About Brian McElroy Expertise I am a home builder in the Tampa Florida area specializing in energy-efficient homes built with precast concrete wall systems that are hurricane resistant to 235 mph. I have researched and used many methods of new home construction and find this the most cost-effective, environmentally-friendly method of home building for this area. I am also investigating other alternative methods to improve my products. I am a member of the Florida Green Build Coalition, EPA Energy Star Program, and have other affiliations involving energy savings, safe building practices and quality construction practices
Experience
Past/Present clients Many happy homeowners and repeat customers.
Question QUESTION: I have a mobil home on property in Hernando county Florida zoned AR. I would like to have a simple alternative home built that's really cheap to build and power (solar, gas, underground, dome, etc.) Any suggestions?
ANSWER: I build in parts of Hernando. I build a specialized energy efficient hurricane resistant product. You can see it at www.mcelroycustomhomes.com. you generally cannot have cheap and efficient. You can have cheap and not efficient or you can have efficient but not cheap. Any home I build will cost about the same as conventional housing, but will be super efficient. I do not know anyone who does dome homes. Most banks will not lend money on them because appraisers will not give them a value. Also, any new systems or prototype homes have to be approved by the State before you can even build here. That is why you do not see a lot of alternative type products in Florida. Also, Hernando County is gettign ready to raise impact fees again as well as Pasco from my latest rumors. They are making it almost impossible for normal folks to afford to build new homes andkeep them.
I would be glad to send you estimates or design a home for you. It does not cost anything to design and estimate. I am not sure that my product iswhat you are truly looking for. Brian McElroy e-mail: mcelroybuilder@aol.com
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QUESTION: Thanks for the response, I'm grandfathered in so I don't have to pay an impact fee. Do you build any homes for under $60,000? I don't want a traditional house. Does Florida allow any alternative housing like earthbag, tire walls or straw bale? Mary
Answer They do not allow such structures. Due to hurricane codes, Florida is very limited in how we can build. As far as costs, conventional homes will cost from $100.00 - 300.00 per square foot depending on the sizes and finishes. You cannot buy a new mobile home for $60,000 of any quality. I just priced a 1700 3 bedroom 2 bath for a retired postmaster. His home is very energy efficient but with no frills, no garage or porches, etc. His home costs me ove $170,000 in labor and materials. His price with profit andoverhead was about $207,000.00. He already has a well and septic system and also did not require impact fees to be paid as he is disabled. It is sad, but most people looking to build inexpensive homes simply cannot. Alternative homes cost more because no one here knows how or is willing to buuild them andfight the battles with the county officials to get them approved.
