What a Checa home costs per square foot
The numbers
All-in, including a typical site allowance, a Checa home runs $80 to $188 per square foot. The spread inside a single model is your lot; the spread between models is size.
| Model | Per sq ft, all-in | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The AgaveStudio · 400 sq ft | Studio | 400 sq ft | $138–$188 | $55,000 to $75,000 |
| The Sage1 bd · 576 sq ft | 1 bd | 576 sq ft | $104–$139 | $60,000 to $80,000 |
| The Mesquite1 bd · 640 sq ft | 1 bd | 640 sq ft | $102–$133 | $65,000 to $85,000 |
| The Yaupon1 bd · 784 sq ft | 1 bd | 784 sq ft | $89–$121 | $70,000 to $95,000 |
| The Cypress2 bd · 864 sq ft | 2 bd | 864 sq ft | $87–$116 | $75,000 to $100,000 |
| The Sycamore2 bd · 864 sq ft | 2 bd | 864 sq ft | $93–$122 | $80,000 to $105,000 |
| The Pecan2 bd · 1,008 sq ft | 2 bd | 1,008 sq ft | $84–$109 | $85,000 to $110,000 |
| The Magnolia3 bd · 1,120 sq ft | 3 bd | 1,120 sq ft | $80–$107 | $90,000 to $120,000 |
Priced June 2026
Why the number falls as homes get bigger
Roughly two thirds of a home is content that does not scale with floor area: one kitchen, one or two bathrooms, one heating and cooling system, one electrical service. Those cost about the same in a studio as in a three-bedroom.
So the per-foot figure is really measuring how much fixed content you are spreading, not how expensive the building is. Comparing a 400 square foot studio to a 1,100 square foot family home on a per-foot basis tells you almost nothing useful.
What to compare instead
Compare the whole number for the home you would actually live in, and check what is inside it. A per-foot figure that excludes the kitchen, the systems, or the site work is not comparable to one that includes them.
The home itself: factory-built wall panels with windows and doors installed, floor system, roof structure and deck, interior partitions and doors, drywall and finishes, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, kitchen cabinets, counters and appliances, and bath fixtures.
- What is the cost per square foot to build a Checa home?
- $80 to $188 per square foot all-in, including a typical site allowance. Larger models sit at the lower end.
- Why do small homes cost more per square foot?
- Because a kitchen, a bathroom and an HVAC system cost roughly the same regardless of floor area. In a small home that fixed content is spread over fewer feet, so the per-foot number rises even though the home is cheaper overall.
What it costs to build an ADU in Austin
Real prices for a backyard home: $55,000 to $95,000 all-in, and what moves the number.
What site work costs, and what drives it
The 10% to 35% allowance explained: soil, slope, flood zone and utilities.
Exactly what the price includes
Line by line: what is in the home figure, what sits in the site allowance, and what is separate.
What each upgrade actually costs
A second bathroom is $5,400. An extra square foot is $36. The real price of every decision.
What it costs to build a house in Austin
A complete, finished home from $50,000, or $55,000 to $120,000 all-in. What that covers and what land adds.