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Buy a house or vacant lot?

hi n dry avatar
hi n dryBeach Lover
3,593 views
It now appears that buying a vacant lot maybe the best way to go.
An exception maybe houses that were built in 2002 or later. Of course this would depend on whether the house is competitively priced .


Insurance discounts are available for houses that conformed to the more stringent 2002 building code. Especially houses that installed high impact windows /doors.

Now that some material costs have come down a little and builders are hungrier you can now build a nice house for around $150 sq. ft. But be careful, some neighborhoods are more expensive to build in than others.

This means that you can now build a nice 1500 sq. ft house built to your taste for about $225k.

Also based on on current sales and listings you can now buy a lot on 30A in strolling distance to the beach for around $200k or less. Be sure to buy a lot with at least 30 ft. above sea level elevation to give you adequate protection from a storm surge.

You end up with a nice hurricane resistant beach house that qualifies for insurance discounts on your pick of lots for a total of approximately $425k!

I look forward to all your input.

Replies

18
bdc63Beach Fanatic
#2
Can you really build "a nice house" in South Walton for $150 per sq ft? If that's true, than I would agree, that sounds like a pretty good way to go.

Here in suburban Baltimore (MD) the rates are still more like $250. I don't think that you could build a basic tract house (ie. no architect) with vinyl siding, laminant counter tops, popcorn ceilings, and painted moldings for $150.

Edited

JoshMclean avatar
JoshMcleanBeach Fanatic
#3
My dad builds homes with crown, wainscoting, granite, ss applianes, cypress flooring for about $165-$170 per sqft. That's about the cheapest I've seen around here. You could go very basic for about $140 I think.
JoshMclean avatar
JoshMcleanBeach Fanatic
#4
Forgot, that's hardi-plank siding also.
bdc63Beach Fanatic
#5
My dad builds homes with crown, wainscoting, granite, ss applianes, cypress flooring for about $165-$170 per sqft. That's about the cheapest I've seen around here. You could go very basic for about $140 I think.

Think your dad would travel to Maryland to put an addition on my house?

I have a very nice guest room, and I'm a great cook! ;-)
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#6
hi & dry, I agree with your post above. Over time, that has changed back and forth, and currently, I believe it is possible to build cheaper than it is to buy complete, depending on the last purchase date & price of an existing house. Also, you can build it as you like, and meet the 2006 wind codes set in Aug for window and door ratings / windloads. Ask insurance companies for more ways to make a better protected home, and you will cut some costs here and there -- ex - knowing to build a hip roof rather than a gable. The costs differences are small, but they do add up, and will do so even more when rates increase.
You can also ask the power company for advice to making a more energy effecient home, and cut back on the monthly power bill slightly. In the right neighborhoods, you can easily build a nice home (I guess our definitions of "nice" can vary, but I am a simple man) for $150/sf.
hi n dry avatar
hi n dryBeach LoverAuthor
#7
My dad builds homes with crown, wainscoting, granite, ss applianes, cypress flooring for about $165-$170 per sqft. That's about the cheapest I've seen around here. You could go very basic for about $140 I think.

Your price for all those features sounds good. But in my world that house would be considered "upscale".

What do you mean by "very basic"?
Camp Creek Kid avatar
Camp Creek KidChristini Zambini
#8
My dad builds homes with crown, wainscoting, granite, ss applianes, cypress flooring for about $165-$170 per sqft. That's about the cheapest I've seen around here. You could go very basic for about $140 I think.


I'm assuming that is his cost, but not how much he sells the house for.
JoshMclean avatar
JoshMcleanBeach Fanatic
#9
No, that is what he would charge someone. My version of basic would be limited tile flooring, no crown molding, wainscoting, no wood flooring. That would still be hardi-plank siding and possibly granite counter tops. It is all 2x6 frame construction. I will ask him if you have any specific questions. Price also has a lot to do with the size of the home. Those prices would be correct for around 2,300 sqft and up. Price would rise some if a smaller home was chosen.
JoshMclean avatar
JoshMcleanBeach Fanatic
#10
You can see my personal home that I have listed in another link below. I have it listed at $187 a square foot. I would take $465,500 for it which would be $181 a sqft. Though, that price is including the lot that it is on. I don't think you'll find that quality construction for that price. Correct me if I am wrong, I just haven't seen it in the MLS.
Bobby J avatar
Bobby JBeach Fanatic
#11
My father is also a builder and he said if you are creative you can get a home built for under $150 sq foot! Lumber is a little high right now (up 25%). You can make up the difference with labor coming down. Anyway Pm if you need a good builder.
Bob avatar
BobSoWal Insider
#12
I've never understood the lack of cinderblock construction. It's much stronger than 2x6 and can be covered just as easily. Is it more profitable for stick-built?
joho avatar
johoBeach Fanatic
#13
I've never understood the lack of cinderblock construction. It's much stronger than 2x6 and can be covered just as easily. Is it more profitable for stick-built?


When I moved to Fort Walton in 1963 most of the homes and shopping centers were built with cinderblock........it seemed to be what the contractors chose for for stability and longivity.

Some of the first homes built in Walton County were brick and cinderblock
(the "brickyard" in Blue Mountain Beach).
Bobby J avatar
Bobby JBeach Fanatic
#14
I've never understood the lack of cinderblock construction. It's much stronger than 2x6 and can be covered just as easily. Is it more profitable for stick-built?

the quality of cinder block construction here is very low... My father always has alot of problems getting quality layers. No room for error with block but in stick built it gets covered up with Sheetrock...
Miss Kitty avatar
Miss KittyMeow
#15
I've never understood the lack of cinderblock construction. It's much stronger than 2x6 and can be covered just as easily. Is it more profitable for stick-built?

I :wub: cinderblock houses.
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#16
If you get a chance, check out what O'Shea does with insulated concrete foam (ICF) construction. They'll have one or two of those kinds of homes in Parade every year. Great sound and noise insullation, and very resistant to high winds. It's definitely not your father's cinderblock home, and if we were building, we'd definitely go the ICF route.

One of the problems with the older cinderblock homes in the area is that many of them were built with flat roofs, which do not do well in high winds.
DD avatar
DDSoWal Expert
#17
When I moved to Fort Walton in 1963 most of the homes and shopping centers were built with cinderblock........it seemed to be what the contractors chose for for stability and longivity.

Some of the first homes built in Walton County were brick and cinderblock
(the "brickyard" in Blue Mountain Beach).

I :wub: cinderblock houses.

mr. dd's uncle built two cinderblock houses in FWB(Okaloosa Island) back in the early 60's. They're still there.

I love 'em too Miss Kitty!
Mermaidpicky
#18
I :wub: cinderblock houses.

Merman dreams of one day finding an old one on the beach that needs his brand of TLC. He's been dreaming a long time, but it's still a very good dream. :clap_1:
flyforfun avatar
flyforfunBeach Fanatic
#19
For the best insurance discounts, you need to consider following these guidelines and get it fortress approved. This is a little bit stronger than our current guidelines however insurance companies are taking notice and giving discounts for this type of construction.

http://www.ibhs.org/property_protection/results.asp?txt_zip=32459&btn_submit=Continue

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