building a house in atlanta (near oak grove elementary school) (Druid Hills: countertops, appliances)

[apjuice]

Does anyone have any idea on how much it would cost to build a house in oak grove (elementary) school district in atlanta? I'm trying to see how much (after the cost of land) it would be per sq ft to build a new property. We were hoping to build something that was ~3200-3500 sq ft, basement(unfinished), with 4-5 bedrooms. i have heard costs ranging from $120 sq ft to $180/sqft - which to me is a huge range. also, if anyone can recommend a builder that would be great.

[mich2fla]

Do you want formica countertops or granite? Do you want white/black appliances or stainless steel. Do you want 8', 9', or 10' ceilings? Do you want a carport or 3 stall garage? Do you want a jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom or a garden tub instead? Do you want a bathroom tied to each bedroom? What kind of flooring do you want? Do you want 2 x 4 construction or 2 x 6 construction?

There are many good deals on existing homes out there. Be sure to keep your options open. If you need to build, I do not have a builder recommendation.

[sweettea1]

I think your estimations are low. I'd bump it from $180-$250 per SF to be safe.

[JSBinATL]

I would also say that you might be better off finding a good buy for an existing house and then doing a nice renovation. There are lots of beautiful brick ranches in that area that could be expanded to what you want at a lower cost per SF than new construction. Finishing a full daylight basement and a second level over part of the house (split level) is often much cheaper than building new from the ground up if you have a good architect and general contractor.

[ATL_II_DMV]

Nevermind, forgot Oak Grove was near Druid Hills

[gumboula]

Originally Posted by ATL_II_DMV

Nevermind, forgot Oak Grove was near Druid Hills

Huh?

[ATL_II_DMV]

My fault, it's in the Kirkwood area

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by ATL_II_DMV

My fault, it's in the Kirkwood area

Oak Grove is miles from Kirkwood. OG's neighbor hood boundaries are Briarcliff, Clairmont, LaVista and Briarlake Rds.

[knowmeansyes]

We're in the process of building a home in midtown and we've been in the range of $120 to $150. I think it will be closer to $150, but that's entirely my fault due a couple of must haves that most people wouldn't even consider. This is modern home, however, so mill-work/trim is a lot less than what's found in most homes. It's a fairly simple home with a flatroof. The roofing will be more than typical, but we save on lumber not having a pitched roof or attic. This is a two story home with 3000 sqft and a 1400 sqft unfinished basement. Exterior is a combination of stucco and cypress planks. We'll have natural stone on a large chimney. Oak floors throughout most of the house. Quartz counter tops in the kitchen and possibly in the bathrooms. Sure you could spend $180+ per sqft, but it's not too difficult to keep it under $150. The devil is in the details and we've found that the sooner you start pricing things the better chance you'll have a finding good deals and pricing on items you want.

Building Our Atlanta Home