Build Your Own House

Estimate the Cost to Build a 2,000 Square Foot House in Los Angeles

Summary: Estimate the cost to build a 2,000 square foot new house in Los Angeles. New home construction cost for Los Angeles is explained here.

Hi Carl,

I saw your estimate for building a 2000 square foot house for $200,000.

Do you think this estimate would apply to Los Angeles?

I would like to build my own house and need help.

Thank you, Jim

Hi Jim, Here’s a beautiful 2,144 sq. ft. Mediterranean House Plan that I think would look great in the LA area and even though it is a little larger than 2,000 square feet, I came up with a rough cost to build of $206,280 for an owner builder.

So I guess my answer to you would be yes!

Mediterranean House Plans typically consist of elegantly designed open floor plans, with stucco exterior and clay tile roofing. As the name implies, Mediterranean home designs originated in the Mediterranean region. However, you can find Mediterranean designs all over the world.

The features of this house include a concrete slab foundation with 6 corners and stucco coated stud walls, formal living room, laundry on main floor, master on main floor, nook, split bedrooms, courtyard entry garage, and front and rear porches (under the main roof line).

House Plan 286-00032 from America’s Best House Plans

Using the cost estimating software for the Los Angeles area, and the software’s Average Standard Quality, I came up with $232,691 including the General Contractor markup of $26,411, and $206,280 without the General Contractor markup.

That’s an approximate cost of $109 per square foot with a General Contractor, $96 per square foot without one.

You should keep in mind that the cost to build this new home, or any new house, can vary considerably depending on the quality of building materials selected, local labor costs and material costs and, on actual bids for labor and material. Local building permits and impact fees can vary quite a bit.

This 2018 cost estimate for this house is an approximate one and as always, excludes land, land development, local government fees, as well as local impact fees.

Important Notice: Cost estimates change with time. YOU can check to see if and how much they have changed by running the Craftsman Book Co. construction estimating software yourself. Keep in mind that these estimates are approximate and are just a guide.

Until you actually start getting your own bids and estimates and entering them into your own spreadsheet (see my spreadsheet page for FREE spreadsheets), they will remain approximate.

Hope this helps, Carl Heldmann

P.S. You should also read my article on Cost Estimating.