[quote author="No_Such_Reality" date=1258710113][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1258707649]You forgot the TIC answer:
? Higher profit for little cost</blockquote>
That's my thought, it looks like just enough structure that I suspect they've found a way to include the patios square footage in the living space.</blockquote>
TIC can't legally count the patio space as footage. However it cost almost next to nothing since all the trades are already there. It can't cost more than $12/sf.