ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Tuesday, May 6, 2008

SAHBA: New homes' fees average $25.5K

Government-imposed fees on new home construction in the Pima County area averaged $25,534 per house at the end of 2007, a study by the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association shows.

SAHBA estimated common surcharges for building permits, various water and wastewater surcharges, impact fees and sales taxes.

The fees were calculated on a typical 2,000-square-foot home with a median price of $237,470.

Pima County had the lowest total fees, at $21,353; followed by Sahuarita, $22,853; Tucson , $26,434; Marana, $27,965; and Oro Valley , $29,067.

Oro Valley 's fees were boosted by a $3,867 water-system development fee, the highest of its type.

SAHBA calculated that the $26,434 worth of fees in Tucson would cost $57,060 to finance as part of a 30-year mortgage at 6 percent interest, adding $158.50 per month to mortgage payments in the city.