Problem is: those "cells" cost ~$300,000 each. Assuming a break-even at 10 years, that's $2,500/month - more than my mortgage for a 2400 sq ft home on .75 acres with a small forest. At $100/mo, would take 250 years to pay off.
Many seem to not understand that real estate is not unlimited-supply like most manufactured goods. Just because you want a particular home doesn’t mean expect it will go for MSRP like common retail goods. You’re bidding on a strictly limited supply, vs others willing to bid more. At some point reconsider what you’re actually trying to get, and that better is far more affordable elsewhere.
Your datapoint was only interesting if it was comparable to building housing in UCSB. Since you don't live in Santa Barbara, I don't know why you brought it up.
Your choices are completely irrelevant here. UCSB students have already determined that what is best for them is not what you describe as "better." Your mortgage rate in some cheaper locale is totally irrelevant to the cost of building a dwelling in Santa Barbara.
