cost for building 2-3 car garage? (Wingate: house, purchase, depreciation)

[claud605]

Anyone out there have any idea of the cost? I've decided to start looking at properties without garages with the possibility of building a garage. But need a ballpark price so I know what the price of the house needs to be! Thanks!

[Nelson919]

I've heard that it will cost between $40 and $50 per square foot depending upon design, quality of materials etc. But I would think a simple garage could be done for less...maybe as low as $30 per square foot?

[Nelson919]

Maybe I am stating the obvious here but bear in mind if you purchase a house with a garage, you are getting a used garage subject to depreciation, unless the house is new construction. And if the house is new construction, there are economies of scale in building a house with a garage that drive down the cost of the garage portion of the property. So whether the house is new or used, the difference between the price of a house with a garage, and one without a garage -- all else being equal -- should be less than cost to construct a new garage.

[giffman]

If you hire a GC, I think $50 per square foot is a good rule of thumb. If you acted as your own GC, you'd be in the $30 - $40 per square foot range.

[NC gal (aka Oregon gal)]

I'd call Wingate Construction. He's reliable, is a perfectionist, has excellent prices, has been doing this kind of work for 17 years and is a straight shooter.
His number is 924-9478 and his name is Josh.