What does it cost per square foot to build a new home?

      One way or another, this is the most frequent question we get asked. Unfortunately, it is also one of the few questions that we have a simple answer for.  Can you tell me how much it costs to take a vacation or send my kids to college? How much per pound should I expect to spend on a new car? What is the "average cost" of a dinner for two?  These questions contain so many variables that it is impossible for anyone to answer them accurately without first asking several additional questions and gathering much more information. The same is true when calculating the cost to build a new home.

      Let's begin by considering what square foot homebuilding costs really are — nothing more than the total cost of a given project divided by the total number of square feet in that project. So, a 2,000 square foot home with total construction costs of $200,000 would cost $100 per square foot to build. Spend another $50,000 on a gourmet kitchen, an elegant master bath, granite countertops, ceramic tile, hardwood flooring, taller ceilings, vaulted ceilings, log siding, or any other combination of "above average" features or finishes and that same 2,000 square foot house would now cost $125 per square foot to build; an increase of 20 percent.

      Now consider the structure itself. If the house in question is a ranch, with all of the finished area on one floor, the roof would have to be large enough to cover the entire 2,000 feet of living space. Turn that single level ranch into a two-story colonial and the roof size is instantly reduced by 50 percent because the second floor system became the "roof" for half of the area on the first floor. Increase the roof pitch from 5/12 to 12/12 and the roof area (including framing members, sheathing, and shingles) quickly increases by 35 percent. Of course, these examples are oversimplified because they don't consider the size of the foundation, where the foundation for a 2000 Square foot Ranch is going to be twice the size of a foundation for a 2000 square foot 2-Story. Costs of similarly sized homes can also vary considerably due to the shape of the building, the number of corners or offsets in the design, the type of foundation and required local footing depth, the pitch of the roof, and many other design characteristics that are not directly related to the size of the house.  GREEN building products should also enter your thoughts as you build your new home, and we offer many options to help save on energy bills down the road.

      To make matters worse, there really isn't any uniform method of measuring square footage or defining what is included in those numbers. Are you using exterior dimensions or interior dimensions? How do you define heated or unheated space? Have you included the garage or basement or unfinished loft areas in your calculations? What about decks or covered porches? Is the land included in the square foot costs? What about building permits, liability insurance, utility connections, wells, septic systems, driveways, sidewalks, landscaping...

      Price per square foot is a real variable that is really dependent on the selections you make to that home.  A typical entry level finish can range from $75-$100 per square foot, Mid range finish level can range from $100-$125 per square foot, a high end finish can start at $125 per square foot and go well beyond $250 per square foot, again depending on the selections you choose.  This would only be the home itself, in additional to that you would need to include: site development costs, land costs, well & septic (or water & sewer), and landscaping.

      At Tri-County Homes, Inc. we have the plans and pricing tools, to quickly and accurately provide you a guaranteed price on your new home.  We can price out one of our standard models very quickly with many selections of various products for you to choose from.  We can price out custom plans in a few days.  We can help you throughout the home-building process to guide you through the decisions that will affect your lifestyle and your budget. Once the floor plans, specifications and details have been finalized through a construction contract, the price to build your new home is set in stone. The only way the final price changes, is if you yourself change something!

Tri-County Homes, Inc.

Is Buying a Home in Today's Economy a Good Idea?

As a long-term investment, home-ownership is still one of the best investments for individual households.

“Why” you may ask? After all, while the headlines say the housing market is recovering slowly, defaults are still rising, and mortgage markets are so tight many home buyers have trouble obtaining a loan.

What buyers need to realize is that housing markets, like all markets, inevitably have their ups and downs. And home-ownership has a track record that is virtually unmatched by any other purchase in terms of its real benefits for both home owners and their communities. Despite the turmoil in mortgage lending, if you have good credit, a job and steady income, you will find there is still plenty of mortgage credit to be had at good rates. For well-qualified buyers, rates are running at near historical lows.

Home-ownership Real Value

Here are a few examples of why, dollar for dollar, home-ownership is a solid stepping stone to a future of financial security and the single largest creator of wealth for many Americans.

Over the long-term real estate has consistently appreciated, even through periodic adjustments in local markets in response to economic conditions. On a national level, home appreciation has historically increased 5-6 percent annually, report economists at the National Association of Home Builders.

           

Furthermore, the tax benefits of home-ownership make housing an important source of wealth for middle-income Americans. Deductions for mortgage interest payments and property taxes, as well as a $500,000 tax exclusion for capital gain for married couples selling their primary home, make the investment return on housing very attractive. For example, a married couple with an $180,000 mortgage and $80,000 in income can expect to save more than $7,500 in taxes during the first five years of home-ownership.

           

Finally, interest rates for mortgages are near historical lows. This means a lower monthly housing payment, which when tied to a fixed rate mortgage is held constant even if rates go up in the future. When combining the expected long-run price appreciation, the tax benefits, and today’s historically low interest rates, today is certainly a buyers’ market. Don’t miss out on the benefits of home-ownership.

Some Easy Math Adds Up To Customer Advantages!

When you add 49 and 40 together you don't just get 89.  You get unmatched expertise and bragging rights.  You get a new relationship between Simplex Industries and Tri-County Modular Homes, Inc. that marries resources and experience with a single purpose - Build homes with unsurpassed quality that exceed customer expectations.

Simplex and Tri-County have recently announced an agreement where Simplex, one of the nation's most successful and honored high quality modular builders, and Tri-County a long time market leader builder, will team up.  Simplex's two state-of-the-art climate controlled production facilities will serve as the manufacturing arm for Tri-County's highly experienced sales and construction team.  Tri-County brings almost a half century of customer expertise to the relationship while Simplex provides perhaps the most respected construction group in the industry to the mix.  

"At Simplex, we're very careful when it comes to choosing relationships.   When the discussions first began to work with Tri-County it was easy to see from the beginning the economies of scale and advantages to customers we each could bring," said Patrick Fricchione, Jr., President of Simplex Industries.  "We are excited about offering Tri-County's customers, retail as well as commercial customers, the level of unmatched quality construction we offer our own customers."

"This pact with Simplex made sense from the start," said Howard J. Schmader, President of Tri-County.  "It allows us to focus on what we do best - from design to build-out - from sales to customer service and to have access to the award winning building capability of Simplex. This relationship will benefit our customers for many years to come."

Tri-County Homes is located near Shippenville, Pennsylvania and has a proud history of building excellence.  Simplex, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania  shares many traits with Tri-County, including the willingness to offer completely custom building to their customers as well as industry leading commitments to GREEN and ENERGY STAR© building methods.  In addition to custom building, both offer customers countless designs to choose from and the ability to turn a customer's ideas into a dream home or one of a kind commercial structure. Both companies are also successful family-run organizations. 

Tri-County Homes in Western Pennsylvania was founded in 1962.  Long considered as one of the Premier Custom Builders in their region, they offer customers the ability to custom design a new home or commercial structure or work with their highly experienced staff to find building plans that work for them.  Preparing to celebrate their 50th anniversary, they are renowned for their dedication to customer service.  Visit Tri-County homes at www.TriCountyHomes.com.

Simplex is a nationally recognized leader in the modular home and commercial modular industry.  Many of the techniques used to make modular the superior building method were developed in the two Simplex construction facilities in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  The company has won numerous national building and marketing awards for its expertise.  For 40 years Simplex has proudly remained a family owned and operated company. To learn more about Simplex Industries, visit at www.simplexhomes.com

SET & WEATHER PROGRAM

The Set & Weather Program is designed for the customer with a strong construction knowledge. Using your skills, friends and family in the construction trades, you could save several thousands of dollars on the construction of your new home.

Through our Set & Weather Program, you act as your own general contractor and Tri-County Homes, Inc. partners with you as the Set Contractor.

Tri-County Homes, Inc. meets with you and our suppliers to coordinate the ordering of your new home. We deliver and erect your home on your foundation. Your home is erected in two days or less and is weather tight with approximately 80% of the home completed. Tri-County Homes, Inc. will then walk you through the entire scope of work required to complete the balance of work required to finish the home.

Tri-County Homes, Inc. Set & Weather Program includes the following:

• Complete set of construction plans.
• Provide for all transportation of the home to the customer's construction site.
• Provide crane and erection of home on customer's foundation.
• Secure home to foundation as required by code.
• Bolt center beam and install customer provided supports down the center of the home.
• Tie in the roof shingles, complete roofing and cap peak.
• Seal all openings between sections.
• Provide all factory materials as noted for the completion of the home.

Customer's responsibility includes the following but not limited too:

• Acquire all necessary permits and tap fees.
• Excavation and foundation.
• Install sill plate and sill sealer.
• Floor and/or foundation insulation as required by code.
• Install collar ties, 9/12 and 12/12 pitch roofs.
• Adjust windows and/or doors if required.
• Install all siding, trim, soffit and fascia shipped loose from the factory.
• Install interior stairs/railing on select plans shipped loose from the factory.
• Interconnect plumbing between first and second floor (if required).
• Install all plumbing in crawlspace or basement (customer supplies materials).
• Interconnect electrical between modules.
• Complete drywall and repair any shipping drywall cracks.
• Customer completes the painting.
• Customer installs any ship loose carpet and/or flooring shipped loose from factory.
• Grout any ceramic tile installed at factory.
• Install doors and trim along marriage walls shipped loose from factory.
• Supply and install HVAC system.
• Supply and install rain gutters.

ADVANTAGES OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

• INHERENTLY ‘GREEN’: On average only 2% material waste generation versus 30-40% for site built homes.

• ENERGY EFFICIENT: Most modular homes consume 15% less energy then the typical site built home.

• PRECISE CONSTRUCTION: Assembled more accurately with the aid of specially designed jigs and machinery not available for on-site construction. 

• REDUCED SITE RISKS: Protection from weather, theft, vandalism, mildew and mold.

•  PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS: Materials and construction takes place in a climate controlled environment providing protection from rain, wind, sun and snow. 

• FAST COMPLETION: Typically built and finished in less than 120 days from the start of production.

• MORE DURABLE: Built to be transported on the highway and lifted into position by a crane.

•  MORE CONTROL: Factory production means enhanced supervision and a highly dependable time-line.

• INCREASED QUALITY: Third party inspectors and engineers are engaged throughout the process.

MODULAR HOME BUILDER: TRYING TO REPEAL SPRINKLER LAW IN PA

MODULAR HOME BUILDER: TRYING TO REPEAL SPRINKLER LAW IN PA