building codes and expenses

[jaxsnyder]

Good morning everyone, I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what questions to be asking to county/counties before you pruchase land? In regards to building codes and fees, and if there are any suggestions on what to steer clear of. My husband and I are land shopping and are finally going to be able to take the next fall class (hopefully there will be one) and I am hoping to have our land purchased before the class and possibly be living in a mobile home by then so that we can jump right in after class. So i was wondering if there were any good pointers out there. We moved to middle TN a year ago and we are trying to narrow down what county to live in. Thanks for your help :)

[loghousenut]

If it was me I'd wait til after class to buy land. Save til then and if you really, truly, accidentally fall into that ONE place that has to be it, buy it. You won't know what brain switches get switched in class (and in the weeks after class) til you go through it. You'll still be jumping right in if you want to but you might decide to jump slightly east or west at the last minute and you may even want to paddle around a bit in the shallows.

You really do have the rest of your life to live. Hug each other. Take a blacksmithing class at the community college. Mow lawns on the side and fill the cookie jar. Cut a bunch of firewood to sell next winter. Take a bike trip.

Well, that's what I would do, but then I'm just some fat ole man with a half built monsterousity sitting down by the creek and a zest for life in a wandering sorta fashion.

It'll work out one way or the other unless you really don't want it to.

[jaxsnyder]

I hear you. I had a feeling that would be the answer. I don't have a problem with the patience til we build and enjoying everything else until it happens its more about getting out from under paying rent each month while we wait to buy.....I hate knowing that the money is just being thrown away. so how big is your monsterousity? Do you have pictures? And how did you decide to build where you did or did you already have the land?

[rreidnauer]

Rent is a four lettered word. Can't blame you from wanting to get out of that situation ASAP.

With my dealings in PA, codes aren't so much "by county", as it is "by township/borough/town" that really could throw one way off when it comes to budgeting. I could find plenty of land in PA which there were basically no building codes, but they also came with no place to get a job within a reasonable distance. Finding that balance was the hard part.

I know this much, I will NEVER live within a borough/town limits ever again. The costs of blessings is ridiculous, and what benefits there may be are far too small to make it worth it.

[BoFuller]

There are a lot of things to consider when buying land. How far do you have to go to get logs is one of the biggest. We bought first, before class, and we don't regret it. The fact that we wanted to be a reasonable distance from our grandkids, and a reasonable driving distance while working on it overruled how far we had to ship logs. Everyone will have different determining factors. I would say wait if you can, but if you have over-riding reasons for your purchase, then go ahead.

[jaxsnyder]

I understand not wanting to be within city limits. We are right near nashville right now and want to be as far away from it as is reasonable for my husband to commute to work. The hardest part for us is we are new to the state and area (since we have only lived hear for a year) and trying to narrow down where to live when you have no preconceived notions about anything makes it difficult. When we were in Jersey we new exactly where we wanted to live and where we didn't plus we grew up there so we knew what we were up against as far as building codes( a big head ache) but now is a whole new ball field and trying to figure out how to narrow the search is a bit difficult besides knowing we don't want my husband commuting more than 40 minutes to work.

[jrdavis]

one bit of advice that seems to float up to the top periodically is:

look for something with an old trailer or house already onsite.
That way electric and well/water are available.
And you ahve a place to camp/hole up in.


JD

[Cruiser]

I lived in Brentwood for a number of years when I was young. Graduated HS up there. I still like the area, but it has really grown. Your best bet I am sure will be on the fringe of the max driving distance. It seems the further away from a major metro area you are, the more relaxed codes can be. What part of Nashville does your husband work in (N,S,E,W or right in the middle)?

[jaxsnyder]

I know the stats for growth down hear are incredible but I guess that why he found work here. He works for metro so he can be stationed anywhere at any given time through his carrier. So we have been trying to base out search for property trying to make it 40 minutes from downtown that way if he moves locations he should never be more than 50 minutes to work. Any suggestions from your experience up hear as good places to consider? SO how do you like mississippi is it nice down there?

[loghousenut]

I hear you. I had a feeling that would be the answer. I don't have a problem with the patience til we build and enjoying everything else until it happens its more about getting out from under paying rent each month while we wait to buy.....I hate knowing that the money is just being thrown away. so how big is your monsterousity? Do you have pictures? And how did you decide to build where you did or did you already have the land?

My 36x36 monsterousity is not the issue. We're all thinking of your monsterousity haha.

Photos of mine are all over this forum and folks are tired of seeing them. We bought this place 19 years ago and we were gonna start building this log home within the first year. Life got in the way and we waited til 3 or 4 years ago to finally get serious about it. I have enjoyed every minute of it.

You can pretty much look at me and my build as a worst case scenario that is still working out fine for the owner and his family. Let's hope you two progress at a more normal LHBA pace, but if you end up being 58 years old with a halfbuilt log home, you'll probably love it all as much as I do. Don't worry about me... I'll live long enough to pay taxes on a completed dream home.

As for your place, it'll happen just fine. Take the class and you'll stack up the home of your dreams whether you get your land now or after class.

[John W]

No LHN, we are NOT tired of seeing your place progress!

[jrdavis]

well..........................................
*I* personally could do without those big Butt pics
bruhahahaha...

Kisses!:o

[BoFuller]

You all didn't have to live with the guy. He can be very annoying.

but I still love you Bro!

[VinceHarris]

I grew up in Spring Hill south of Nashville. My advise is the advise that I got, get the book "Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country" I haven't read the whole thing yet but it seems to be helpful. If not I would make a list of things you want/need in the property and then break it down with a pros/cons list of each jurisdiction... putting it down on paper always seems to help me.

also you might check out
http://www.unitedcountry.com/
that site seems to have alot of property in that area!

Hope that helps! Good luck and enjoy some of that country music for me!

[BoFuller]

Ideally I wanted a good source of wood for heat and a good source of water. Part of my long-term planning is to be self-sufficient in case, or when, the SHTF. That may or may not be important for you.

[jaxsnyder]

Ideally I wanted a good source of wood for heat and a good source of water. Part of my long-term planning is to be self-sufficient in case, or when, the SHTF. That may or may not be important for you.

You are completely right about wood and water you never know whats going to happen and it is definately better to be prepaired. And being self sufficient is definately in our long term plan.

[jaxsnyder]

VinceHarris- Thanks for the recommendation on the book heard someone mention it the other day and I didn't know if it was any good. Now that I have heard it from two people I will have to check it out. The pro/cons list is definately something we should do too. Thanks for the helpful ideas

[Cruiser]

It's been a long time since I lived there, but I would think your best best bets for finding cheaper land would be anywhere north of the city (meaning NW, N or NE). I might be way off base, but that's the way it was when I lived up there. Mississippi is nice. Like any place, it has its good and its bad. Overall though, the land is much prettier in middle TN with the rolling hills. Good luck with your search.

[blane]

In middle TN I have heard all the codes vary greatly. Some counties have none others are ridiculous. The less codes you have to deal with the better. Not that your house will be sub standard by any means but it just makes it a little easier not to be concerned with an individuals opinion on how the process should be in their mind when many of the things taught in class are unconventional.

[Peach1956]

One of my hobbies is Gold Prospecting and there is much research and planning before going on the trip.The history, where gold was found in that area, how much, what kind (placer or lode), mining methods and equipment. Then the trip itself is almost an adventure of it's own. I love finding gold but in itself, having the gold is not as exciting as what you did that led up to that moment.

I imagine building our own log home is much the same way. It's the planning and executing all the details to make it all come together to make your log home materialize is what really makes it your own.

[loghousenut]

You know that thing you do with a big ole gold coin. The way you sit back and close your eyes and fondle it, caressing it, absorbing the sensual energy radiating from the very core of the metal out into your torso... It's the same way with a real, hand-made log home.

Gold is real. There's nothing phony about it. The home you build with your own hands will be just as real. You'll dream about it.

[Peach1956]

You know that thing you do with a big ole gold coin. The way you sit back and close your eyes and fondle it, caressing it, absorbing the sensual energy radiating from the very core of the metal out into your torso... It's the same way with a real, hand-made log home.

Gold is real. There's nothing phony about it. The home you build with your own hands will be just as real. You'll dream about it.

Yeppers :D