Estimating the cost of building a house is not quite as simple as this calculator makes it, but it does give a rough guide to the going rate. Obviously the biggest influence in the price is going to be the land price which changes drastically with location location location. Go ahead and plug your dreams into the calculator, or better yet- give us a call, and we'll happily meet with you to discuss a more accurate estimation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does changing the finish level of the house change the price?

Since the "finish level" refers to many things about the house, it can drastically change the final cost of building. Finish includes the obvious things such as flooring, and counter tops. It also includes many things that you may not think about. For example- plumbing fixtures. You can spend $500 on all the fixtures for a "base line" house, where you may spend $500 on just the Master bath fixtures for a special custom home. Similarly, we may spend $300 on all the lighting for a spec home, where you can easily spend over $300 just for a ceiling fan in the living room. These are the questions you need to be asking.. Where do I want to spend my money?

Where is the best place to save money?

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As described above, finishes can make a huge difference in the final price of your house, so it is best to prioritize where you want to spend the majority of your money. If you never eat at home, a commercial grade kitchen is probably not worth the money. On the other hand, if you are a great music lover, a whole house music system may be well worth your extra pennies. You are the only one that can decide where the best place to save money is, I can easily advise you of things we typically use in our spec homes, and why these are more economical than other items. Some of the obvious items are custom counter tops, extravagant lighting fixtures, or even certain types of doors and windows. You can use vinyl in place of tile in the guest baths, carpet the rooms that don't really need hardwood, or even work in stages. Carpet can be replaced by wood later, as well as swapping lighting fixtures, and even plumbing fixtures.

If I cut corners some places, can I spend more elsewhere?

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We really don't like the phrase "cut corners" however if you would like to take a "spec upgrade" and re-distribute the money to the areas you would like we'd be happy to help you with this. If you really have no need for wood floors, the money you save we can easily put into a jetted tub for your master bath. In addition to "trading out" items, there are other things we can do, like leave a basement un-finished for later, let you landscape yourself. Let us know what you want, and we'll work with you.

What does this Mortgage calculator really tell me?

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The Mortgage calculator is a simple monthly payment estimator. By making a few phone calls you can figure out what the current mortgage rates are, and put this in place of the 7%. If you desire to go with other terms than 30yrs, change this. With just these two values you can figure your monthly payment. If you know the yearly tax for your property, and the insurance rates entering these values will give you a more realistic approximation of what you will really need out of pocket each month. This is only an approximation though, you're mortgage counselor can work it out to the penny for you.

If Land Price isn't included, what is a normal lot going for?

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This is not an easy question to answer. The "average lot" doesn't say much. If you mean in the city, it means one thing, if you mean in the boonies it means another. Since you are probably looking in the Puget sound area, you may want water or mountain view which also changes the price dramatically. Proximity to ferries, military bases, also has an effect. Your best bet is to get on the web and look around and the local realtor's land listings. Prices change daily, but you will probably find something around the following:

• $50,000-No views .5 acre
• $70,000-Mountain view .5acre
• $115,000-Water view .5acre
• $250,000-Waterfront .5acre