What Does “Base Price” Mean in New Construction Homes?

When you begin exploring the idea of building a new home, you’ll often hear the term “base price” used by builders. But what exactly does that mean, and how does it impact your overall homebuilding budget?

Let’s break it down simply so you can confidently compare builders, plan your investment, and understand how Comerio Homes makes the process transparent and easy.

🔍 What Is a Base Price?

The base price is the starting price for a new construction home, and it includes a pre-defined list of standard features that come with the home, what we refer to at Comerio Homes as our Included Features.

Think of it as your home’s foundation in both form and price.

Included in the Base Price:

Our base price typically includes:

9’ foundation walls
2-car garage
Tile flooring in master bathrooms
Quality cabinetry and countertops
Standard lighting and plumbing fixtures
…and more.

💡 Tip: Always ask builders for a list of included features when comparing base prices. What one builder includes as standard, another may consider an upgrade.

💰 Why Do Builders List a Low Base Price?

Many builders advertise a lower base price to attract buyers, but those prices may not reflect the realistic cost of building the home you want.

For example, while another builder might offer a seemingly lower base price, they may charge extra for things we include as standard, like granite countertops in our larger plans.

Comerio Example:

Granite countertops are standard in many of our larger floor plans.
Other builders may charge $5,000–$10,000 to include that same feature.

So while a competitor’s base price may look lower, it often comes with fewer included features and surprise costs later.

**❌ What’s Not Included in a Base Price?**

While base price gives you a strong starting point, here’s what it typically does not include:

Homesite cost (lot cost)
Site development costs (rock excavation and piering)
Personalized upgrades (flooring, fixtures, expanded garages, etc.)

📘 Want a full pricing breakdown? Download Our New Home Pricing Guide

📊 How Pricing Works with Base Price

Here’s a simplified example of how we calculate your total home price:

Item	Cost
Base Price (w/ Included Features)	$300,000
Homesite (Lot) Cost	$100,000
Buyer-Selected Options & Upgrades	$50,000
Total Estimated Home Price	$450,000

Having a base price makes it easy to plug in the lot cost and your chosen upgrades, giving you a clear path to your final budget.

🔄 Why Base Prices Can Change

Due to material and labor cost fluctuations, base prices are periodically updated throughout the year. This helps us:

Stay current with market conditions
Maintain price integrity across all plans
Deliver consistent value for every buyer

🏡 How to Compare Builders Using Base Price

When evaluating different builders:

Look beyond the headline number.
Request the included features list. (Which are typically different per floor plan)
Compare upgrade costs and flexibility.
Ask about total build timelines and selections process.

At Comerio Homes, we make this comparison easy by offering:

Transparent pricing
Detailed specifications
A streamlined design process
Explore our Design Center to see how we make building your dream home a breeze.