What is cheaper - to build a house or buy a finished one - we conduct research
Many people visit dreams about their home - after all, this means freedom, the absence of neighbors behind the wall, living land underfoot. You can build a house, you can buy already built - the price of the issue is significantly different. Today we will discuss what is cheaper - to build a house or buy a finished one, and also take into account some additional nuances that affect the cost.
Content:
We specify our desires and possibilities
It would seem, in addition to the required amount, more than the future owners of the house should not worry anything. However, it is worth remembering that the size of this amount can vary within wide limits - from $ 300 to $ 1,000 per m2. It depends on a combination of many factors:
- location of the building;
- selected materials and technologies;
- purchase method;
- unexpectedly turned up in time a profitable option.
Initially, you need to exactly decide what exactly the family needs. How many rooms should be in the house, what other rooms are needed (attic, large basement, maybe a pool or billiard room). Decide what level of engineering communications is acceptable for you. The layout and harmonious arrangement of the premises, the presence, for example, of a cozy veranda or a spacious pantry are important.
And before you buy or build a house, answer a few simple questions:
How much are you ready to wait until housewarming? For some, this is not essential, but for someone every week is dear. And in the literal sense - for example, you have to pay a lot of money for rented housing. Or will replenish the family. There are many situations.
Do you want to delve into the construction business? Let you not build it yourself, but entrust everything to professionals, but you will have to spend a lot of time and effort. Moreover, it is desirable to understand at least a little what is happening. If this causes you to be actively rejected, then do not torment yourself.
Want to control the progress of construction? Indeed, it depends on the selected materials and the quality of work performed how comfortable it will be for you to live later.
Is it possible to invest money gradually? This option eliminates the need to take a loan.
After you answer all of the above questions, we will weigh all the requirements and opportunities, we will estimate how much they are combined with each of the options for finding a home.
1. We are building a new house - if there is no hurry
This option is the simplest, so it is the choice that the majority chooses, deciding whether to build a house or buy a finished one. It’s simple not in terms of execution, but in the sense that you don’t have to look for houses (there are few high-quality and cheap ones on the market). Only a project, materials, performers and a plot of land are needed.
It is with the acquisition of the site and we begin. We start from its features, determining the project (you can order it individually or take it ready). Then - the construction site. Which you can completely take upon yourself, finding workers, buying materials and checking quality. Or entrust to a contractor.
+The advantages of building a house:
- You can realize all your dreams and desires, making the building convenient for any family member.
- By controlling the quality of materials and work, you can save yourself from the need for subsequent repairs.
- It is possible to regulate your involvement in construction. If you want, visit the construction site yourself. If you want, entrust everything to the contractor.
- You can invest gradually at each stage. True, the extension of the construction process increases the cost of the house.
– Cons of building a house:
- Remember that quickly populate will not work. For example, a stone house is only designed from 3 to 6 months. Build about a year.If necessary quickly, it will only be a frame house, under construction from 2 to 5 months.
The cost of building a square meter of a house of stone materials is from 600 to 650 $. A frame building will be cheaper - from 300 to 400 $. When performing part of the work yourself, you can reduce costs by 30%. If you entrust all the work to the contractor, on the contrary, throw from 10 to 20%.
Cottage towns: expensive but convenient
For those who do not want to delve into the affairs of construction and dream of a comfortable house, this option is quite to their taste - the developer is engaged in everything. It is important to choose this company correctly, otherwise unscrupulous people can be found.
Construction usually proceeds from the zero cycle, a project prepared by professionals is proposed (it is possible to build according to your project, however). There are options for small houses - up to 200 m2. Often there is an opportunity to take a loan from a partner bank.
There is a square meter here from 800 to 1000 $. It is possible to agree on phased funding (but it happens that the construction is delayed indefinitely). There are also ready-for-sale buildings.
If there is not enough money
Then there are the following options:
1. Buy a smaller house. Choose an option that allows later to complete the completion.
2. Buy an old house that is cheaper. It is being rebuilt later.
3. Instead of a stone house, they build a frame or wooden (which will cost 20-30% cheaper).
4. Carry out a number of works on their own - that's another 30% savings in your pocket.
5. Instead of building from ceramic bricks, use aerated concrete - from 5 to 10% savings.
2. We buy a built house, ready for living - faster, but more expensive
The acquisition can be made from a private trader or from a developer company (in a cottage town). It’s good if they managed to live a bit in the house, having tested it. If something is wrong (the foundation is weak, the insulation is weak), this will immediately be visible. At the same time, you will find out how much you will have to pay for utilities.
And if the house is built specifically for sale, then take the purchase carefully. Sometimes the builder, wanting to get the maximum profit, saves on everything: materials, decoration, quality of work.
With even greater caution should be taken to houses built in the nineties of the last century. It was in those difficult times that many buildings were built using outdated technologies, and the materials for them were used of very poor quality. Later the situation improved.
+Pros of buying a home
- You can quickly enter.
- Repair usually will not be needed for a long time.
– Cons of buying a house
- All dreams are unlikely to be realized - a ready-made solution will be somewhat compromise.
- You will have to pay the whole amount at once - for m2 from $ 800 (stone house) to $ 500 (frame house).
- Funds for the purchase of finished housing will need 20 - 35% more than for the construction of a similar house.
A bit about townhouses
This is a relatively new trend - you will not meet the old town house. So they call economical buildings, united by common walls of houses, characterized by a small length of communications and small sections nearby - up to 5 acres. There are 3-5 rooms in the house, often there is a garage (built-in).
Typically, townhouses are built on the outskirts of the city. They cost $ 400-500 per m2. If you buy an unfinished house, you will surely wait until the end of construction - after all, the buildings are dependent on each other and make up the complex.
If you buy unfinished
Arguing that it is more profitable - to build a house or buy a house - some come to a compromise. They choose unfinished, which abound in the market. Some are just boxes, others do not have just finishes. The latter option is not bad, since it will cost less than a finished house and will allow you to finish everything to your liking.
But with the boxes it is worth being careful - perhaps it will not be cheaper to finish building than starting from scratch. Only an expert will say it for sure.
3. Save by buying an old house
First we decide what “old” means. So it is customary to call buildings built over 25 years ago. They have the wrong level of planning and less technological engineering solutions. The windows are usually small, the rooms too (due to the proximity of the load-bearing walls).
The cheapest thing is to buy a house where everything is old - both the walls and the interior. But it will take time and money to repair, heat insulation, replace equipment. If the latter is already installed, then it will be easier (but more expensive). However, a number of internal work will still be required.
It happens that past owners have already equipped the house with a modern "filling" by inserting plastic windows, insulating walls and an attic, making new communications and installing new equipment. In such cases, only a small cosmetic repair is needed. But the price of the house is increasing.
+Pros of buying an old house
- If the building is stone (brick), then it can stand up to 100 years, without destruction. At the same time, in comparison with the construction of a similar house, there is an opportunity to save money.
– Cons of buying an old house
- Construction and repair work will probably be required, to what extent, depends on the quality of the building. A good inspection is required before purchase.
- Dates for introduction can be long. Until you find, while you repair.
- You have to pay once - the whole amount. About $ 100 to $ 500 per m2.
Summarize and match your needs with opportunities
To make it easier to evaluate which is better - to build a house or buy a finished one, we have compiled two tables.
Table 1. Various options and scenarios, depending on the individual wishes of the future owners:
| Needs | Options for finding a home |
|---|---|
| Everything should correspond to individual requests 100%. | Construction of a new building using a project from a catalog or specially designed. |
| There is a need for quick settlement. | Acquisition of a finished house (new). |
| The acquisition of an old house, fully or partially equipped. | |
| There is no possibility or (and) desire to engage in construction | Turnkey construction order from a specialized company. |
| The acquisition of a new home. | |
| Acquisition of an old house with a complete repair and modernization. | |
| Order construction of a house in a cottage town. | |
| I want to personally control the procurement of materials and all stages of the construction. | Construction on their own or catalog project, in a cooperative or privately. |
| There is a need to invest in parts. | Construction of a house from stone materials requiring a long construction. |
Table 2. The following table lists the possible scenarios and prices for houses with a total area of about 150 m2. Although in the presence of $ 30,000 or less, you will have to look for a much smaller house (somewhere in half).
| Amount available, $ | Options for finding a home |
|---|---|
| 100 000 | The purchase of a finished brick or aerated concrete house. |
| Building a house from aerated concrete or brick. | |
| 75 000 | The acquisition of a new aerated concrete or brick house (unfinished). |
| The purchase of a townhouse or frame building (fully finished). | |
| Construction of a house made of ceramic brick or aerated concrete. | |
| 50 000 | The purchase of an old house, completely ready for housing (with all communications and decoration). |
| Frame house construction. | |
| 30 000 | Acquisition of an old house of smaller dimensions with a minimum of amenities (planning to complete and improve it). |
| Construction of a frame building of smaller dimensions. | |
| Acquisition of a small townhouse - up to 60 m2. |
