Average cost of residential construction per square foot

Average Cost to Build a House in Florida by Type

There are two basic methods for building a home - standard or stick-built construction and modular construction. Both can give you a home of nearly any size, style, or architecture, but they do so differently.

Stick building is the traditional method of building a home. The home is built on-site, using lumber on a concrete slab 1 foundation. Modular construction builds the home in a factory setting, and then transports it in pieces to the site where it is assembled. Modular construction is faster and less expensive than stick building because everything is done indoors in a climate-controlled and computer-aided environment.

Both methods can use standard blueprints 2 or give you a custom home. Stick building is more common in most parts of Florida because of a mistrust of modular construction dating back many decades. However, modular construction today gives you a high-quality home and is gaining popularity throughout the state as building rates increase. Both methods have a range of associated costs because there are different materials and many ways to build. This leads to some overlap between the two construction methods. Below are the average costs per square foot to build a home in Florida using the two methods. Both methods have much higher costs for luxury and custom construction.

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Depending on the construction method, costs to build a home in Florida range from $60 to $135 a square foot. Costs vary depending on the layout, architecture, and materials. If you build a luxury custom home, your costs range from $150 a square foot for modular to $250 a square foot for stick-built.

Most homes being built currently in Florida are in the range of 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, but many homes are smaller or larger.

Size is a major determining factor in the total cost to build your home, regardless of the method or material. Below are the average costs to build a home based on the most common sizes in both methods.

Average Cost to Build a House in Florida by Number of Bedrooms

While houses come in many configurations and types, they have one thing in common. They have at least one bedroom. Most homes in Florida have 2 to 4 bedrooms, with 3 bedrooms being the most common. However, you can still find single-bedroom homes.

Generally, the more bedrooms a home has, the larger it is. However, that is not a hard-and-fast rule because you can have more living space with fewer bedrooms or less living space with more bedrooms, depending on your needs. There can be an overlap in the costs between the number of bedrooms. Below are the average costs to build a home in Florida using both construction methods by the number of bedrooms.

Average Cost to Build a House in Florida by Number of Stories

Traditionally, many homes in Florida have been built with one story. Many of the more popular architectural styles in the area work well with single-story homes, and single-story homes are easier to keep cool than those with two or more stories.

However, many people chose to build two or three-story homes in the state, particularly those living with ocean views or in more luxurious neighborhoods. Because it is less expensive to build up than out for the same amount of square footage, bigger homes tend to have two or more stories rather than staying to the more traditional single level. Generally, a single-story home costs less than a two or three-story home to build but has slightly higher costs per square foot. Therefore, a 2,000 sq.ft. single-story home is slightly more expensive to build than a 2,000 sq.ft. 2-story home. Most larger homes tend to be two or more stories, while smaller homes tend to be single-story because of the cost to build.

Below are the average costs to build each type using the two building methods, based on the average square footage for each.

New Construction Cost in Florida by Style

Florida architecture varies across the state. While many people on the coasts build beach-style homes like contemporary coastals, people living inland may prefer ranches, which are one of the most common styles in the state. In addition, two of the most common architectural styles throughout all areas of the state are the similar-looking Mediterranean and Spanish styles, featuring stucco exteriors and clay tile roofs.

Travel around the state to some of the more northern areas, and you can find some Victorian homes. Throughout the state, tiny homes have also had a major increase in popularity over the last few years as people opt for a lower cost of building, combined with a more flexible lifestyle.

Each home style has its own range of costs based on size, location - it is more costly to build on the coast than inland - and materials. Below are the average costs for the different styles found in Florida, based on their most common sizes, using the two construction styles.

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Home Building Cost Breakdown (Florida)

Many components go into the process and construction when building a home. Everything has a set of costs to consider, from the planning and permits to the final interior finishing. As with homes everywhere, the materials, layout, location, and style impact your final costs.

When breaking down the costs of traditional construction, keep in mind there can be a wide range for each area. You can change the quality level from one area to another, or there may be different costs associated with various materials used for one section, leading to a wide range of costs. The following breakdown for traditional stick-built construction in Florida can give you an idea of how much your project might cost.

No matter which home type or style you build, you need a wide range of professionals. The total average labor cost to build a home in Florida is around $34 to $50 a square foot out of the $110 to $135 a square foot total. There can be a wide range of costs associated with the different professionals you may contract with. Below are the various professionals you might need and their average costs in Florida.

​​Factors Affecting the Cost of Building a Home in Florida

Many things impact the cost of your new Florida home. The first is the location. Florida is a big state, and some areas are more costly to build in than others. Building on the coast is more expensive than building inland. Building in a major city like Miami is also more costly than building in a less-populated area.

Many new homes - particularly those on the coast - are also subject to specific building codes. These include things like ensuring you use impact-resistant glass for the windows. These codes are designed to help protect your home in a major storm or hurricane, and they can also impact the cost of your home by dictating specific materials or building practices.

The project’s style, materials, and size also influence your home. Expect to pay more than a standard home if you build a custom home. Likewise, your costs are lower if you opt for modular building than stick building.

How Much Are Building Permits in Florida?

You need a building permit to build a new home in Florida. This permit is applied for through your local municipality and involves submitting your building plans.

Each county and area in Florida have different methods of calculating the costs of a building permit. In some areas like Miami, you are charged a rate of $0.22 per $100 of the estimated cost of the building project. So, if your home is estimated to cost $250,000, your building permit costs $550. There are flat fees beginning at $45 and reaching $500 in other areas, depending on the structure type.

The best way to calculate the cost of your building permit is to visit your local municipality and learn about their process and associated costs.

Building vs Buying a Home in Florida

If you plan on moving to or within the state of Florida, you have two choices - to build a new home or purchase an existing home. The average cost of a home for sale in Florida is roughly equal to the cost of building a new home. However, there are many other factors to consider.

The first is land. Land is widely available in Florida, but you need to purchase some before you can build. This can have a wide range of costs that can increase your project’s cost.

The second is the associated fees with purchasing a home that can raise the cost. This can include mortgage fees, closing costs, and inspection bills that may not necessarily be a part of a new home build.

At the moment, there is a housing shortage in Florida like the rest of the country. With continuous population growth, there are not enough existing houses in Florida to meet demand. For this reason, you may have a harder time finding an existing home that meets your needs in Florida. In this case, you may find that building a new home can help you meet your needs. Things like location and home type and size can cause inventory and costs to fluctuate across the state for existing homes, which may or may not drive costs higher, making building more desirable.

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Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Interior Designer

It is common when building a new home to hire an interior designer to help with layout and interiors. Interior designers can work with your builder or architect to help maximize space and layout in your new home. Interior designers in Florida typically charge between $50 and $200 per hour for their services.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Shipping container homes. If you are looking for a way to reduce construction material and build a more affordable home, shipping container homes are an option. They use existing containers and cost an average of $100 to $110 a square foot in Florida.
• Demo fees. If you have an existing house or property on the land you are building on, you have demo fees to remove it first. These can cost $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the structure size.
• Inspection. Your new home is subject to inspections. These typically cost around $75 per visit and are part of the permit process. Speak to your local municipality for more information.
• Contingencies. All types of home building can experience setbacks and delays for many reasons. In Florida, there is also the threat of hurricanes disrupting the building process. Ensure you have a contingency fund of roughly 5% of the budget to help with weather delays.
• Material shortages after the pandemic. Many building materials have seen supply issues during the pandemic. This can make certain materials, including lumber, concrete, and glass more expensive and harder to get hold of for future builds. It is recommended to sign a contract early in the process to help lock in costs and avoid future delays.

FAQs

• How much does it cost to build a 3-bedroom house in Florida?

There is a wide range of costs for building a 3-bedroom home in Florida, depending on the location and overall size. Expect to pay between $120,000 and $270,000 for a modular home and between $220,000 and $364,500 for a stick-built home.

• Can I legally build my own house in Florida?

If you want to do the building yourself, you can do so. However, you still need to pull relevant permits, submit your plans for approval, meet Florida building codes, and pass inspections. Speak to your local municipality for more information.

• What is the minimum square footage for a house in Florida?

Florida has minimum square footage rules for tiny homes built in the state. The minimum home size allowed in Florida is 375 sq.ft. Anything larger is fine.

• How long does it take to get a building permit in Florida?

This depends on several factors, including the municipality, how detailed the plans are, how busy the municipality is, and if you meet all the criteria on your first application. The process can take days to weeks, depending on these factors.

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