Land/Build new home versus buying existing home

Who did you find to build for only $175/sq.ft.?!? That's freakin' dirt cheap (for here)! Have you seen any of this particular contractor's other work? The good ones are in the neighborhood of $500 to $800/sq.ft.

When visiting STT I talked to three contractors and an architect specializing in new home construction. They came up with this number as a good rule of thumb estimate although you can of course spend a lot more for a high end house. Internet research comes up with the same number.
If I have been misinformed, I need to know.

I've built a home on a neighboring island and your per Sq.Ft. price of $175 seems unusually low but that doesn't surprise me as during my research I found builders and architects are notorious for giving you a low-ball estimate before you actually put your project out for bid. The numbers you see on the internet and from someone's dreamworld.

In reality you can expect to pay about $125 per Sq.Ft. for four unfinished concrete block walls and a metal roof. The fiinishing materials (tiles, paints, stucco, windows, doors, hardware, wiring, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, etc., etc.) will easily another $75 to $125 per sq.ft. for basic or "builder's standard" stuff. If you want better grade products or "designer" finishes, the sky is the limit as far as price goes. Keep in mind everything has to be imported on to the island so that adds to the cost. Everyone I know who has built in the Caribbean (and I have many friends and accquaintences who have) has spent significantly more building their house than the initial estimates they got when first making their plans. Take it from someone who has been there, done that the REAL rule of thumb is - before you make any committments, do your best research and estmate what you realisticly think the house will cost, here comes the hard part, add 50%. If the resulting number doesn't frighten you consider proceeding with the project and set aside some additional monies for contingencies and landscaping.

'afriend' has a good sense of how it works here... im just seconding his opinions...

even on st john, $400-450/sf will get you fit and finish like peter bay-- all custom solid mahogany doors and windows, marble floors, fixtures and door hardware that cost more than my car. 250-ish is probably a reasonable low end estimate for stt, but you do have to watch carefully to stay on that sort of budget.

good luck!

I know that this might be a silly question but it does relate to the home construction topic. do you know of any earth sheltered or earth bearm homes on the Islands. Would the geological make up of the island allow this. In other words is the island made of rock Volconic or otherwise could you excivate and pour a foundation below grade? Thanks for the help just working on a dream. I do know that the water collection issue must be addressed.