What's Inside Our $105 per Square Foot? A Real Florida Estimate, Line by Line

Typical Florida new construction runs about $150–$180 per square foot in the markets we see, and $200–$300 in higher-cost markets. Hivesta pricing starts at $105 per square foot on a standard plan, plus our fee. A number that much lower deserves proof, so this article walks through a real preliminary estimate we prepared in May 2026 for a single-family home in Port Charlotte. We've left out the address and the client's name; everything else is from the estimate.

The project

• A one-story, concrete stem-wall single-family home in Port Charlotte, Charlotte County
• 2,721 sq ft under roof (the foundation area on the estimate)
• Private well and septic system, because the lot has no public water or sewer
• Standard finishes: white shaker cabinets, quartz countertops, tile floors, shingle roof
• Preliminary estimate total before our fee: $284,123.81

1. The house itself: $73 per sq ft

These are the hard costs of building the home: structure, systems and finishes. Divided over 2,721 sq ft, they come to about $73.34 per square foot, well under our $105 starting price.

2. Costs that depend on the lot: $63,071

These costs come from this particular lot, not from the house. A lot with city water and sewer, or one that doesn't need fill, would cost far less here. That's why we price them separately and check them with a feasibility report before you commit.

3. Soft costs: $21,503

Impact fees and utility fees vary widely by city and county, so on this estimate they were a preliminary allowance to be adjusted to the actual jurisdictional amounts. A feasibility report pins them down for your lot before you build.

Putting it together

On this project, even the full budget including the well, septic, fill and permits came in at about $104 per square foot before our fee. The house alone was about $73 per square foot. Your numbers will differ with the plan, finishes and lot, which is exactly why every line is shown.

Why our price per square foot is lower

• Phased projects with costs set out upfront, so nothing is padded to cover unknowns
• Everything is done in-house, so there's no extra layer of markup between you and the work
• Open-book cost-plus: you pay the real cost of each line plus a stated fee, not a lump sum with hidden margin
• Standard plans and standard finishes that we price and build often

How cost-plus protects you

• You see every line item. The estimate above is the same format our clients receive.
• Our fee is a stated percentage of construction cost, agreed before work starts, so you know exactly what we earn.
• Allowances are spelled out. This estimate, for example, sets the countertop allowance at up to three slabs at $1,200 per slab, and standard white shaker cabinets.
• Preliminary numbers have a stated range. This estimate could vary by up to 10% with scope, labor or material pricing, and any significant change has to be communicated in writing and approved by you before work continues.
• Upgrades are written change orders. Premium stone, custom cabinets or landscaping beyond the standard scope are priced and approved separately, before they're ordered.
• Exclusions are listed upfront, such as unforeseen soil conditions or off-site utility work, so they don't surprise you later.
• Every Hivesta home comes with a 3-year extended warranty, on top of the warranties Florida law requires.

What to compare when you get other bids

1. Ask what square footage the price uses: living area or total under roof.
2. Ask which costs are excluded: fill, well, septic, driveway, impact fees, utility connections and permits are often left out of a per-square-foot quote.
3. Ask how the builder's fee or margin is set, and whether you'll see invoices.
4. Compare allowances for cabinets, countertops, flooring and fixtures, not just the headline number.