[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/Spiritual_Cress1323]

/gallery/1w4cocq

[u/Austin-ModTeam]

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[u/Extreme-Poem-2309]

Oh boy this thread is not gonna be what you expected lmao.

[u/Spiritual_Cress1323 → u/Extreme-Poem-2309]

Really I wanted the honesty. Is it expensive because it’s like tailoring, or is it expensive because of the city permitting, or is it both and just exorbitant?

[u/mrplinko]

Builders will build to the plan. You should probably start with getting your vision on a plan. design/architect firm

[u/TomTuff]

Why did you use gpt to write this post? Get burnt

[u/Spiritual_Cress1323 → u/TomTuff]

Why do people assume I use GPT just because I’m long winded? I fucking hate AI.

[u/sweetsounds86]

I had a friend use Moontower Design Build (https://www.moontoweraustin.com) for an east Austin home. Not sure what you consider affordable or what they charge these days, but working in the city limits is a pain in the ass so I'm assuming home builders charge accordingly.

[u/stercoopdraperpryce]

I think you should figure out if you want a custom build, if you want to look for a home you can remodel, or if you want to wait for the ideal home to come on the market — a house that has already been remodeled but kept its charm.

I can’t say this for certain, bc it’ll depend on your contractors and such… but building “from scratch” would mean you also have to pay for the cost of tear down.

Remodeling, while still costly, is likely significantly cheaper than tearing down and building a home.

When you remodel, you still have some useful elements.

[u/Spiritual_Cress1323 → u/stercoopdraperpryce]

We’d buy an empty lot if we went that way to avoid tearing anything down — but I guess there’s also places that someone needs to pay to bring down anyway.

[u/Electrik_Truk]

Custom building in city limits is going to be insanely expensive. Everything you do will require inspection and sign off before moving on to the next phase. It takes a lot of time and coordination, eventually frustration and money.

I have built homes well outside of Austin and can move fast. I can have crews lined up and knock out work back to back and it saves time and money. Anything I have built would cost twice the price in Austin mostly because of the red tape and the requirements to meet the guidelines of that red tape. I understand the reasoning, because of proximity and density, but it really can make an affordable house build a non starter.

Basically, it can be done if you have the money but I wouldn't ever consider it the "affordable" option by any means.

[u/Spiritual_Cress1323 → u/Electrik_Truk]

Yeah unfortunately this area is where I can get to work and my doctor without changing buses. I’m disabled and cant drive.

[u/Spiritual_Cress1323 → u/Electrik_Truk]

When you build outside the city, what’s the Cost per Sq Ft? Does it really DOUBLE or more inside the city?