Costs
General Overview
What does a michelle kaufmann home cost? The total construction and design costs vary based on which type of home you'd like us to build for you. Our MK pre-designed homes are constructed at a different price when compared to a MK custom design. Your total construction cost can also vary depending on your geographical area and site conditions.
- MK predesigned homes: $250 to $275 per square foot
- MK custom designed homes: $400 and up per square foot
The above price ranges are for all known construction costs included after permits are secured. These costs do not include the cost of your land. For more complex sites and for sites in high-cost areas - such as the greater San Francisco and Los Angeles areas - the total construction costs will most likely be higher. Your actual project cost will depend on many factors unique to your MKD Home and your building site.
We use time-efficient and cost effective methods to provide many economical benefits for you. Our design process and construction techniques work together seamlessly to create a competitively-priced, high-end, sustainable home. Thoughtful, beautiful design, environmentally-friendly materials, efficient building systems, and competitive pricing are elements which make your MK home unique.
When you decide to purchase an MK home you'll start step 03 of our process - personalizing your home. At the end of step 03, we will provide you with a preliminary pricing package that will breakdown the costs of the design you have chosen in the following categories:
HARD COSTS:
- 1.0 : Module Fabrication Cost
- 2.0 : Site Preparation
- 3.0 : Transportation and Setting
- 4.0 : Button-up
- 5.0 : Site Improvements
Costs for multifamily projects vary on volume, location, layout and finishes.
For example, a 24 unit multifamily project in San Leandro is about $120/sf FOB + shipping, setting, button up work. The all-in cost including site work costs, FOB, shipping/setting,etc. is about $180/sf (all of these units are identical). A project in the Midwest with 40 townhouse units (a mix of affordable and market rate) is averaging $100/sf FOB, with all-in costs around $140/sf.
Costs for the mkLoft tm, depending on quantity (number of units) and finishes, typically will range between $130 and $140/sf FOB (not including shipping, setting, site work). Typically quantities of 40 or less are on the higher end, and 41 or more are on the lower end. All-in costs vary with the site costs and quantity, but will typically be about $200/sf to $220/sf.
SOFT COSTS:
- 6.0 : Professional Fees
- 7.0 : Other Soft Costs
While we cannot provide you with estimated site costs (Categories 2.0, 5.0, and 7.0;), we will provide you with an accurate estimate for the costs associated with the construction and finish of the factory portion of your MK home (categories 1.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0.) These categories make up the bulk of the total costs for the construction of your MK home. A brief description of the scope of work is included in each category is below. Please visit the home designs section of our website for the individual costs of the MK pre-designed home you are interested in.
For additional assistance, or to develop a rough budget for your project, please use the MKD Budget Builder to identify costs specific to your property:
MKD Budget Builder
Download PDF » 
| Download XLS (Excel) » 
Costs for multifamily projects vary on volume, location, layout and finishes.
For example, a 24 unit multifamily project in San Leandro is about $120/sf FOB + shipping, setting, button up work. The all-in cost including site work costs, FOB, shipping/setting,etc. is about $180/sf (all of these units are identical). A project in the Midwest with 40 townhouse units (a mix of affordable and market rate) is averaging $100/sf FOB, with all-in costs around $140/sf.
1.0 Module Fabrication Costs
Fabrication costs for an MK home vary according to home design. Factory costs include: exterior materials, roofing, windows + doors, interior finishes, low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient foam insulation and high-performance mechanical systems.
We offer many eco-friendly materials and building systems choices to personalize your MK home. Several materials and systems are included in the base cost of the home. We also offer several upgrade choices at additional cost. Please note appliances are not included.
Sales tax is applied to the cost of the modules depending on your state and local taxes. In California, the state charges sales tax on 40% of the total module cost, Oregon charges 0% sales tax and Washington charges sales tax on 100% of the total module cost.
2.0 Site Preparation
Site preparation is the work needed to get your property ready for construction and install the foundation and utility lines. While we can offer predictable cost estimates for the modular cost, site costs vary greatly depending on the slope of your site, site conditions and location.
Site work can account for as much as 40% to 60% of the overall construction budget. We will work with you and your local contractor to determine expected site costs. Before building an MK home, we strongly recommend that you consult with your local contractor and your local building department to determine all the required work necessary to build a home on your property.
3.0 Transportation and Setting
Transportation costs for an MK home will vary depending on the distance from the factory to your site. Generally speaking, the transportation of one of our standard modules (14'-0" wide by 48'-0" long) from our factory in Washington to the Bay Area will cost approximately $10,000.
The cost of setting and securing your MK home on your foundation by our specialty contractor is $4100 per module for any location within California, $3500 for Oregon and $3000 within Washington.
For example, a 2 bedroom Glidehouse™ consists of two 14'-0" wide by 48'-0" long modules. The transportation and setting costs for this model to a location in northern California would total approximately $28,000.
4.0 Button-up
Button-up is the process of transforming the modules into your finished MK home. This brief construction process starts once the modules arrive on site and are secured to your foundations. The exterior and interior finishes are completed at marriage lines, utilities are connected, appliances are installed and all systems are started up. Your MK home is now ready to be lived in!
5.0 Site Improvement
Site improvements are the costs associated with the remaining work needed to complete the exterior design elements of your MK home. These costs can include decks, garages, driveways and varying degrees of landscaping. We do not provide you with these specific costs because they can vary with the labor market in your location. However, we can work with your local contractor to provide you with an estimate of these costs.
6.0 Professional Fees
An MK pre-designed home design and construction package is almost complete when you walk into our office for your initial meeting. However, there is some additional work we need to complete to finalize these packages. We complete the documentation to reflect the materials and systems choices you made during the initial meeting. We carefully consider the position and orientation of your home on your property to maximize daylight, breezes and views. We design the outdoor rooms so that you will be able to experience true indoor/outdoor living. And the foundation and mechanical systems are designed for your site's specific requirements.
Full architectural and engineering services are required for an MK custom design. Design and Engineering fees can be estimated once the scope of work for an MK custom design is understood but fee will generally run between 12% and 17% of the construction budget.
Before we begin the design work with you, we require a signed agreement and retainer of $5,000 for MK pre-designed homes, or a $10,000 retainer for MK custom designs. Our professional services are billed on an hourly basis and vary according to the amount of meeting time between you, michelle kaufmann designs and other consultants.
7.0 Other Soft Costs
Other soft costs are additional services and documentation that are required to build on your site. These services vary greatly depending on your location and are not provided by michelle kaufmann designs. Typically, these additional services can be:
- Property Survey
- Soils Report
- Civil Engineering (Grading and Drainage)
- Tree Removal
- Permitting Fees
- Utility Connection Fees
Example Project Data
Cost information for some of our current projects:
G.2 : 2-bedroom Glidehouse | 2 modules | 1744 sf (incl. garage)
Seattle Area | Flat Site
G.2 : 3-bedroom Glidehouse | 3 modules | 1570 sf
San Francisco Bay Area | Sloped Site
B.3 : 3-bedroom Sunset Breezehouse (detached) | 5 modules | 3028 sf
Southern California | Moderately Sloped Site
Custom MKD Home | 5 modules | 3999 sf (incl. site-built portion + garage)
San Francisco Bay Area | Sloped Site
B.3 : 4-bedroom Sunset Breezehouse (detached) | 5 modules | 2591 sf
San Francisco Bay Area | Flat Site
Financing
If you are planning to finance the construction of your michelle kaufmann home, lenders will offer you a construction loan, which differs from a traditional mortgage. Once construction is complete, your construction loan will be converted to a traditional mortgage.
Construction loans are short term and often structured as interest-only lines of credit. Your lender distributes funds for construction as work on your project is completed. This disbursement is commonly called a "draw". It is important you choose a financial institution that will accommodate the draw schedule associated with factory construction. Typically, factories require approximately 25% of the cost of the modules to start construction, an additional 50% at the halfway point, and the remaining 25% when the modules leave the factory. The specifics for the remaining draw schedule for site-built and button-up construction are determined as your project moves closer to construction.
In order to secure a construction loan, you will need to provide your lender an estimated amount of what you plan to finance. Visit the MKD Budget Builder for assistance in understanding the costs associated with the construction of your MK home.
MKD Budget Builder
Download PDF » | Download XLS (Excel) »
In order to secure your Construction Loan, you will need an estimate of the amount you will need to finance. To help understand the typical costs of prefab home construction, please refer to our budget builder.
MKD's Preferred Lenders
Countrywide Home Loans
www.countrywide.com
Contact: Andrew Reid
866.205.9156
IndyMac Bank
www.indymacbank.com
Contact: Rich Hildebrand
925.918.0494
If you would like assistance, please contact info@mkd-arc.com.
