32x24 one story or Victoria cottage?

[kalstar]

We are putting our money together to build a 2 bedroom retirement home for our mother, She wants simple and nothing "over the top". The building budget can not surpass $65,000 plus the cost of the lot (which we already own). The planned size of the house will be in the 800/900 sq ft range.

Which would be more cost effective to build regardless of location (trying to compare apples with apples)? The lot is flat and both would be built on a slab or shallow crawl space. Assuming both would be framed with conventional lumber and sided, roofed and trimed with the same materials. Which would be more cost effective to build.   

Thx for the advise!

Jim

[MountainDon]

Having lived on a slab since '85 I now lean in that direction. An elevated slab, like one block high or so might be my choice if I was building here in the desert again.

[Don_P]

One story is definitely a safer building. I've toyed with Superior Walls for the exterior walls, pour a radiant slab inside and truss the roof (could be attic trusses), for affordable housing.

[rick91351]

John's Volks cottage is what I would look at.  Simple build and very efficient.  I like where the bath is there 

http://www.countryplans.com/volks.html

Similar design of course is the Grandfather cottage.

http://countryplans.com/grandfather.html

[suburbancowboy]

I would go with this
http://www.jshow.com/y2k/listings/46.html
It doesn't get any simpler and cheaper.
The only thing I would switch in the plans is moving the bathroom and bed room to keep the plumbing on the same side.

[kalstar]

I am playing with a 26x16 main house, with a 20x16 addition (2 bedroom ranch plan) 736 sq ft. I will post when I am done with the plan for imput. Thx

[hpinson]

Why an elevated slab Don?

[kalstar]

Town permit requires a minimum of a 46' elevation of first floor,  lot is at 44'. Can not have a basement do to high ground water.  I could do a crawl space but no more than 3 feet.