Worth Building New House??? (fees, construction, legal, states)

[Str8Arrow]

Basically, I can search the internet all day and find perfect land to put a home on. I've been looking for years for a combo I like but either the home is crap with good land, or the land is crap with good home.

Anyone here have a new home built for them? How many square feet, what was the construction used, and how much did the home cost you?

I was thinking of 2000-2400sqft, two story, box house. No fancy construction, just wam-bam basic four wall farm house. Construction would be brick and block. Also mention if you are rural or suburbs.

[chet everett]

In many parts of the country there is flat out too much inventory to consider building a new home. Lenders will not risk borrowing to some one that does not own a buildable lot free and clear as well as having a sizeable portion of the funds for construction (at least 25%).

If you have cash and do not need to work with a lender than it is your call...

[Str8Arrow]

I have enough money to buy 60-100 acres around here. Then I'd have 100k left over for a house. I was hoping a house of my liking would be 200k.

I'd have to be lent 50%.

[girlbuffalo1]

You could probably get one constructed for roughly that amount (where are you located) we are doing ranch (2000 sq ft) with basement (1000 sq ft finished) in brick and without land it is $225,000 from a custom builder here in Indiana

[StealthRabbit]

Your area makes a huge difference in new home construction costs.

Locally one area has ~$20k in 'impact fees' and another $20k in plan review and permitting. Some states water will cost you dearly (If it is even available). Some places are nearly $200/yd for concrete, others are still $70 or less.

I have built several, as well as each of my kids had to build a place from scratch as a homeschool project. All were rural, on acreage, in a federally protected 'scenic' area (lots of 'permit hoops to jump thru). We did our own septic systems (Design and construction), as well as home design & construction.

We usually build ourselves for ~ $40-$50/sq ft, with solid wood trim & Cabinets/ linoleum / carpet / fireplace / energy rated insulation (including site development --i.e. road, clearing, well, septic, power) / . Being your own general you can do the same for ~$70-80/ sf and get done a lot faster... (We did one 4,000 SF with complicated design and steep lot; start to finish in 4 months). To hire out the whole job, $100 - $125 / sf in a normal market. $200 in 'upscale'

I prefer to buy a trashed mobile on a good parcel, with a view & decent well, and BE SURE it has a legal placement permit ! Then trash or replace the mobile. Or, for tax reasons, build a dumpy shop with a really nice apartment INSIDE away from the view of assessor. My neighbor has a 'killer' apartment in a 120x200' shop. Really nice / Marble / Stainless / fireplace / loft / deck with mtn view. ... looks like a warehouse from the street. His taxes are $1400 / yr. Mine are $12,000 He has room for a couple semis, car hoists, and indoor motorcycle track (stadium Trials). My bulldozer has to live outside