Per square foot, a one-story home is more expensive to build. There are many factors that cause a one-story home to be more expensive. The biggest factor is because it takes up more land. These days land is very expensive.
The land cost of a home is typically 20-30% of the final home value. For example, if the home costs $500,000 to build then $150,000 will be the land cost.
Is it cheaper to build up or build out?
It is always cheaper to build up. It is cheaper because it requires less material and labor. When building a home out it needs more foundation, framing, and roofing. If you want some extra square feet the best place to add it would be to build up.
Why is a one-story home better?
A lot of people prefer one-story homes because they feel bigger than two-story homes. One-story homes are able to maximize the space because there is no need for stairs. Many buyers avoid two-story homes because they do not want to walk up and downstairs.
No stairs in a house has a lot of benefits including…
- Safety for kids
- Safety for elders when growing old
- In case of a fire, easier evacuation
- More space in a home
Are one-story homes energy-efficient?
Most one-story homes are more energy-efficient than two-story homes. One-story homes do become less energy efficient when they are extra-large. Making a large footprint on the planet by taking up an unnecessary amount of land.
What is more popular a one-story or two-story?
For the most part, one-story homes are more popular and will sell quicker than two-story homes. But if you buy or build a one-story home in a neighborhood with all two-story homes you could run into a resell issue.
One guess why one-story homes are more popular right now is because baby boomers are old. The older baby boomers do not want to be walking up and downstairs.
What are the cheapest homes to build?
Tiny homes are the cheapest homes to build. These are between 100-400 square feet. Tiny homes are the cheapest because they require minimal materials and labor. tiny homes are perfect for people that want to live on a budget and make a minimal environmental impact.
I wrote an awesome guide that explains a lot about Tiny Home Living!
What are the cons of a one-story home?
One-story homes tend to lack some privacy. Because the entire home is ground level it is possible for people to look inside. This can be easily fixed with fences, bushes, or window blinds.
Typically, one-story homes are smaller. This is because it is more expensive to build out than up.
