Building on your own lot in Dallas? (Hurst, Point: credit, loan)

[Jan08]

I am looking for recommendations/insight from anyone who is currently building their custom home in DFW.
We have a lot in north dallas, but are now only starting to try to find a builder and educate ourselves on the whole process. (A whole new world obviously)

We would like to build a 3500-4000sq ft home - and what is important to us is the size/layout and features/structures that cannot be upgraded later (or very hard/expensive to do). We would be willing to cut back on niceties that can be upgraded as part of a remodel later in order to keep the cost from becoming exorbitent.

If you are building - what's the average price per square foot that builders are doing in DFW these days? (I know its just a ballpark figure since it varies so much based on the project, but just as a rough idea)

Any tips/advice on how to go begin going about things? Traps to avoid?

[Lakewooder]

I don't think there are any conservation or historic districts in North Dallas so you would probably only be limited on height (34 feet I think). Here is a list of zoning overlay areas:

Welcome to the City of Dallas, Texas - Development Services

[loves2read]

we were looking at house on the resale market this past week in Hurst (Tarrant side) and talking to our realtor who has been in the business 30 years in DFW area about a lot on the same culdesac that we had optioned and almost built a house on a couple of years ago--

our realtor said that now was not the time to be building a contract home--said that most builders have been skinned by the past year or so of construction fall off/bank loan/credit tightening while materials were still expensive---she said most builders who contracted to build would probably want to pad their costs to put some money in their pockets

so if you do find a builder--make sure that you get a fair price and watch the bills...

[Korel]

Best find a design professional that's familiar with the zoning in the City of Dallas. I'm working with a client that has a property right off Midway, north of Royal and is zoned R-16(a) and from the zoning chart, you can see pretty much what you can do. Although this zoning allows a 35' front set back, the original plat shows a 40' front set back so we have to use worse case. The 40' platted setback trumps the 35' city zoning. Building height varies by zoning. See the Zoning Chart HERE. Now Dallas uses the "averaging method" meaning; take the distance from the highest ridge to the nearest eave and take that middle point. That point can not be any higher than what the zoning chart says. You can use this map to locate your property by zooming up to it, then click the button above the map that says "Query a Point" then click the location your lot is. On the right a chart will appear with all the pertinent City Data including Zoning. It might say something like R-7.5(a), R-10(a) etc.. Then look to the chart for the requirements. You could enter your address and zip code on the left to find a property. If you do, don't enter the street type. Like for Lavendale Avenue, just enter "Lavendale" and not the Avenue, Street, Blvd, Road or whatever.

Good luck. If you need more information just PM me.

[Korel]

Originally Posted by loves2read

we were looking at house on the resale market this past week in Hurst (Tarrant side) and talking to our realtor who has been in the business 30 years in DFW area about a lot on the same culdesac that we had optioned and almost built a house on a couple of years ago--

our realtor said that now was not the time to be building a contract home--said that most builders have been skinned by the past year or so of construction fall off/bank loan/credit tightening while materials were still expensive---she said most builders who contracted to build would probably want to pad their costs to put some money in their pockets

so if you do find a builder--make sure that you get a fair price and watch the bills...

I could not disagree more with your realtor other than at anytime, do your homework and get multiple bids to be sure everybody is being honest.

[Korel]

Originally Posted by Jan08

If you are building - what's the average price per square foot that builders are doing in DFW these days? (I know its just a ballpark figure since it varies so much based on the project, but just as a rough idea)

Outside the cost of the land, it could be from $80.00 per square foot to $200.00 per square foot. It all depends on the plan design and finish out. But a middle of the road average is about $125.00.