Here’s the Average Cost to Build a House in Beautiful Michigan

For buyers in Michigan who can’t seem to find the right home, building is certainly one path to homeownership. As the hot seller’s market has cooled, top HomeLight agents agree that inventory is rising.

But, according to Bethany Brokaw — a real estate agent selling homes in Genesee County for 13 years — the average cost to build a house in Michigan “would be deemed quite expensive right now, especially compared to three years ago.”

Brokaw says that, on the low end, buyers can expect to pay $150 per square foot to build a house, “and I’m talking no basement, very small lot, and builder-grade finishes,” she explains.

“And your higher end can be anywhere between $300 to $700 per square foot, depending on your location, if you have a water view, how large your lot is, and which finishes you choose.”

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On average, though, to build a home in Michigan with desirable finishes like granite countertops, hardwood floors, and other basic upgrades, “buyers are definitely looking at around $250 per square foot,” says Brokaw.

To build a 1,500-square-foot home, this clocks out for $375,000. Meanwhile, the median price per square foot of existing homes in Genesee County is just $135 per square foot — or $202,500 for 1,500 square feet.

When it comes to purchasing a home, there are plenty of reasons buyers might have their eye on a new construction property rather than an existing one.

There’s an undeniable appeal to being the first to live in a brand-new home. If you’re buying early enough to be involved in the building process, you can often make decisions about paint colors and upgrading materials to customize your home before moving in.

Of course, the cost of buying real estate is rarely so cut and dry. It very well may be cheaper to buy a house than to build one, but it depends on everything from location to your personal preferences for fit and finish.

Here is an at-a-glance look at the average costs of each phase of building in Michigan, but we will break it all down next:

Building Phase	Average cost (2025)
Foundation	$9,383
Framing	$1,409 – $7,666
Roof	$5,866 – $13,208
Siding	$5,562 – $17,623
Appliances	$2,100 – $5,400
HVAC System	$10,000
Plumbing System	$2,280 – $5,120
Electrical System	$602 – $2,594
Building Permits	$525 – $3,041
Finishes and Fixtures	$30,181 to $321,021

from HomeLight Blog https://www.homelight.com/blog/buyer-average-cost-to-build-a-house-in-michigan/