Building an Affordable House: Trade Secrets to High-Value, Low-Cost Construction

by Fernando Pages Ruiz

If you are a builder, developer, or homeowner intent on getting the most from your new home construction or remodel budget, you need Building An Affordable House. This book gives you the insider techniques used every day by the best homebuilders in the country to save thousands of dollars on the cost of every home they build.

Building An Affordable House will help

Genres: Construction, Nonfiction, Architecture, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread May 2008. This book is very in-depth and covers alternative materials like ICF's that it is hard to find unbiased information on. It recognizes the value of curb appeal. Directed at contractors, but there is a lot there for the owner-builder. I'd put it in my top three reads for a prospective builder of a traditional house.
Wes

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good ideas here, though many probably won't make a dent for an owner-builder and DIYer. Production builders probably employ many of these techniques (and more) since the savings will add up at scale. Not being a pro builder myself, this was more of a casual / fun read that helps us analyze how/why things are built the way they are.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Methods and materials to build inexpensive, energy efficient homes. This is a useful guide for the spec builder or someone who wants a house built that's not an energy wasting McMansion.

This review is the second edition published in 2024. Good book and not to pricey.

[Adam Graffunder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perspective is a bit of a stretch for me, as it is written for general or development contractors, and I'm more in the prospective owner-builder category.
Other than that, this is the most direct and up-to-date book I've read yet on building affordable homes. Definitely good.

[Ki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really appreciate the sentiment, but there are ways to save WAY more money in the short and long term.