How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in California (CA) in 2024? (2024)

How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in California?

The average cost per square foot to build a house in California is $202. This doesn’t include land costs, permit fees, excavations, and other costs.

Average Cost of Building a House in California

Average Cost to Build in California per the Number of Bedrooms

The table below shows the building costs in California based on the number of bedrooms:

Average Cost to Build a Home in California by Square Footage

The table below shows construction cost per square foot in California for different home sizes:

Average Cost to Build a House in California by Cities

Here’s how much it costs to build a house in popular cities/counties in California:

Cost Breakdown of Building a House in California

To paint a better picture, here is a house building cost distribution for a 2,500 sq. ft. house in California:

Hard Costs to Build a House in California

Hard costs comprise expenses directly involved in the home-building process.

1. Material Cost to Build a New Home: $147,500

Building materials make up approximately 50% of the overall construction prices. You can expect to spend about$50 per square footon material costs.

The Chief Economist at Associated General Contractors of America, Ken Simonson, expects price hikes and shortages to ease for some products, and to remain volatile for others in 2023.

Here are the material expenses you need to take into consideration while you build your home in California:

• Flooring: $9 – $32 per sq. ft.
• Drywall: $0.5 – $1 per sheet
• Siding: $2 – $50 per sq. ft.
• Lumber: $650 – $1,100 per board ft.

2. Contractor(s) Charges: 10% – 20%

You need a contractor or a firm to oversee the construction process. Contractors hire other professionals, estimate the costs, and complete the construction on time.

A general contractor hires several other professionals involved in the home-building process. They include:

• Electricians
• Architects
• Floor installers
• Plumbers
• HVAC installers
• Carpenters, etc.

A contractor charges around 10% to 20% of the total construction value. The fee depends on several factors, such as property type, detailing, materials, and workforce. Apart from a contractor fee, ensure to account for each professional’s hourly rates.

The average hourly rates of home building professionals in California are as follows:

3. Electrical Costs: $7,500 – $12,500

The electrical cost for new construction per square foot is $3 to $6. This amount includes both the rough-in as well as the finishing work.

The amount you spend on electrical work will differ depending on the property size, type of wiring, wire material, etc. Some electricians can charge up to $120 per hour.

4. Roof Installation Costs: $4,200 – $47,700

The cost of roofing depends on the type of material you select, the roof’s slope, and the size of your home.

The table below displays California home roofing prices per square foot for various materials:

5. Plumbing Costs: $12,000

Plumbing costs include installing plumbing fixtures such as toilets, faucets, wash basins, bathtubs, etc. Homeowners spend around $4.50 per sq. ft. in plumbing in new construction or $4,080 on average.

You require a plumber to fix the pipes and lay the sewage lines. You also need to install washing machines, dryers, and geysers while custom building a home in California.

6. HVAC Installation Costs: $12,500

Homeowners pay $1,500 to $12,500 to install a new HVAC system. This cost can further vary as per the size of the cooling area, the type of system, the brand, etc. All these additional factors can increase the HVAC installation cost by $2,000 or more.

Soft Costs to Build a House in California

Soft costs in home construction contribute to the building process indirectly. They include costs like land costs, permit costs, design costs, etc.

1. Land Costs: $23,000 per Acre

Before you build your house in California, you need to shop for land. You will incur two costs related to land:

• Land Purchase Cost: The average price per acre in California is $20,000. The cost of land depends on the size of the house you wish to build as well as the location.
• Preparation Cost: You need to clear the land and level it before starting the construction process. Land preparation costs can be anywhere between $1,500 – $3,000.

🤔 Is it cheaper to build a house in California if you already own land?




Yes. In most cases, building a house in California is cheaper if you own the land. You will bear only the cost of building the home. Plus, you can customize your home to your requirements!


» Land For Sale By Owner in California: Buy land to build a house near you.

2. California Home Building Permit Costs: $5,000

In California, contractors need a building permit to construct a new house. Construction or building permits are legal documents that authorize the house-building process.

The permit costs and building codes vary per county. They are usually based on the construction type, occupancy type, home building area, and project scope.

Some permits you may need, along with their average costs are as follows:

• Building Permit: $1,000 to $2,000
• HVAC Permit: $250 to $400
• Plumbing Permit: $50 to $500
• Electrical Permit: $10 to $500

3. Home Interiors: $20,000

Before you move into your new home, you’ll need furniture, electronics, utensils, silverware, and bathroom essentials.

The costs will depend upon your taste, quality of finishes, location, and the outlet you order from. For a 2,500 sq. ft. home, you should budget at least $20,000 on interior furnishings.

4. Home Interior Designer Costs: $5,400

If designing your own home interior isn’t your thing, you can hire an interior designer. A great interior designer will provide you with 3D views and renderings of your home.

An interior designer will also order the right furniture, wall prints, rugs, etc. based on your taste and requirements. They can also help you maximize space utilization.

The cost of an interior designer isn’t cheap. You can budget $5,400; it can be more or less depending on your requirements.

House Building Financing Options

Here are the typical home-building financing options available for you:

Home Construction Loans

The two most prominent home construction loans are:

• Construction-to-Permanent Loan: This loan covers land purchases and home-building costs. It is converted to a conventional mortgage after the construction is complete and you move into the house.
• Construction-only Loan: It only covers the cost of home building. After your home is ready, the entire loan amount is due. You can pay back the loan in cash or take out a mortgage.

Personal Loan

A personal loan will not cover your entire home-building cost. You can opt for a personal loan to finance a specific part of the construction. For example, you can finance landscaping through a personal loan.

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan applies to homeowners who already have a property and want to finance new construction. Depending on how much equity you own in your existing home, you can finance the entire construction of your new home or a part of it.

Should You Build Your Own House in California?

You can build a house yourself or hire a general contractor if you own land in a location you want to live in. You can budget 9 to 12 months to plan and construct your new home in California.

However, if you don’t own land, we recommend you house-hunt for turnkey homes in California and move in quickly.

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