Foundation should be poured between spring and fall when the ground is not frozen.

The cost to build during cold temperatures is outrages. Yes it used to be done when real estate was appreciating at 12 to 20% per month. Save your $$ and wait until the most important part of your home will be constructed... the foundation!

You've heard that time is money - the time you save by starting now will be paid for at some point. Pouring concrete in winter takes a tremendous amount of effort, tarping, heating, some times wooden structures have to be built so that tarps can be put up and the heaters installed. Breaking ground at this time will take more time = longer hours for the machinery rentals/operators. Some areas require the ground to be partially thawed = build structure, tent, heat, wait. You will pay for lighting the work site if you want an 8 hour day - all paid for by the home owner.

All of this is money, money, money. And IF the cement mix is wrong or NOT to manufacturer's specifications you may have more problems than the "time saved" is worth. I would get estimates on all of this well before you make the decision. Look at the numbers and decide which is more important - getting it done or saving money. There is no way to build in the winter AND save money. It doesn't work like that. Get two quotes: first for a spring build and then the other for a winter build. Always add in 10-30% extra time in winter due to incliment weather. Too much rain means you have to stop. Too much snow means you have to stop. Machinery doesn't like cold/ice. Breakdowns are more frequent in the cold. All of this has to be built into the cost of building during winter.

With climate change, one massive storm and it is all undone (or most of it anyway). And N. America, Europe, Asia have all seen massive winter storms in the last decade that have caused old records to fall by the wayside.

@Can cork flooring thanks so much for the details! That is very helpful. This is a custom home and my builder already bid the work out in the warmer months (this has been taking forever in the architect and getting permits). Now he says our price is our price and any additional costs are his to accrue. However since he builds often and because subs need/want the work in the winter many of the costs wouldn't be passed to him. Does this sound reasonable or will costs sneak in? Is there a real risk of compromising quality? I keep hearing "people build through the winter all the time" from multiple sources since that is the environment we live in.