How We're Making a $100K House Possible in California

We're figuring out how to build a house in California for under $100,000—and developing a blueprint that other people could actually follow. The goal is simple: design and build a beautiful, functional, fully permitted 740-square-foot home without spending a fortune. But rather than relying on unrealistic shortcuts, lucky deals, or cutting corners, we're trying to develop a smarter, repeatable approach to affordable homebuilding. In this episode, I'm sharing how we're bringing that plan to life. We're using ChatGPT to turn our floor plans into 3D models, estimate building materials, explore design options, and make better decisions before spending thousands of dollars on professional services. I'm also showing how we've structured a $2,000 consulting agreement with a licensed architect, what we're learning from our structural engineer and contractor, and how we're choosing materials and construction methods to keep costs low without sacrificing good design. Of course, there are still challenges. From utility connections and California building codes to insulation, roofing, and energy efficiency, every dollar matters when the entire budget is $100K. We're still in the planning and engineering stages, and there's plenty left to figure out. But the bigger goal is to prove that thoughtfully designed, affordable housing can be achievable—and share the actual process, numbers, mistakes, and solutions along the way. *Could you see yourself building a house like this for $100K? What would you do differently? Let me know in the comments.* *RESOURCES* Architect consulting agreement template: [ADD LINK] Watch the full $100K House series: [ADD PLAYLIST LINK] *CHAPTERS* 00:00 – Building a House in California for $100K 00:09 – Using ChatGPT to Design the House 01:47 – Engineering and Permitting Costs 02:30 – Saving Money on Utilities 04:40 – Finding Affordable Building Materials 06:58 – Roofing, Siding, and Exterior Design 08:22 – Passive Solar Design and DIY Features 10:26 – What AI Can (and Can't) Do 11:47 – Working with a Professional Architect 13:41 – Our $2,000 Architect Consulting Strategy 15:06 – California Energy Codes and Insulation Subscribe to follow along as we try to turn a $100,000 house from an ambitious idea into a real, repeatable building process. #AffordableHousing #HomeBuilding #DIYDIY and Build videos are on Ben's main channel HomeMade Modern    / homemademodern   Home Building projects are on the Modern Home Project    / @themodernhomeproject   follow Ben on instagram for project updates: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminuye...