Replies

1. 
   Gumshoe | Apr 27, 2005 04:04pm | #1

   I haven't seen the issue, but that doesn't sound out-of-line to me - is it considered high or low where you're at?

2. 
   JDRHI | Apr 27, 2005 04:33pm | #2

   Haven`t seen the article.....but I believe Warwick is better than 50 miles outside NYC, and the average home cost is somewhere in the $150,000 range. Not surprising the $240K pricetag.

   ATTENTION FELLOW BREAKTIME MEMBERS:

   If you`d like to discuss topics other than home building, come on down to the Woodshed Tavern. Great bunch of guys and gals letting off a little steam about everything and anything. Its not a special club, but.....as of Monday, March 14, the Tavern folder will go behind an access wall. Only those who request access to this folder by contacting [email protected] will be able to view and participate in discussions there.

1. 
   gdavis62 | Apr 27, 2005 05:20pm | #3

   It is this one, with the article beginning on page 62.  Author says location is 55 miles from NYC, but that looks like as-crow-flies distance when I look at map.

   The plan would seem to indicate it is built on either a frost-protected shallow foundation, or slab of some type, as there appears to be no steps down to a basement.  There is an upstairs mechanical room, where they can place HVAC gear.

    

1. 
   ZooGuy | Apr 27, 2005 07:06pm | #5

   How much separation is between that house and the one to its right?

1. 
   gdavis62 | Apr 27, 2005 07:11pm | #6

   That's the garage.

1. 
   ZooGuy | Apr 27, 2005 09:17pm | #8

   I knew that.

2. 
   Gumshoe | Apr 27, 2005 07:57pm | #7

   Not much to look at from the street, is it? The proportions and shape seem somehow out of balance, the roofline seems in tension with itself. Probably nicely appointed inside, 'tho.

1. 
   aimless | Apr 27, 2005 11:31pm | #9

   Haven't seen the article yet, but can you judge how it looks from the street without the garage in view? I'd think you'd need to see that as well to see where the eye naturally ends up.  When I looked at the posted pic, I thought it was kind of cute (and I especially liked the roofline), but I mentally added a garage on so that the whole was more balanced, with the main house having the most visual weight.

2. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Apr 29, 2005 11:45am | #15

   Huck, I agree, there is something that doesn't look right.

   I think the ratio  of cedar shingles to the white brick areas is too high. It makes the house look top heavy.

   It wouldn't take much of an adjustment, maybe a few courses of brick. Maybe bring the brick up to the porch gutter level.

   blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!

   Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!

1. 
   woodguy99 | Apr 29, 2005 08:32pm | #16

   You're up early today Blue!

   My GF and I were looking at that house, thinking something wasn't right.  We came up with two ideas.  One, the details on the house beg for more relief then they're given.  The facade is too flat-looking, for a design that looks like it should be sculptural.

   The other idea is to block off that high-pitched roof.  Looks like an attractive little cape, ranch, or bungalow-style house.  Definately an uncomfortable mixing of styles.

    

   Mike

2. 
   CapnMac | Apr 30, 2005 12:33am | #17

   the ratio  of cedar shingles to the white brick areas is too high. It makes the house look top heavy

   That caught my eye, too; but as a color balance, not a materials one.

   My eye wanted a mock watertable for that bumpout window in that sea of brown shutters; something either at the top of the window, or at its bottom, just to split that vertical height.

   This would also be one that I'd want beefier looking columns on--but that's me, I'm a Prarie/A&C fan, too.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

3. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 27, 2005 05:22pm | #4

   Distance is closer to 90 miles +, whatever. That's west of the Hudson near the Catskills.

   I could do a simple home for $100.00 or less per square. I did a 2 family with 2 kits. and 4 baths in '96 for around $90. per and made ok money on it.

   That's on an improved lot, house only.

   I don't know enough about this house to even guess. They did not say whether or not that included any profit on the labor or ifit was for cost.

    

   Gene, did you start the house yet?

   Eric

   I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,

   With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.

   [email protected]

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/27/2005 10:24 am ET by Eric Paulson

1. 
   Piffin | Apr 27, 2005 11:52pm | #10

   "I did a 2 family with 2 kits. and 4 baths in '96 for around $90. per "have you noticed that several years - nearly a full economic cycle has come and gone since then? I did one for 88/ in 96 but that is a forgotten memory in job costing. I doubt I could do the same house for 150 now. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   EricPaulson | Apr 28, 2005 12:06am | #11

   That's interesting that my post caught your eye, it's something I've been curious about.

   I have the file close by, I've been thinking of halving the house to establish a benchmark for building a basic home.

   I just put the numbers through, I was guessing before, actually came out less than $80 per.

   'Course, ok money back then was different too.

   BTW, it had two panels, two boilers and two h2o heaters as well.

   I gave it away.

   House was built on a lot worth about 80k, plus my 200. He could have sold it in a minute for 350.

   It's worth over 700k today.

   Not a bad investment considering someone else paid the mortgage. I'm always on the wrong side of the deal.

    

   EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,

   With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.

   [email protected]

4. 
   florida | Apr 28, 2005 02:24am | #12

   I'm not in NY but I am in what is possibly the hottest real estate market in America, southwest Florida. I'm just finishing an 1800 square foot house here and just sold it for $186K including the lot. The house is CBS construction, mono slab, truss roof, 30 year shingles, 3/2 with 2 car garage. Tile shower and tile tub surround, tile bathroom floors, 9 foot ceilings, wood laminate in the kitchen and D/R, tray ceiling in the MB/R, stainless kitchen appliances, white washer and dryer, 12 SEER A/C, 4 ceiling fans, chair rail and 7 paint colors on the interior. Septic tank, well, and water treatment, 80' X 136' lot and a 12' X 15' porch slab out back. My square foot building costs on this one are about $80.00. I'm getting ready to start 2 more just like it in the same area which will be in the $225K to $240K range because of increased lot prices.

1. 
   Gumshoe | Apr 28, 2005 08:33am | #13

   Do your square foot building costs include land too?

1. 
   florida | Apr 28, 2005 02:02pm | #14

   The $186K/1800 square foot house does include the land but the $80.00 a square foot price does not. I don't build by the square foot pricing but simply did some division to arrive at that number.

2. 
   Woodbutcher | May 05, 2005 06:19am | #20

   Hey Rick.   Where in SW Fla. are you?   The Wife and I are considering relocating to that area and I may want to pick your brain a little bit if that would be ok.

5. 
   davidmeiland | May 03, 2005 08:30am | #18

   Haven't seen that issue, but I recall from previous ones that a lot of the houses are built with at least some owner labor... so that when they say $100 per foot, that's with them working nights, weekends, and holidays for two years rather than hiring a GC to do it turnkey for them.

1. 
   gdavis62 | May 03, 2005 03:07pm | #19

   This one is the model home in a subdivision being built by a large builder-developer.

   The more I look at it I am coming to believe that a large outfit might bring it in at that cost.  But, the exterior details sure don't look like $100/sf to me.

6. 
   Kuba | May 05, 2005 06:48am | #21

    I am from western Canada and the base price starts around $112.00 psf Cdn. For some reason I thought your guys prices were considerably Higher?