Cost per square foot to build a home in CA? (overlay, how much)

[Berrie143]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question so please let me know if it isn't and I'll move it. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge of how much it would cost per square foot to build a home in southern CA, namely San Bernardino, Los Angeles or Riverside counties. Does anyone have any experience building a home in these areas? I'm not talking about buying into a development, I'm talking about buying a piece of land and designing and building a house independently. Any information is helping, TIA!

[fishbrains]

Consult with an architect. Your post is far to vague for anybody to give you any sort of response.

Some factors that will have an impact on $/sq ft include the size you are considering, finishes, utility hookups, # of stories, etc.

[MrsApt]

$120 a square foot or so. I live in Northern California and my husband is a Contractor.

[btuhack]

For a ball park on an ordinary home google "ICC, Building valuation determination".

[K'ledgeBldr]

Using NBCE (National Building Cost Estimator) and assuming a plain-Jane 4-corner house on a slab...

Just under $100sq/ft. That's GC profit, insurances, interest, permits, etc. Figure $125-150 if in an area with restrictive earthquake code modifiers.

[T. Damon]

Beyond just the obvious type of construction, mechanical, fixture, finish choices and building design complexity, size (larger=less $/s.f.), the code requirements in those areas also vary wildly; most anyplace in California is going to require very robust structural/shear requirements (state codes), increasingly, many areas will also be in severe fire hazard areas which overlay a whole other layer of design and material requirements that affect cost. Generally, building codes and therefore cost is more stringent in individual cities than in unincorporated areas.

Another component that many might overlook yet is among the most determinative in building cost is site development and conditions; a large flat lot on stable, native soil with high gravel content, no large rocks or mature trees on city services with excellent access for construction/materials is going to be way less expensive than a tight urban lot on a steep hillside of landfill materials, mature trees with little parking or access.

Good luck getting anything built for under $200/s.f. in the more urban areas (unless it is a very large house, or has the absolute perfect site I describe), some developers can slap up some cheap cracker boxes for less than that in this state but it isn't anything I would want to spend any time in much less buy.