Are you thinking about building a house in the City of Angels? You’re not alone! Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful places to live, and people from all over the globe dream of coming here. The real estate market is hotter than ever. While you could buy an existing property, new construction gives you the chance to build the home of your dreams.

But how much does home construction cost in Los Angeles?

There’s no concrete answer to that question! Homes vary in size, style, and quality, making it impossible to give a firm dollar figure. A simple starter home with basic finishes could cost as low as $150 a square foot on the lower end. But on the more luxurious side of things, it can be $450 or more per square foot!

It all depends on what type of home you’re looking to build. Many factors come into play. Here are some of the biggest things to impact the average home construction cost in Los Angeles.

Home Size & Design

The first thing to decide when you go to a home builder is the style of house you want and how big it needs to be. You’ll typically see it as price per square foot when looking at construction costs. That’s because more living space will cost you more money. It’s as simple as that!

It doesn’t matter if you sprawl out or go up with other stories. The size of the house you’re looking to build will significantly impact the overall construction costs.

The same goes for the complexity of the design. If you want to lower costs, the best way to do so is to remove unnecessarily intricate design elements. These include:

• Bump outs
• Tall ceilings heights
• Extreme roof pitches
• Vaulted ceilings
• Too many corners

Those are just a few examples. Anything that adds extra work and time to the schedule will drive up costs. Of course, you may want some of those elements in your dream home. There’s nothing inherently wrong with those extraneous design features.

When building a new home, you have to balance the design elements with the overall costs to stay within budget.

RELATED: 5 Steps To Building A House In Los Angeles 

Design-Build vs Traditional Construction

design-build with home construction in Los Angeles

If you’re not familiar with the world of home construction, this concept might sound foreign to you. Design-Build refers to a construction technique that involves having one company or contractor take care of both the design and build process.

With traditional construction, many parties have their hat in the ring. You might work with an architect who designs the house. Once they finish, architects send the plans to the builder to bring the design to life and make the project happen.

But here’s the thing: Architects and builders don’t have the same priorities or expertise to manage costs. Architects focus on the design and want to give you the show-stopping home of your dreams. But builders are more practice and budget-conscious.

With design-build, design and construction duties go to a single company. But how does that affect home construction cost in Los Angeles?

An experienced home builder understands the money side of construction more than architects. When you have a builder taking control of design duties, they can keep your budget in mind and make more strategic choices. They know the cost of materials, understand how complex elements drive up the price, and more.

Design-build is a more cost-effective way of doing things. It’s a considerably cheaper way of getting a new home built. Plus, it’s much faster. Design-build projects typically finish 33 percent quicker than traditional construction efforts.

Construction Materials

construction materials with home construction in Los Angeles

Another thing that impacts home construction cost in Los Angeles is materials. As a whole, materials are slightly more expensive in Los Angeles than in surrounding areas and the rest of the country. That’s why building in this city is a considerable investment.

But the cost of materials goes beyond the basic structure of your home. You have to consider the finishes, too. The finishes you choose can have more of an influence on project costs than most realize.

Cheaper finishes that your home builder can get in bulk are best if you want to save money. However, those materials are universally appealing and don’t have tons of personality. Most people building a new home want to choose unique finishes.

If you go that route, keep in mind that premium materials come at a premium price. Anything complicated to find and source will cost more, forcing the overall price of your construction project to go up.

RELATED: Best Areas For New Home Construction In Los Angeles 

Location

location of home construction in Los Angeles

Last but not least, there’s the location of where you decide to build your new home. Location is everything in real estate. People want to be close to work, near good schools, and close enough to all the amenities they could ever want.

However, checking off all the boxes comes at a cost. Considering the cost of the land you’re buying is paramount. Next to the price of the home itself, it’ll be the most expensive part of this process. But that’s not all.

Location can affect home construction cost in Los Angeles in many ways. There’s also the matter of getting materials and workers to the building site. In total, the location can impact construction costs by 20 percent if you’re building in an expensive area.

When you’re ready to build your dream house in Los Angeles, turn to Landmark Construction & Development Group. We’re a seasoned home builder with plenty of experience completing projects in Los Angeles. From brand-new homes to large-scale renovation projects, we can do it all. Contact us today to set up your consultation and begin your journey to a new home.