If that's for real, would just move.

It will be expensive for sure the dormer will have to removed, the roof redone after an architect gets involved in design a structural guy to tell you if the bump out can even support a second level .I would start looking for a different house .

Hmm. I don't see how it could cost $200k... obviously if that is the case we would just move... I've read for other similar projects you are typically looking at 30-40k depending on issues/finish etc.. guess I'll just have a contractor or two come by and see what they think

I would definitely get a few bids, as the cost can be unique to your area. My sister did a three level addition about 5 years ago (adding on an upper floor bedroom, main level living room expansion, and lower level office) which cost them 120k in her area. In my area, we got bids of 20-30k just to do a relatively simple deck (no structural work, no roof work). We also considered converting our deck to a sun room (nothing fancy -- walls, windows, flooring, roof extension), but that quickly climbed to 60-70k.

I would suggest meeting with an architect. We are doing a large remodel (almost doubling the size) of our home and it was well over $250K if the contractor did the work. We are on our family farm, so moving wasn't an option. I was totally off base in what I originally thought it would cost!

To accommodate our growing family last year we wanted to build an addition behind our three car garage to add a master bed and bath so we would have 4 bedrooms on the main floor of our rambler. Estimates for this were around $150k. The city said no because of setback requirements on the backside of our house since it was on a lake. To bump out the front side of house or to start changing to roof to add another story had skyrocketing costs fast. The lowest bids were $250k. It was cheaper for us to move to a different lake in the same zip code with 4 bedrooms already on one floor and as a bonus we didn't have to live through a remodel that would take several months.

Check local code requirements. In my neck of the woods any dormer/roof change larger than 12 feet triggers very expensive seismic (i.e. structural) upgrades. Each region is different, but a major remodel anywhere can result in required upgrades beyond your original project scope. Heads up!

Thanks for input... I don't think we'll do it. This was more of a starter home anyhow. Have just been doing mostly cosmetic upkeeps. Will most likely just look to move down the road instead of this major remodel...

Sadly, Mike, I think you are making the right choice.