I finished mine in June. Well...90%. I did a lot of it myself. I am in the $55-$60 range.

It’s doable. I’m at 120/sf on a mother in law suite I’m building in Arlington.

Maybe look into a Barndominium

Good luck finding someone to build it. There’s no money to be made on it.

If you want someone else, a GC, to build it, you better figure $150/sqft. We are building a semi custom new home and we're at $200/sqft with me buying much of the material through my company. Windows and doors along with ALL building material needs to be purchased prior to pouring foundation.

We ordered our windows back in October. Got an email in Nov saying the salesman moved on to another company. I assumed he had placed the order, but no. Now we are hoping to get then by April. Ordered large cedar beams and post before holidays. Call about delivery date and find out manufacturer had to close mill due to too many positive test after workers got back from holidays. Not sure when we will have these. Framers want them before they start framing.

Check and double check orders. Call and email for confirmation. Crazy times.

I've found the doors and windows stuff to be myth. We went and got windows at Lowes same day and ordered doors from Hootens in Emory - 2 weeks. If you don't want to wait 4 months, don't order custom size windows and doors - use standard stuff and you can have it same day or shortly thereafter.

I've actually been making great headway since I got my metal building guy out of the equation. He started dirt work the week after thanksgiving and poured the following week, and we've got framed, siding, roof, electrical rough, plumbing rough all done. HVAC rough on Wednesday, insulation Friday, drywall next week. Hoping to be in by end of February. 3 month project give or take to go from 1750 to 2700 square feet, and that includes new water heater, new AC, etc.

Cost per square foot also comes down a lot to what you have to spend on infrastructure. Are you including driveway, septic, running water/sewer/electric lines a long distance, did you build it efficiently with spray foam and good windows, and an efficient AC, or are you going to pay every month for cheaping out on materials? Not all costs are paid up front.

Very practical, real world advice

No substitute for sensible advice based on current conditions

I know nothing about this topic, but I noticed you live in Lewisville and the Mother in law suite is gonna be quite a few miles away. I would like to say, this is a good choice. Mother in laws do not need to live very close unless you have small children for them to babysit.

Almost a year ago, I build the pier and beam foundation for a 16' x 20' cabin, 320 square feet. I drew up some very nice plans and have since had 8 contractors come look at a dry out build. This includes sub floor, framing, windows, doors, exterior walls, and roof. Basic dry in. No electricity, no plumbing, no insulation, no interior walls, no lighting, no ceiling etc... Build a frame, enclose and make it dry inside and lock the door. Cheapest bid has been $34,000 dollars and that did not include the roof, windows, or door, there's only one door. The other 7 bids have come in at $50,000 plus for a dry in cabin, with smart siding!!! Incredible. This is in the county, no inspection or permits needed, and no bank, I'm paying cash and it will not be insured. Foundation looks good though, I mow around it every month or so when I go check on it.

if you insist on building right now I just don't understand it.....just wait ....keep your powder dry and your pecker hard and the world will turn....bet

I will also say - if you go talk to a GC or you get on facebook or google and find contractors, they easily charge 30%-50% more than if you go to a tract home neighborhood and just talk to some subs. I paid $4k labor to frame out 950 square feet, and that includes hardie siding, roof decking, attic decking, etc. They did a fantastic job and were about half of the other bids I got. Plumber charged $1500 for top out when most of my other bids were 2500-3500. Electrician is a buddy of mine who does great work. I got the insulation guy and HVAC guys from a local tract home neighborhood also - both thousands less than other subs.

Also the subs will usually get the job done quicker and better quality. Just a piece of advice...worth what you paid for it. I have probably talked to 50 or 60 different subs over the past 3-4 months.

The word profit is a bad word on this thread. Free or close To It... LOL

Todays $225 per s/ft is yesterdays $125 per s/ft. Not extactly the same but similar; we paid around $120 s/f for a new 3/2/2 on 10,000 s/f property in 2008. I have looked occasionally at houses online. I haven't seen anything close to that $120. Everything is double that.

BTW - EVEYTHING is on backorder.

The plumber lost money- you can’t work that cheap.

Yup- imagine if you went to these guys offices and asked them to work half price. The problem with contractors is you don’t have to have any business sense- you just keep floating along squeaking by. In return the other contractors have to compete with that.