife and I with an additional 1400 sq ft outside area under roof. We are right at $135 completely furnished.
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