The average cost to build a house in Garden State is $267,620 excluding the land cost. With styles trending from self-sustaining to modular to luxurious, home building costs could reach millions.
How much you spend on building your house in New Jersey depends on the location, hourly labor rate, material costs, and the style of home you choose.
Can I Build My Own House in New Jersey?
Yes, you can build your own house in New Jersey. Apply for the residential home building permit at your local authorities by filling out the forms and paying the permit fee – head to nj.gov for more information.
Is it Cheaper to Build or Buy a House in New Jersey?
According to Estimationqs, the basic home building costs in New Jersey ranges from $300,000 to $460,000. This cost varies depending on the property’s size, type, and location. Whereas, the median home value in Garden State is $443,100 (as of November 2022).
Building a new home involves several costs such as land buying costs, labor costs, permit fees, construction costs, etc. Also, building a house from scratch takes about three to six months. So, as per the New Jersey housing market trends, new home construction is not only expensive but also time-consuming.
» Homes For Sale By Owner in New Jersey: Check out FSBO homes if you want to buy one in NJ
How Much Does it Cost to Build a House in New Jersey?
As per Forbes Home, it costs about $376,900 to build a house in New Jersey. However, this is an average figure. It can go up or down depending on several factors like type, size, labor demand, material costs, etc.
Below is the table showing the construction cost per square foot for different types of houses:
| Home Type | Construction Cost (Per Square Foot) |
| Modular | $80 to $160 |
| Standard | $105 to $210 |
| Luxury | $230 to $500 |
Home Building Costs Breakdown in New Jersey
The home building costs can be broken down into two categories:
Hard Costs to Build a House in New Jersey
Hard cost comprises the cost of things directly involved in the home-building process. This includes labor costs, material costs, etc. which play a role in estimating the project completion.
1. Material Cost
Material cost makes up the major chunk of the hard costs. As per Homeadvisor, it is around $50 per square foot. So, to build a 1,500-square-foot house you can expect to spend $75,000 on materials.
Materials costs have dropped substantially post-pandemic. This is due to global supply chains returning to normal and fewer people buying homes. The following costs are included in the home building material costs:
| Items | Estimated Cost* |
| Flooring | $4 to $12 per sq. ft. |
| Drywall | $10 to $13 per sheet |
| Lumber | $7 to $16 per sq. ft. |
| Siding | $2 to $11 per sq. ft. |
2. Labor Cost
Many professionals are involved in the home-building process. This includes electricians, architects, floor installers, plumbers, HVAC installers, carpenters, etc. Apart, you need a contractor or a firm to manage the construction process. Usually, the contractor or the firm hires the professionals involved in the construction.
The overall project cost varies depending on each professional’s hourly rates. It may further depend on the property type, detailing, materials, and workforce. Apart, the labor costs vary based on the location. For instance, in a hot real estate housing market like Jersey City, home builders and labor costs are more than in other areas.
Below are the average hourly rates of home building professionals in New Jersey:
| Professionals | Hourly Rate |
| Flooring Installers | $60 – $120 |
| Roofers | $75 – $200 |
| Painters | $20 – $60 |
| Concrete Workers / Brick Layers | $60 – $90 |
| Landscapers | $50 – $100 |
| General Contractors | $50 – $130 |
| Plumbers | $45 – $150 |
| Carpenters | $60 – $100 |
| HVAC Technicians | $75 – $150 |
| Architects | $150 – $250 |
| Structural Engineers | $140 – $170 |
| Electricians | $100 – $120 |
3. Electrical Cost
On average it costs $3 to $5 per sq. ft. to wire a new home. The amount you spend on electrical work varies depending on the property size, type of wiring, wire material, etc.
Electrical work while building a new house consists of roughing the wires, earthing, installing outlets, switches, and panels, and setting up fixtures and lights. It can further include setting up ethernet cables and other wirings.
4. Roof Installation Cost
Roofing costs depend on the choice of roofing material, the slope of the roof, and the size of your house. Below is the table showing roofing costs per square foot in New Jersey for various roofing materials:
| Roofing Material | Avg Cost Per 100 Sq. Ft. |
| Asphalt Shingle Roof | $266.13 |
| Tile Roof | $1,235.60 |
| Wood Shake Roof | $769.88 |
| Slate Roof | $1,599.95 |
5. Plumbing Cost
Plumbing costs include installing plumbing fixtures such as toilets, faucets, wash basins, bathtubs, etc. Homeowners spend around $4.50 per sq. ft. in installing plumbing fixtures in new construction or $4,080 on average (national average).
You require a plumber to fix the pipes and lay the sewage lines. Apart, you need to install new machinery like washing machines, dryers, and geysers while custom building a home in New Jersey.
6. HVAC
Homeowners pay $1,500 to $12,500 for installing a new HVAC system. This cost depends on several factors such as the size of the cooling area, the type of system, the brand, the addition of zones, etc. All these additional factors can increase the installation cost by $2,000 or more.
Soft Costs to Build a House in New Jersey
Soft cost in home construction comprises costs that do contribute to the building process directly. They include costs like permit costs, design costs, etc.
1. Land Cost
New Jersey is the most expensive state to buy land in. The average cost per acre in the Garden State is $196,410. Land costs, do however, depend on the size of the house you wish to build and the location.
2. NJ Permit Cost
In New Jersey, a building permit is required to construct a new house. State laws charge differently for commercial and residential building permits. The cost of a permit in New Jersey varies per county and is usually charged in accordance with the total valuation of the project.
The estimated cost of construction permits in Newark for all building types is $28 per $1000 for cost of construction amounting between $0 – $50,000; $21 per $1000 for construction costs between $50,001 -$100,000 and $17 per $1000 dollars of construction costing over $100,000.
Refer to your local county’s website or office for more information on building permits.
3. Home Interior Costs
To build your dream home you would purchase the desired furniture, wall prints, rugs, carpets, artifacts, etc. You may also hire an interior designer for designing the interiors of your house.
An interior designer can help you maximize space utilization. An interior designer charges $50 to $200 on average, depending on their experience and location.
House Building Financing Options
If you have the funds to finance your dream house, you are welcome to skip this section. If not, then do not lose hope. Prepare a budget and get an estimate of how much money you need, then apply for one of the following home loans:
Home Construction Loan
There are two home loans specifically designed for home-building purposes. These include:
- Construction-to-Permanent Loan: This loan covers both land purchasing as well home building costs. Once the construction is complete and you move into the house, the loan is converted to a traditional mortgage of 15 to 30 years.
- Construction-only Loan: It is meant only for financing the home building, and does not cover the land purchase. After your home is ready, the entire loan amount is due. You either cover the amount by paying cash or taking out a mortgage.
Personal Loan
A personal loan will not cover your entire home-building cost. Take out a personal loan to finance a specific part of the construction. Say, you forgot to account for landscaping while budgeting your home-building finances. In such a case, a personal loan can come to your rescue.
Home Equity Loan
This applies to homeowners who already have a home and want to finance the construction of a new one. 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 New Jersey?
If you own land in a location you want to live in, we highly recommend building a house yourself or hiring a General Contractor to build you one. Budget 9 to 12 months for planning and construction of your new home.
If you don’t own your own land in a desirable area, we recommend you house-hunt for turnkey homes and move in quickly.
Skip the hassle of building a house, and check out FSBO properties on Houzeo.com. Make offers, negotiate directly with homeowners, and move into your new home within a month.
Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?
We’ve got you covered. Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo works and why it is one of the best For Sale By Owner websites in the U.S.
» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why it is one of the best FSBO sites in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does it cost to build a 2,000 square foot home in New Jersey?
Building a house in New Jersey costs between $175 to $500 per square foot. So, you would have to spend $350,000 to $1,000,000 to build a 2,000-square-foot home in New Jersey. These costs will vary depending on the exact location, property types, labor costs, material costs, etc.
2. How much does it cost to build a house per square foot in New Jersey?
Building a house in New Jersey costs $175 to $500 per square foot. However, home-building costs depend on the property type. Luxury-grade houses cost even higher
3. How much does it cost to frame a house in New Jersey?
It costs about $2 - $12 per square foot to frame a house in New Jersey.
4. How much does a foundation cost in New Jersey?
A foundation costs $7 to 12 per square foot in New Jersey depending on the thickness of the reinforced slab.
Resources for Buying a House in New Jersey
- Buy House New Jersey: Check out our New Jersey home-buying guide.
- Is it Good Time to Buy a House in New Jersey: Discover the best time to buy a house in NJ.
- How to Buy a House in New Jersey with Bad Credit: Learn how you can buy a house in NJ with a bad credit score.
- For Sale By Owner Sites: Discover the best FSBO listing sites to find properties online.
- Home Appraisal New Jersey: How much does a home appraisal cost in New Jersey?
- Property Title Insurance: Discover how title insurance works in the US.
- Who Pays Owner’s Title Insurance in New Jersey: Discover what are your title insurance obligations as a buyer.
Resources for Selling Your Owner-Built Home
- List on MLS: Discover ways to list your owner-built homes on the MLS.
- Free MLS Listing: Read to know if there are ways to list on the MLS for free.
- Cash Buyers for Homes: Sell your house fast for cash with America’s best cash home-buying companies in 2023.
Related: how much does it cost to build a house New Jersey, cost to build a house New Jersey, cost to build a house in New Jersey, building a house in New Jersey, how much to build a house New Jersey, build on your lot New Jersey, cost of building a house in New Jersey, build a home in New Jersey, average cost to build a house in New Jersey, build a house in New Jersey, building a home in New Jersey, how much to build a house in New Jersey, prices new build homes in New Jersey, average cost of building a house in New Jersey,
average cost to build a home in New Jersey, cost per square foot to build a house New Jersey, cost to build a house in New Jersey, per square foot cost to build house in New Jersey, how much it cost to build a house in New Jersey, cost to build a house in nj, cost to build a home in New Jersey, how much is it to build a house in New Jersey, how to build a house in New Jersey, build your own house New Jersey, build house in New Jersey, build a home New Jersey
best real estate websites new jersey, low cost realtors near me, home staging ideas, cash offers New Jersey, buy home bad credit, flat fee mls listing new jersey, new jersey mls flat fee, Houzeo Lead Management, Houwzer Reviews, fsbo websites, hozeo
Uncategorized
.webp)
