Obviously you’ll have to get bids, assuming you can find any builders who aren’t busy 3 years out. But based on my friends place about $250-$350 sq ft. That does not include landscaping.

2022 numbers are probably 40-60% above 2016 bay area numbers below w lumber settling down, but most other items still increasing not forgetting fuel. A lot of bay area construction labor commutes from lower cost areas where they also get paid well.

We paid just under $300/sq.ft for a large guest house with 3-car garage in Los Angeles, way back in 2011. That was the bottom of the market in that area and prices have only risen since then and back then there were no issues with availability of labor and materials. Good luck!

$250 - $350 sq. ft. sounds absurdly low, especially for the bay area. I'm in NJ and new construction in my area is generally going for $475 - $600 sq. ft. I would expect it to be more where you live.

Figure 1K per foot, and be thankful if it comes in any cheaper for what you really want.

In my market (Chicago), a custom build is between $400-$600/sq ft. right now. I would assume your market would be pricier.

This is a very helpful thread. If i never have to read another response that says, ”That’s like asking how much a car costs without saying whether its a Rolls Royce or a toyota,” it will be too soon. We all get it.

Obviously, the guessimates here cover a huge range, but they seem mostly realistic for building in a high cost area. Nobody wants to pay an architect five figures to get preliminary plans to shop to four contractors only to then learn that costs are now 50% more than they were a year ago.

It can sometimes be helpful to look at new spec construction and then subtract out the lot. But those homes are built by pros who have a good sense of what every amenity and upgrade will add to the cost and eventual selling price. Personal decisions about a dream home may not be as disciplined. But 3-4 years ago in Westchester, NY builders were spending around 400-500 on lots and then buidling 4000 sq ft homes they sold for around $2 million. So that was around $400/sq foot for homes that were flashy and current, but a little McMansion-ish. But things are changing so quickiy these days I don't think that approach is helpful even for a ballpark.

From what I've seen and the quotes I've gotten, for a place like Sunnyvale, CA, you're probably looking at somewhere around $300 to $500 per square foot for a decent build. That includes your basic construction but remember, finishes and any high-end materials can push that number higher. So, for a 3300 sq ft house, you're potentially looking at around $990,000 to $1.65 million, give or take, depending on the choices you make and the builder you go with.

And since we're talking numbers, managing the financial side of a construction project can get pretty overwhelming. I found using https://www.a-systems.net to be super helpful. It's geared towards construction accounting, helping you keep track of costs, payments, and even scheduling. It made a huge difference in staying organized and on budget, without turning my hair gray in the process.