If you are like many individuals in the US, building a house will be one of the biggest decisions you will make in your lifetime. But it doesn’t come cheap or easy. It involves quite a lot of money and planning. You must find the adequate land, draw up floor plans, permits, labor cost, and select the right builder for the job.
The average cost per square foot of building a custom build home in San Antonio is about $160, totaling anywhere from $240,000 to over a million dollar.
When calculating the cost of building a custom home, factors such as location, soil type, house designs, and builder may impact the overall construction cost.
Calculating Construction Costs in San Antonio
If you are looking to build a home in San Antonio, you may have been doing some calculations on the cost of construction. The average construction cost per square foot in San Antonio is $160.
Remember the cost per square foot of your potential house is dependent on the following:
- Floor plan
- Soil type
- Foundation requirements
- House Design/Finishing
- Location
- Builder
The table below will give you an estimate of how much it will cost you to build a house in San Antonio. I’ll be using square feet as the basis for the calculations.
| Home Size (in square feet) | Square Foot | Total Building Cost (estimate) |
| 1500 | 160×1500 | $240,000 |
| 2000 | 160×2000 | $320,000 |
| 2500 | 160×2500 | $400,000 |
| 3000 | 160×3000 | $480,000 |
The above figures are not set in stone but subject to changes based on the builder and location. The construction cost per square foot in neighborhoods like Terrell Hills, The Dominion, Alamo Heights, and Elm Creek are well over $200 per square foot.
Advantages of Building Over Buying Used Home
Less Competition
Buying a house comes with serious competition especially during spring and early summer. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that the average time a house stays on the market is 30 days.
Building a house saves you from all the rat race involved in buying a home. You do not have to bother about things such as:
- Market price
- House showing
- Fear of losing the home to another family
With homes flying off the market, you may end up losing your desired potential home to the competition.
Customization
You can never get it all right when you buy a home. Building your own house give you the liberty to customize its details to your lifestyle and taste.
You get to decide on the color of the paint, flooring, window/door size, layout, cabinets, and even doorknobs. Buying a used house leaves you with limited options unless you are willing to spend heavily on remodeling.
Less Maintenance Cost
Building a house eliminates the need to worry about maintenance expenses.
For the first few years, you’re less likely to deal with serious repair issues like:
- Leaky roof
- Failing HVAC systems
- Faulty wiring
- Septic tank repairs
Most importantly, several San Antonio homebuilders offer limited home warranties in case of damage.
Best Areas in San Antonio
San Antonio comprises of exciting yet affordable neighborhoods and places to reside. It’s nearly impossible to pick out a single community as the best. But I will give you a few of the most exciting, affordable, and best areas in San Antonio.
Terrell Hills
Terrell Hills is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the San Antonio area. It has a population of a little over 9,000 residents. With its urban setting, upscale restaurants, and proximity to Northeast Downtown, Terrell Hills is home to the rich and famous.
Most importantly, it’s known for its high-end real estate, with the median price of homes averaging more than $495,700. The median price per square foot in this exotic area of San Antonio is $258.
Shavano Park
Shavano Park is one of the most prestigious and desirable neighborhoods to live in in the entire city of San Antonio. With a population of around 3500 people, it boasts of tons of wildlife, parks, and excellent educational facilities. One of the major selling points of this neighborhood is its close access to some of the big employers in the San Antonio area.
Filled with tastefully designed custom homes, most of the people who live in this neighborhood are homeowners. In addition, it is an extremely high-priced area with the median price of homes averaging $706,588.
Tanglewood Area
The Tanglewood area is not a specific neighborhood per se but more of a general area. The Tanglewood area includes Tanglewood, Oakmont Downs, Hart Ranch, Jade Oaks, and Wood Ridge.
The population of this area is over 13,000 people.
Being close to the Northwest side of San Antonio, it is close to La Cantera, Polero, and other hotspots. In terms of real estate, the Tanglewood area comprises of both gated and non-gated neighborhoods.
The median sales price of a home is around $237,000.
Most importantly, the cost of living in this area is quite affordable.
Alamo Heights
Alamo Heights is only four miles from Downtown San Antonio and regarded as one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Antonio. It is a hotspot for potential homebuyers because of its proximity to major amenities such as the San Antonio Airport.
The median price range for homes in the Alamo Heights area is around $599,250.
With a host of community gardens, dog parks, country clubs, golf course, Alamo Heights offers one of the most exciting outdoor lifestyles for homeowners.
Are You Ready to Build Your House?
Building a custom home, especially in San Antonio, involves serious financial and physical commitment. Get a professional builder to ascertain the cost, materials, and building a timeline.
If you need external financing, speak to an experienced mortgage officer to evaluate your financial standing and determine how much loan you may need to build your house.
