New Home Costs in Orange County

A recent survey of 52 developments in Orange County with 10 or more single-family houses found wide disparities in the cost per square foot for a new home. Lot sizes, a significant factor influencing home prices, varied from 3,400 square feet to half an acre for the five most-expensive homes. Location is another key factor, yet all but one of the five costliest homes were located east of Interstate 5. There were more than a dozen less-expensive developments west of the interstate. In one area, a development with homes costing $185 per square foot was located directly across Santa Margarita Parkway from larger homes costing substantially less, $125 per square foot. The size of homes in the top five also showed wide variation in the survey, conducted in late February by First American Title Insurance Co., ranging from 994 square feet to 5,300. Average sales price: $390,122 Average square feet: 2,498 Cost (per square foot): $156.17 Average bedrooms: 3.7 Average baths: 2.9 Total completed/sold: 3,123/2,951 Total under construction/sold: 1,652/1,309 Percent sold to date: 89% Average assn. fees: $94.96 Average lot size: 6,677 Source: First American Title Insurance Co. HOME PRICES PER SQUARE FOOT HIGHEST PRICE HOMES Rank: 1 Project: Coronado Pointe, Laguna Niguel Basic Price: $910,000 Square Feet: 4,233 Cost per Square Foot: 214.98 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 4-4 1/2 Minimum Lot Size: 9,000 Monthly Assn Fee: $186 Rank: 2 Project: Shadowbrook at Tustin Ranch * Basic Price: $250,990 Square Feet: 1,253 Cost per Square Foot: 200.31 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 3-2 Minimum Lot Size: 3,400 Monthly Assn Fee: $72 Rank: 3 Project: The Breakers, San Clemente Basic Price: $510,000 Square Feet: 2,742 Cost per Square Foot: 186.00 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 4-3 Minimum Lot Size: 7,200 Monthly Assn Fee: $114 Rank: 4 Project: Vista Ladera, Rancho Santa Margarita Basic Price: $183,900 Square Feet: 994 Cost per Square Foot: 185.01 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 2-2 Minimum Lot Size: 3,500 Monthly Assn Fee: $34 Rank: 5 Project: The Acreage above Capistrano Basic Price: $970,000 Square Feet: 5,300 Cost per Square Foot: 183.02 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 4-4 1/2 Minimum Lot Size: 1/2 acre Monthly Assn Fee: NA LOWEST PRICE HOMES Rank: 52 Project: Alta Mira, Yorba Linda Basic Price: $337,000 Square Feet: 2,905 Cost per Square Foot: $116.01 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 3-3 1/2 Minimum Lot Size: 7,500 Monthly Assn Fee: None Rank: 51 Project: Cantobrio III, Rancho Santa Margarita * Basic Price: 298,990 Square Feet: 2,381 Cost per Square Foot: 125.57 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 3-3 Minimum Lot Size: 5,000 Monthly Assn Fee: $82 Rank: 50 Project: Brighton Glen, Trabuco Canyon Basic Price: $365,600 Square Feet: 2,733 Cost per Square Foot: $133.77 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 3-3 Minimum Lot Size: 6,000 Monthly Assn Fee: $154 Rank: 49 Project: Lakeaire at Canyon Crest, Mission Viejo Basic Price: $440,000 Square Feet: 3,151 Cost per Square Foot: $139.64 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 4-3 Minimum Lot Size: 6,500 Monthly Assn Fee: $129 Rank: 48 Project: Normandale Heights, El Toro* Basic Price: $384,990 Square Feet: 2,700 Cost per Square Foot: $142.59 No. of Bedrooms/Baths: 4-3 Minimum Lot Size: 6,000 Monthly Assn Fee: $68 * Air Conditioning Optional