If you’re thinking about building your own home, one of your top concerns is most likely pricing. Many factors contribute to home building pricing, but the average cost to build a single family home in the United States is $289,415. However, the average cost can also range from $150,000 to $450,000 depending on where you build and how you want your house to look. 

The actual cost of building your dream home from the ground up can vary widely. There are many different elements that go into building a home that can drastically change the final cost: 

• Location: This has the biggest influence on the cost of your house. When you build a home, you need to first buy land, which can be expensive in growing areas or big cities. Sometimes it can make more sense to buy a plot of land just outside of a metropolitan area. You might have a longer commute, but you’ll save big on home-building prices. 

• Square footage: Building a house can cost roughly $100 to $150 per square foot, so if you are building a larger house, you’ll pay more to do so. It makes sense to maximize space with functional, organized layouts and floorplans. 
• Land: If you want a big backyard for your dog or your kids to run around in, it will increase the overall price of your home-building project. Expect to pay top dollar if you want to install landscaping like trees, shrubs, and flowers. 
• Upgrades: If you’re looking to create a luxury home, you may opt for upgrades such as a backyard pool, a library, a bigger garage, or a home theater. These additions will cost you a bit more when building your home, but they provide the lifestyle you want. 
• Fixtures: Granite countertops or marble flooring come at a premium cost. However, there are many beautiful, high-quality fixtures available that are in line with your design ideas and your budget. 

• Floorplan: The more bedrooms you want, the more expensive your home will be. Some floorplans are more expensive than others, but you can try “considering your corners.” As a general rule of thumb, homes with more corners are pricier, and bathrooms and kitchens are the most expensive rooms to build.
• Local regulations and permits: To build a home you will need a permit, which can cost anywhere from $1,000- $3,000. If you purchase a plot of land, you may also need to pay for inspections and fees to excavate and install piping systems. 

Why Build Instead of Buy?

Building a house is your chance to meet all of your family’s requirements. You can specify everything about your home, including the design, floorplan, color palette, appliances, HVAC system, and functionality. The flexibility of designing and building your own house is appealing, but many decide to buy an existing home instead because of budgetary constraints. But if creating the perfect environment for you and your family is a priority, spending the extra money is worth it. 

Another bonus to building a home from scratch instead of buying an existing one is that your HVAC system and appliances will be brand-new. While purchasing these systems seems like a big cost up front, there’s a lot of peace of mind that comes with appliances that are still under warranty and unlikely to break down. Some systems only last 10 to 15 years, so if you buy a home that has been constructed in the past decade or so, expect to pay for repairs soon. 

Utah’s Housing Market

The Utah housing market is hot, due in part to the tech industry boom in Silicon Slopes. As big companies move into the valleys, more families and individuals are settling down. This has created a large demand for high-quality home builders in cities including Lehi, Eagle Mountain, Draper, Saratoga Springs, Bluffdale, Herriman, and Vineyard. 

Rising populations have resulted in high sales for existing houses. For many families migrating to Utah or simply looking for their next home, building a house can make much more sense. EDGEhomes makes building a home a real possibility for all types of budgets. 

• Single Family Homes: $422,000–$735,000
• Townhomes: $356,000–$432,000
• Condominiums: $269,000–$302,000

With EDGEhomes, you can choose a floorplan that works best for you and your family, and customize the design, features, and fixtures right from the beginning. EDGEhomes builds properties in Salt Lake and Utah County, including the cities of Saratoga Springs, Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Lehi, Eagle Mountain, and Vineyard. 

Choosing a Utah Home Builder

While building a home can seem challenging, hiring a home builder to do it for you can make things a lot simpler. There are many new Utah home builders out there, but they are all different, and your results with them will likely be different, too. The home builder you choose should be focused on your needs and dedicated to providing a quality home and design that you want. Look for a builder with the following criteria:

• Focused on your goals and design needs
• Uses quality products during construction and design
• Can complete your home building project in a reasonable amount of time
• Builds homes that are designed to last and keep up with your family
• Helps you with any questions or concerns
• Has a simple financing process

Building a Home in Utah With EDGEhomes

EDGEhomes is a leading home builder in Utah. With our dedication to quality and innovative design, homebuyers throughout Salt Lake and Utah County trust us for a customer friendly building and financing process. We have more than 30 floorplans to choose from, and provide custom home building as well as quick move-in homes. 

Contact EDGEhomes today to learn more about building your dream home in Utah. 

Resources: 

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/032315/getting-mortgage-when-building-your-own-home.asp

https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/cost-to-build-a-house/