Rehab per square foot resource

[David Mohrmann]

Is there a resource for approximating rehab costs per square foot per location? I remember seeing on the forums that some contractors would state that in certain areas, $XXX/sqft for rehab is usual.

[J Scott]

A cosmetic rehab on a 10 year old 800 sf condo with low-end finishes and work done by a handyman is going to cost much less square foot as a gut-rehab of a 100 year old 3000 sf Victorian with high-end finishes and work done by artisan contractors and a high-end GC?

Cost per square foot is meaningless.  Without knowing the type of house, the age, the scope of work, the level of finishes, the type of contractors, your negotiating skill, the time of year, etc., nobody is going to be able to give you a $/sf average.