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New Residential Construction Cost

Posted on 8/9/21 at 4:49 pm
Posted by theOG
Member since Feb 2010
10502 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 4:49 pm
Anyone have a rough estimate of cost per SF of residential construction in the New Orleans area these days?

I’d like to put a 3500ish SF house on a big lot I’ve found.

TIA.
Posted by Chasin The Tiger
Lake Travis, TX
Member since Sep 2012
575 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 5:37 pm to
about $350/sqft.

So many variables. Easiest way is to look at what NEW homes are selling for around that area.
Posted by welder69
Member since Sep 2018
278 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 6:41 pm to
We got ours back at 210 sq foot. This is in rural Louisiana, and that in with flmica counter tops in bathroom and laundry. We bought instead we got more home plus a shop more land an an outdoor kitchen for 325, the house we wanted to build was bided for 320-330. I don't know when things will settle down, but was not willing to wait. I would not build I refuse to be upside down in financial
Posted by BeerMoney
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2012
8362 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 8:05 pm to
I built 3500 sf on an acre in Ascension, in 2014. Best I can do. Cost about $470k ish. So I today’s dollars that’s what? Like $550-600k?

Good luck dude. I remember trying to do the same sort of research you’re doing.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5504 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 8:36 pm to
Honestly it’s kind of a waste of time to ballpark these numbers just because there are so many variables. We are building on the north shore right now for $175/sqft living, $115/sqft with high end finishes. The numbers are weird because the house is 4900sqft total but only 3100 living.

This does not include cost of land and our contractor is not the standard 15%+ that you see on the north shore. I think more accurate numbers are going to be in the $200-$230 range per sqft living for high end finishes. Houses are selling in desirable neighborhoods over here for $300/sqft+.
Posted by DiamondDog
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2019
10527 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 8:46 pm to
quote:

. I think more accurate numbers are going to be in the $200-$230 range per sqft living for high end finishes. Houses are selling in desirable neighborhoods over here for $300/sqft+.


Thats asinine if you're paying that.
Posted by jimbeam
University of LSU
Member since Oct 2011
75703 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 9:14 pm to
What the hell? You can buy some of the most sought after houses in Lafayette for like $160/sf
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
71969 posts
Posted on 8/9/21 at 9:44 pm to
quote:

Houses are selling in desirable neighborhoods over here for $300/sqft+.


You’re talking about the northshore of Hawaii ?


OP, start at $200/sq ft. You’re talking spec home type finishes and appliances
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1564 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 12:33 am to
We’re almost done building now on the Northshore. Custom home with high end finishes. 103$/sq ft total, 156$/sq foot living. Kinda weird numbers bc we have over 1400 sq feet non living (front and rear porches, under beam boat cover, shop in backyard, attached garage).
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5504 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 6:56 am to
quote:

You’re talking about the northshore of Hawaii ?


I’m talking about the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, specifically Covington. I could show you four different listings in desirable neighborhoods over here (Sanctuary, TCC, etc.) that have gone under contract in the last 3 weeks for more than $300/ft.

The down votes are kinda weird. Y’all can call it what you want, but that’s the reality of the northshore real estate market right now.

quote:


OP, start at $200/sq ft. You’re talking spec home type finishes and appliances


DSLD style spec homes on the north shore are selling for about $140-$150/ft living. The step up from those (i.e. Natchez Trace, Village) with higher end finishes are selling for about $180-$200. I think you’re pretty accurate at $200/ft to build something in that range including cost of land. Ultimately the finishes drive the price.
This post was edited on 8/10/21 at 7:04 am
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5504 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 7:02 am to
quote:

We’re almost done building now on the Northshore. Custom home with high end finishes. 103$/sq ft total, 156$/sq foot living. Kinda weird numbers bc we have over 1400 sq feet non living (front and rear porches, under beam boat cover, shop in backyard, attached garage).


Kind of the same situation for us. Did y’all get your lumber before the prices blew the roof up?
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1564 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 7:33 am to
quote:

Did y’all get your lumber before the prices blew the roof up?


We signed a contract in September and got the lumber package in late February/early March.
Posted by SlidellCajun
Slidell la
Member since May 2019
10347 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 7:59 am to
quote:

. I could show you four different listings in desirable neighborhoods over here (Sanctuary, TCC, etc.) that have gone under contract in the last 3 weeks for more than $300/ft.


I think there’s a disconnect in what is being asked and what you’re answering.

The question is with respect to BUILDING cost, not resale cost.
The examples you’re giving are built homes for sale which have a degree of profit built in for the builder as a spec home.

I can hire a builder to build a semi custom home on already purchased lot with 10’ ceilings, quartzite counters, marble bathroom, custom cabinets in kitchen, raised, not on slab, with hardi plank siding, fiberglass clad windows, solid cord interior doors and wood floors in most of the house for $275/sq ft right now in a nice neighborhood. That has 15% in it for the builder. If he was building it to spec, he’d cut some of the finishes out and sell it for @ $300/sq ft or whatever the market is asking for resale. That would include the land tho.



Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
30961 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 8:12 am to
not sure what kind of finishes you are looking at, but Im wrapping up building a custom home in LC area. I have a full mother in law suite with kitchen so drove price up a little, but I am going to be right under $200/sf living. Very high end finishes, but doesnt include pool or anything, but does include porte corchere with 1.5 garage and the main garage is 3.5.

That price includes land and no real work by me other than installing spearkers and making cat6 connections.

Lumber is coming down big time but I would imagine in the the NOLA market you are going to be north of me price wise.

Posted by Ric Flair
Charlotte
Member since Oct 2005
13652 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 9:24 am to
What’s the elevation? I imagine in New Orleans, building on a crawl space would be preferable to a slab foundation.
Posted by Drunken Crawfish
Member since Apr 2017
3822 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 10:15 am to
I would think in New Orleans it would be around $225/ft. (+- 10%) for a custom home, but that is a gross generalization and doesn't take into account lot/site prep in NOLA.

Materials are still high and its not just lumber. PVC, ROMEX, concrete are all up right now too. Lack of available labor is also driving up costs because subs are raising their prices.

ETA: Just read an NAHB article on housing starts and figured I would share this:


I have been doing a ton of reading about the new residential market and I don't think we will see any sort of price reduction until next fall at the earliest. Too much demand.
This post was edited on 8/10/21 at 12:09 pm
Posted by TigerDat
Member since Aug 2010
7628 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 4:27 pm to
We were bid at 161 per sq/ft total turn key in February when the lumber prices were near their peak.

Now it wasn't NOLA, it was rural area but a very nice custom home plan.
Posted by shoelessjoe
Member since Jul 2006
9894 posts
Posted on 8/10/21 at 9:46 pm to
We are starting our build in a few months. Costing $146 sq ft.
Posted by lnomm34
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2009
12604 posts
Posted on 8/11/21 at 5:29 am to
Who’s building for you in Lake Charles?
This post was edited on 8/11/21 at 5:30 am
Posted by trident
Member since Jul 2007
4745 posts
Posted on 8/11/21 at 11:18 am to
I’m building a raised house on the northshore and it’s 150-175/sq ft depending on trim levels.
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