How Long Does It Take to Build A Single-Family Home?
In 2015 it was reported that it took 7 months on average to build a single-family home. In the 2017 Survey of Construction (SOC) from the Census Bureau it reports that it now takes at least 7.5 months from start to finish. A month from authorization to start and an additional 6.5 months to build the single-family home.
Within single family home construction, houses built for sale took the shortest
time at 6.9 months, those built by hired contractors on average to 9 months and those that took the longest at 12.3 months were single-family homes built by owners. The reason for the difference in time stems from home owners obtaining their own permits.
The time it takes to obtain permits to completion of building a single-family home varies across the nation’s geographic location, metropolitan status, and whether it is a custom-built home or a home built for sale. In New England it takes on average 10.4 months, Middle Atlantic 10.3 months, East South Central 9.4 months, East North Central 8.2 months, Pacific 8.5 months and the shortest time is in the South Atlantic region where it takes 6.4 months. In metropolitan areas it takes around 7.3 months from start to finish which is 2 months less than it takes in non-metropolitan areas.
Out of the homes that were built in 2017, 31.6% were sold before construction started, 28.8% sold while under construction, 11.3% sold during the month of completion and 16.6% sold was completed.
