Should You Build or Buy a New House?

As soon as you check out the number of available homes on the market, you will find either a low number, which means you should pay more, or choose a wide array of options for a lower price tag.

However, when you find yourself in a competitive market, you may spend more money than you wanted in the first place. 

Besides, housing stock is low for people searching for new households, which is essential to remember.

The best way to understand more about building a household is by clicking here for additional information. 

That is why most people wonder whether it is more affordable in the long run to build a home from scratch. 

Still, the answer is complicated and depends on numerous factors, including unique expenses and location. 

Therefore, you should understand a few things before you make up your mind.

Square Footage

In the US, the average cost of building a household is three hundred thousand dollars, which means a hundred and fifty per square foot. 

On the other hand, the median cost for buying an existing household is two hundred and fifty thousand, which means a square foot is approximately hundred and twenty dollars. 

As you can see from the figures mentioned above, it is more affordable to purchase a household than build it. Still, you will get a more durable and unique option based on your specific considerations and needs when you decide to make one.

Location

It is important to remember that building a home depends on location and numerous factors, which is why you should conduct research beforehand. 

Remember that cities, counties, and states come with specific regulations and rules for household building. Labor expenses and materials vary depending on the region you are in. 

County and state fees and taxes will affect the amount you pay to contractors, which is vital to remember. Compared with other states, the most expensive state for building a home in Hawaii. 

The main reason for that is because it features the highest estimated labor cost. On the other hand, the cheapest state to build is Oklahoma due to the lowest average labor cost. 

Therefore, if you wish to live in a more expensive home where people have higher income, you should pay more than before. At the same time, you will have to follow extensive building standards and homes in some areas such as California.

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8sL27Tl88I to learn each step you should take towards owning a new house. 

Materials

We have mentioned above that material expenses depend on the state you live in. Of course, current events and economic situations can affect the price as well. 

Due to many wildfires in the west, the NAHB or the National Association of Home Builders stated that the new homes would be more expensive.

At the same time, China trade disputes can affect the materials and construction because contractors are using Chinese imports for the construction processes. According to the NAHB, home prices increased in the US due to economic sanctions on China.

Since the cost of lumber increased and materials and labor increased due to COVID 19 and other external factors, it is more affordable to purchase an existing one. 

Land

When you decide to purchase an existing home, you should know it comes with land or a lot. However, if you wish to handle everything from scratch, you should first find a proper lot where you can start the process.

Another critical consideration is lot prices that can range between five thousand dollars in rural areas and up to a hundred thousand or more in urban places with limited space.

If you wish to get it in a popular neighborhood, you may get a teardown property on it, which means you should also think about demolishing expenses.

Everything depends on complexity, but demolishing can cost up to twenty-five thousand dollars. Therefore, if you wish to enjoy the household in urban areas, it is more affordable to purchase than build a new house from scratch.

Customization

We can differentiate three ways to purchase and build a new household, including:

  • Production Home means that a builder will produce a design and model based on the already existing blueprint. 
  • Personalized Production Home – If you choose this option, you will select various floor plans, while you can change them based on your preferences and upgrade the overall idea. 
  • Custom Home – Finally, you can hire an architect to create a perfect, customized, unique household based on your taste and preferences.