Has anyone had a home built on their own land they purcahsed? (Atlanta: countertops, mortgage)

[kayrob]

Just wondering since I see this advertised in some of the home magazines.

[marymel]

Yes, but I live in north Georgia, where that is the norm. Instant equity, baby!

[Buckhead_Broker]

What you are asking is a common item in Georgia. You probably don't want to use the guys in the magazines though. You would need to do several things; determine what your budget can handle. Any good mortgage banker can assist you with this or there are numerous "How much house can I afford?" calculators on the web (try SmartMoney.com). Second, determine just how much square footage you need and how nice the finishes and features should be. Construction costs can vary dramatically depending on these finishes. Next, select a house plan that offers the square footage and floor plan you like. Try some of the online architects like Frankbetz.com or southernliving.com Some of these can give you an idea of what they might cost to build. You may want to figure on a range of $80 to $140 per square foot. For $140 per square foot you'll get custom cabinets, granite countertops, high-end appliances, tons of custom mouldings, etc. Next, ask around to find out who the good builders are in your area. They should have been in business for several years and have excellent references. Also, ask for references from their materials suppliers - you don't want problems with leins. Figure that most builders charge cost plus about 20%. And if you make changes during construction, you'll get hit with change order penalties. Be sure to get everything in writing and get a good attorney to review your agreement. If you are planning to build anywhere near the Atlanta area, call the Atlanta Homebuilders Association for more information. Good Luck!

[kayrob]

Originally Posted by Buckhead_Broker

What you are asking is a common item in Georgia. You probably don't want to use the guys in the magazines though. You would need to do several things; determine what your budget can handle. Any good mortgage banker can assist you with this or there are numerous "How much house can I afford?" calculators on the web (try SmartMoney.com). Second, determine just how much square footage you need and how nice the finishes and features should be. Construction costs can vary dramatically depending on these finishes. Next, select a house plan that offers the square footage and floor plan you like. Try some of the online architects like Frankbetz.com or southernliving.com Some of these can give you an idea of what they might cost to build. You may want to figure on a range of $80 to $140 per square foot. For $140 per square foot you'll get custom cabinets, granite countertops, high-end appliances, tons of custom mouldings, etc. Next, ask around to find out who the good builders are in your area. They should have been in business for several years and have excellent references. Also, ask for references from their materials suppliers - you don't want problems with leins. Figure that most builders charge cost plus about 20%. And if you make changes during construction, you'll get hit with change order penalties. Be sure to get everything in writing and get a good attorney to review your agreement. If you are planning to build anywhere near the Atlanta area, call the Atlanta Homebuilders Association for more information. Good Luck!

Thanks for the info. Right now it's just another possible consideration.

[Keelow]

Would this be a true statement? The more square footage home you are building the better price you get per square foot. In other words a person building a 2500 square foot home might pay more per square foot than a person who is building a 5000 square foot home

[kayrob]

Damn I had forgotten that I posted that. It was almost 2 years ago not long after I had moved to Georgia.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Keelow

Would this be a true statement? The more square footage home you are building the better price you get per square foot. In other words a person building a 2500 square foot home might pay more per square foot than a person who is building a 5000 square foot home

It can be either true or false ... there are far too many variables involved to make such a general statement.

[MisterNY]

Did you ever end up custom building or did you take the easy route, and bought a tract house from a builder/subdivision?

I have been considering the same for quite some time. I'm still debating, but these houses are getting more affordable. Much more to think about.

[southgeorgia]

i know this is old, but since its been brought back up i'll throw in my opinion.


if you're talking about someone like "america's home place" or a comparible builder, always get other bids. their prices look appealing because they don't include the lot. i've bid against them on a few houses, and jobs they were pricing at $69/sq. ft., I bid @ $55/sq. ft. And my price was for a much higher quality.

These type of builders use the absolute cheapest materials and furnishings. They do a good job managing the process, but the price is out of line.

The more square footage home you are building the better price you get per square foot. In other words a person building a 2500 square foot home might pay more per square foot than a person who is building a 5000 square foot home

that can't be answered without specifics. if you were building two identical houses (same kitchen, baths) and one just had larger rooms, yes the price per foot could be lower.

[kayrob]

Originally Posted by MisterNY

Did you ever end up custom building or did you take the easy route, and bought a tract house from a builder/subdivision?

I have been considering the same for quite some time. I'm still debating, but these houses are getting more affordable. Much more to think about.

Actually we took the affordable route and purchased a new home in a subdivision out here in Douglasville.