Build or Buy Existing Home?

[Carey]

Rose, The exteriour framing is a good chunk of your house framing costs, and is spread out over the whole house in a sq. ft. price, so the larger the house, the less the exterior costs per sq ft. But you can make your sq ft price actually cost more in a larger house by purchaseing higher end subfloor, flooring, roofing, wall treatments, windows, doors, trim moulding, cabinetry & fixtures.
There is no pat answer to your question, this really is a 'depends on...' situation.
Aloha, Carey