Starting from the begining and I have no idea where to start

[morrison7368]

Hello all, my name is Martha. I am a stay at home mom of two kids, 4 and 3 years old. My husband is a full time college student on the new GI Bill. We live in King County, WA. Our dream is to own a good chunk of land and build our own home and be self sufficient with crops and livestock. I have no idea where to start. How do we get a good deal on land, how do we get good prices for materials, how about blueprints? There are a lot of things to consider, and it feels almost overwhelming. Are there good books to get, are log home shows a good idea, etc. Any and all info is greatly appreciated! - Martha Morrison

[edkemper]

First off, thank you and your husband for your service.
Now back to your questions. My suggestion is to do what I and most of the members did, read every subject and every post on the public side. You'll learn a lot there. But know, the Member's Only side has tons of the answers to questions you don't even know you need to ask.
Next, every member is going to suggest the same route to ending your confusion. Take the Class. But take it WITH your husband. I know that is not in the cards yet, but about the time you finish reading everything on the public side, you'll start figuring out how you could do it. Just the two of you. You both deserve it. It could really be that important for your family's future. It's about Living debt free and a way to get there. These are not kit homes. These are real live log homes. Look in the gallery. Look at each one. You'll start seeing that what you really want is (1) in the Class and (2) in the Members Only side of this site.
You and your husband have already been through hell (military service is hard). Now get a taste of heaven. Something to dream about. Something tangible.
Welcome to the family!

[morrison7368]

I found this site less that a week ago and have already read most of the articles in the free member section. And because the seminars are few and far between I was looking for info that could help me along until then. Thank you for your comment though. I look forward to one day attending a class.

[ChainsawGrandpa]

I (once again) found a great piece of land. About 2 acres for $20,000 and owner terms.
Beautiful, and convenient location. I haven't found anything to disqualify this property. It's just a great deal that popped-up.
Anyone want to live by me? The price certainly is right.
G'pa

[jaxsnyder]

Hi my name is Jackie and I am at the same point as you in the planning process though I have read everything I can get my hands on and I am also a stay at home mom of a 2 yr old and 1 yr old and in about 3 weeks we will have #3 but I am hoping to get to a class either later this year or next year. When I first registered with the sight I contacted LHBA throught this e-mail <a href="mailto:info@loghomebuilders.org">info@loghomebuilders.org</a> and asked about recommended books and they sent me a list. All of them are full of great information I have been working my way through them as well as any construction books since your house will still need alot of finish work so all information is handy. As far as log home shows go I have been to them, they are fun, but they are aimed at someone looking to build a kit home you won't see anything like this there (at least I haven't) they also sell log furniture and accessories along with books but all I really saw was coffee table books nothing with real substance as far as building goes. I hope this was some help.

Good Luck
Jackie

[morrison7368]

I just wrote an email. That should feed me some info for a while. Congratulationson your 3rd child! I have 2 kids that are about 14 months apart so I know it is tough work but I love that they are close in age. They will always have each other and they all grow up together on a similar timeline, meaning you don't have 1 kid, birth, bottles, diapers, etc. finally school and then start all over with kid 2. I think it flows better to have them close in age. Anyway, back to log home building. I know, I know, I know once I become a member, I will pretty much all the info I need. But until then, is there like a first step or must decide first, a square one? I don't want to do lots of "work" trying to start a project that I started wrong and then I have to start over. So if someone can just answer that, it would sooo make my day. So the question is, where do I start?

[panderson03]

it could be that step one is different for everyone, but for us step one was getting out of debt (except the mortgage on our house), saving money for the class, and then taking the class with my husband. THEN the steps were acting on what we'd learned in class find logs, find tools and equipment, refine building plans, clear our land and prepare to build.
I read the books too but realized after the class that we were just biding time; the class is what we really needed. the problem with books from our perspective was that NONE of them adequetly addressed or even hinted at the sort of building you learn in the class.
for us, one key thing was that we didn't do too many things before class that would then need to be un-done after taking the class (because the class taught us the right way to do things). we didn't have to waste time/energy/money undoing and then re-doing the right way.
ANYWAY! some things we did do before the class and it turned out OK. we made the driveway, had water and electric brought in, had a septic holding tank placed.
I hope this helps!
Pauline

[morrison7368]

well we have no debt of any kind. We own all our vehicels and because my husband just got out of the military about a year ago, we don't qualify to buy land or a home so we are renting. my husband has VA benefits and the new GI Bill so he can be a full time student and we can get by with neither one of us working. He is almost done with his bachelors and then can hopefully get a job while still finishing his masters to save up to buy land and materials, etc. So what do I do until a class becomes available? I feel like everyone is saying, "just wait until a class." But who knows when the next one will be, and if I'll be able to go. There is a lot depending on the timing of everything. I wish I could get more direction.

[dnwhansen]

It sounds like you have multiple goals. You are describing homesteading with a log cabin as part of that homestead. While you wait to take the class you might also spend time reading and learning about homesteading as a lifestyle and what types of agriculture you are most attracted to. Animal husbandry, orchards, truck gardening etc. If you want to earn a living off your land, this will hugely influence your land search. Then.... you will find a way to put your home on it. To me, building the home should come after you figure out where and how you want to live.

Dave

[FolicAcidisgoodforyou]

Martha,
I am in the same spot. Living on Ch. 33 and everything! We are looking for land. We decided the housing stock in our area is just to old and in bad shape. We'd much rather build for ourselves. The only thing that seemed available was kit homes-they are EXSPENSIVE!
My boyfriend grew up raising his own cows and pigs, and is very certain he'd like to continue the practice. I am more interested in growing crops:) We would just be self sustaining- not for profit. I agree with the previous poster about figuring out if you'd like to grow just for the family or if you might expand later on. My In-laws-to-be be only raise enough beef and pigs for their own family and it is a fair amount of work, but worth it :)
And yeah, making it to a seminar could prove difficult for us, too. Good luck on your house search!

[2 cents]

The first thing i wanted to do was draw floorplans. :)
One good thing to know, is that you will be taught that the ideal shape to build this style is a square.
Also if you can get the kitchen and bathroom to share a wall, for the plumbing, that is a good thing to plan for.
The most common sizes built are 30'x30', 35x35, and sometimes 40x40.
It is generally considered better to have a smaller footprint if you can, and 2nd floor and/or a loft if you need more space.

[ramblinman502]

i also want to thank your husband for his service and your sacrifice. we get to live the life we do because of what he does. just a note on the overwhelming part...its all one step at a time. you dont need to see the whole road and have all the answers...you just need to keep your eyes focused n forward a little at a time n youll do fine. take the class and join the family!

[Basil]

Before looking for land locally, make sure that's where you want to live for a while. Land prices are crazy in many parts of the country. Here in Kentucky, rural land goes for about $3000 an acre, less in some places more in others. Fairly cheap, but not the cheapest by any stretch. Michigan upper peninsula land goes for about $800-$1000 an acre in the places i looked. You can save a fortune just by deciding to move. Once you decide, yes, i want to live here, then really get your feet on the ground and look. No advice can replace the knowledge gained by tired feet and dirty hands.

[morrison7368]

We have already been looking around Eastern WA just so we can follow the market. Our budget for land is about $50,000 for 10 to 20 acreas. We want to be at most, an hour from the city because my husband will have to commute to work. And we want to be near water.

[aviatorbob]

G'Pa
Saw your post on a neighboring 2 acres you found. Any details? I'm in the market and am looking at retiring from the Military after 28yrs of service. Have some general ideas on where we want to go but always want to stay networked out there and who knows... Just may find what we are looking for. Thanks for your time on this
Bob McW

[ChainsawGrandpa]

Hi Bob,
Trying to think of a secure way to do this (stalkers....)
You could post your e-mail, and then delete your post after I e-mail you....
Giving the link for the property would disclose my location.
G'pa

[edkemper]

You may be old but haven't lost all your marbles.

[Yuhjn]

one easy way is to just create a hotmail, or yahoo, or gmail accont and post it. Once you receive an email and get contact info, delete the account.

[ChainsawGrandpa]

Sent the e-mail to you.
I haven't been on the property, but I have been past it. It's in a great area.
My guess is that the seller is taking terms just to get a buyer in these difficult times. If you have cash he may offer a healthy discount, not that $19,900 is a bad price. I had decided to buy it for some family members, but they didn't want to build a log home. Too bad for them.
My estimate was $47,000 for the land, driveway, septic, well, two-car carport, and a 1,300' log home. That sure is hard to beat. I just paid that much for five acres of trees and dirt very near this piece of land.
G'pa

[tanderson]

I'm dragging my feet, trying to get my stick frame house ready for the market while interest rates are at an all time low. I've spent some time on Realtor.com looking in areas that I feel somewhat familiar with, primarily in Butte county of N. Cal. It's affordable, and it's near my family. I haven't excluded any area though. I'm going to make a final push at finding a job in the fire service and if something pans out, then great. If not, my search has been narrowed down to any area with affordable land within a one hour drive to a Home Depot or Lowes. The way I see it, if a corporaton that size feels they can plant roots then so can I. I'm trying to not "overthink" this move. I need to take the plunge and then adapt. Not that I plan to go in blind, per se. You still have to exercise your due diligence when it coms to buying land, it's just that you have to make a sound decision and then jump in with both feet. Maybe I'm rambling.
I do like hearing about good land buys, especially from people that know what an LHBA member might be looking for.
Selling a house seems like a real pain. I want to de-clutter the place, but don't want to pay storage fees. Maybe I'm a packrat, but I've accumulated some really kool stuff over my 41 years and I just don't want to get rid of it! Whatcha gonna do? U-Haul has a 26' truck, problem solved.
Attended class January 24-25, 2009

[loghousenut]

Two thoughts about stuff reduction techniques...
1... Have a big ole yard sale and get rid of that junk. You can (and I know you will) buy more junk when you are settled in your new place. If you haven't used it yet, you won't need it. This advice applies to everything that is not a chainsaw, telehandler, or anvil.
2... Buy a school bus. They can sometimes be had dirt cheap. You need no special instruction or license to drive one. You don't stop at weigh stations. They hold a lot of stuff and can be moved at any time. They are surprisingly easy to sell.
PS... A school bus can store a lot of anvils and chainsaws but are fairly useless for storing or transporting telehandlers.
Photo is my Son, Jake attempting to load our telehandler into a school bus.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Ridgepole7-7-10034.jpg

[aviatorbob]

Got the email and interestingly it is a short ways from my friends property in the next state over. Trying to get him to tell me what the general tax issues are in the whole region. Had 3 different properties in CA and pulled out of there due primarily to the state tax bandits. Got some more research to do but you gave me an excellent lead on property I should be looking at. Thanks and will stay in touch
Bob McW

[panderson03]

No advice can replace the knowledge gained by tired feet and dirty hands.



ooohhhhh THAT's a GOOD one!!!