Everyone talks about “cost per square foot” to build a house, like it’s the magic number that will protect your budget. It won’t. In fact, it’s one of the least helpful things homeowners can focus on... because it gives you a FALSE SENSE OF CLARITY before you actually have any. "Cost per square foot" only works when you already know your materials, your finishes, your must-haves, and your priorities. Without that? It’s just a placeholder. A guess. A number that will change (and usually in the wr