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Hey Gary,
Now that you see how LHBA does it now, don't be so scarce. It's all changed since the days of the monthly meeting at Skip's place. Personally I like how it works now and it has certainly opened up the rest of the world to LHBA. There's been a hint about a West Coats Gettogether sometime near Thanksgiving. We'd love to see you there.
Hello Everyone!
I have been reading a lot here for the last few months and got my log fever going steady now. Have not had a chance to post yet, so I'm doing it now before I see some of you (hopefully) at Vegas this coming weekend. It is a great community here and I cannot wait to be a part of it. Any central Florida members that built their log homes around? Anyone from Florida going to the class?
Anyway, I'm psyched to be here and seeYa on the other side.
Andy:D
Introducer:
andy, are you planning on leaving central FL? I could think of few places worse for a log home, just my opinion...
King of Swamp Castle: When I first came here, this was all swamp. Everyone said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built in all the same, just to show them. It sank into the swamp. So I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one stayed up. And that's what you're going to get, Lad, the strongest castle in all of England. (or Florida)
haha. I rarely get to quote MP on here! Anyway, you can build a log home anywhere, but logs, bugs, humidity, etc are concerns.
Look forward to seeing you on the other side.
-Peter
That is very encouraging!
It will only take me four tries to build a log home in Florida?!
That actually is the usual response I get around here. To answer your question, my Holy Grail would be to build in Northern Georgia/NC/SC Mountains, but as it stands now I will build somewhere around DeLand while kids are still in school and my work is here. Besides, being raised in Siberia gave me a good dose of snowy climate. I enjoy my diving and fishing.
Who knows what the future will bring, and how my views might change after the class.
Hey, if they can build kits here why not real log home then.
I tend to always travel upstream of popular belief(thats probably why it feels so cozy here for me).
BTW Love Monty Python
Quote:
Originally Posted by introducer
You, my Man, are gonna fit right in here. Enjoy the ride!
I guess it's time to introduce myself!
I'm a 22 year old comic author/web designer/workaholic. I've dreamed about having my own land for as long as I can remember and every penny I save goes into my house fund. My grandmother restored old homes and ran an antique shop - her kitchen was a tiny log cabin attached to the main house - so I'm stoked to build a brand new one in such a classic style. I've recently moved away from NYC to my home state of Kentucky for this venture and want to find a property that's tillable with a perennial stream for micro hydro energy.
I'll be attending the class in May with a friend, we're two tiny gals but I know we're tough enough to pull this off. Can't wait to meet everyone!
Ms. Fire,
Can't wait to say welcome aboard. You two will pull it off just fine.
Hello all,
My name is Mario and my wife (Celianne) and I will be attending the May 2012 class. We presently live near San Diego but we own 10 acres in the Sierra foothills just outside of Georgetown Ca. We plan on building there in 24-36 months and are just starting to get things together. The pad has been graded, the well is in and power is on the edge of the property although we need a drop and meter installed. Also the septic system has been engineered but still needs to be built. So you can see we are part way there. While the land is heavily wooded we are reluctant to take our own trees and will most likely find a local source - one of the main industries in the area is logging. We are looking forward to the class and hope to learn enough to build a log home.
Mario/Celianne,
Welcome to the family. We look forward to seeing you on the 'other side'. :)
You are well on your way and may find that your 24-36 months may shorten after class... You'll be so excited you won't want to wait.
congrats on climbing on board.
JD
Hey Spitfire,
I too am looking for land in KY with a perennial stream (or at least spring), but have been finding it very tough. We've been looking for almost a year now and I can't think of any land within 50 miles of my wife's family that I haven't looked at. Most streams/creeks dry up and there really isn't that many to begin with. Here in eastern PA we have streams everywhere. I have a perennial stream 10 yards from my house going through the middle of my yard. The best option I have bookmarked is 11 acres at the edge of Lexington on the Kentucky river. It's expensive though ($180k):eek: but would allow for farming, multiple build sites (for guesthouse, barn, garage...) and possibly even some hunting. I'd prefer a stream though so that I could dam up my own lake, but the KY river has got to be a great place to retire on some day. A nice vintage houseboat would be pretty sweet to have docked out back too.
Good Luck!
Josh
the thing with water is flooding. I would not build in even a 500 year flood zone. In the mountains, there is generally enough drop for MH, and you can find a place where you can build up the ravine from the water... You don't have to worry about flooding...
Just be careful.
I've seen listings for tracts with good streams but I don't need (can't afford) that much land. Even if I find one it's going to have to have good head/flow and not be tied up in regulations so I know I'm in for a long search. At least I won't be tethered to a 50 mile limit; in Louisville right now and may peek into Indiana. I hope we both find what we're looking for. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Kick Forward
Thanks stressman, and I know you know a lot about water, I've seen your charts :p
I plan to vet the property a lot also considering we plan to live the rest of our lives on it. KY is very hilly (in areas) and being elevated from the river is pretty easy with some properties. The KY river has a lot of areas where there's ravines on both sides. But I look forward to getting everyone's input when we 'think' we've found a place.
Cheers
Hi All,
my name is Shirley we are interesred in finding out if any members are selling their home in ID preffered our financial officer recomended we buy not build sinc we r military and can use our VA. we woulf like 3 pulse rooms 2 + bathroom lots of land. hubby is taking may class anyway but we r ready to buy by this time next year!. our e-mail lucas
Shirley,
I'm not speaking for the member who can help you, but for the best of BOTH worlds... On the other side you will find a member who builds them for a living.
Rckclmbr -- can speak for himself.
JD
Hi, I have a suggestion for you. If you really want to maximize your benefits and get the home you want, I would use the VA loan to buy the land you really want with a house/trailer house of little value. Then live there while you build your dream home out of pocket. The true LHBA credo is about trying to build without borrowing money at all, but I can see where you might want to take advantage of benefits that are offered to you, instead of letting them "go to waste" so to speak. Buying a LHBA built home isn't a bad idea either, but they are fairly rare so finding one in a location you want built the way you want might be a challenge. As long as he is taking the class you will not get into any trouble with kit homes or junk like that, so you'll be fine which ever way you decide to go. One other note, aside from the obvious financial benefits of building your own house, it is also incredibly fun! Best of luck.Quote:
Originally Posted by shirleyelijah
New here.
Live in TC's area of MN and ready to take the plunge to the next chapter of our book of life this year.
We both have just retired - my bride thru 38 years of working at same place and myself a bone tossed away by company downsizing. Life goes on.
Game plan is to build in UP of Michigan, to begin clearing land this fall and winter and get moving forward.
The class?? - hopefully this fall/winter if offered, otherwise the next time it is. Cannot make the May one due to family committments made long ago.
Not a lot more to add - a very very long time reader/lurker here, I have toyed with hiring this out and still may much of it (or little-we shall see), age and health may play into the decision going forward. Frankly - my gene pool says if I want to enjoy it for awhile after completion hiring out most is the answer. I admire those of you who can do it all and have the years ahead to do so and in a cost effective manner. In a perfect world so would I.
Love all the posts, pics and support you share with one another. Like a big ol' happy family that sometimes has a bicker or two, sometimes almost need that woodshed out back to resolve things and then presto _ all is again good and one happy family again. lol
Look forward to someday meeting many of you.
You two would be surprised at what some of us have done in spite of our limitations. You can hire out what you can't do yourself and still make it work. Keep reading.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pokey
LHN - you would be surprised at how much I have read here. Think I have read every post back to #1 here at least once, many 6-7-8 times. You all reference the million post on the member side and those I hope to read all of - maybe time says it will be only those that are relevant to me specifically will be possible. We shall see.
Didn't I say I been lurking a loooong time. ;)
My issue or limitations really has nothing to do with physical issues. It's the other thing, time, that we don't have control of, nor does the medical profession despite the amount of money one can throw at things.
I still have the ability but really would hate to stretch the build out to far and then have the wife stuck with more than she wants to be in the middle of or can handle solo. It likely means smaller than what we dreamed and that is fine. Likely at greater expense and that I want to control as best possible. Likely also in a shorter time frame by half than what is ideal to economize - but I want time to enjoy it too so that is the cost I have deal with.
I'll git her down somehow
Be sure to live every minute... even if you leave a loose end dangling here and there.
I am reminded of the time the gal called the radio personality whining that she was recently widowed and wished she were young enough to get her degree because "My God, in four hears I'll be 58 years old!".
His response... "How old will you be in four years if you don't get your degree?".
PS... This advice is aimed at everyone, not just Pokey.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pokey
Pokey maybe faster than me getting a place up. Welcome Pokey! Coming to da UP eh? I love everything about the UP except the heat of the summer, may it only last for 6-8 weeks some years. If at all possible give you and your wife of 38yrs a trip to the next LHBA class. You will more than save that amount on your build in what they teach you to do in class. I lurked around here for 2yrs before signing up for the class and still didn't believe it until about an hour into it. It was by far the best investment we've made in 33yrs together. The members that contribute here openly do so because we now know of this wonderful gift that we received and to do it proper honor in passing it along too. The "Members Only" section here on the web is priceless. Their support is endless.
Where are you at in the UP?
Tom
Just joined the forum today. I purchased a log home about 18 months ago that was built in the mid 1940s. It's a great old home in need of a lot of TLC. Something I am very much looking forward to providing. The chinking and logs all appear to be original and in need of some immediate attention. I joined this forum to seek wisdom from those of you who have repaired/built your own log home. Thanks in advance for the many questions I'll be asking of the community.
Oh yeah, the log home is in PA for anyone from this neck of the woods.
master,
start a new thread and post some pictures for pete's sake!
We generally don't like Kit log homes here, but if it is still up from the 40's, the construction can't be all bad. Give us some Photo Nourishment! (and welcome to the forums).
-Peter
Hi, y'all. I'm John from North Carolina. Took a chance and signed up for the class in May. Looking forward to it.
Hey John,
Give Matt F. a call and see if you can drag him along. I can't wait to meet you two on the member's side!
Hey guys and gals! I'm Matt. Looks like I never introduced myself on this thread. But here's my intro thread from almost 7 years ago! Crazy how much changes, and how little changes, too.
http://community.loghomebuilders.org...&p=740#post740
My girlfriend and I are both really excited about the class in May. And I've wanted to know what was behind the members only curtain for a really, really long time!!
-Matt
Congratulations on finally making it out the class, Matt! You've waited a loooooooooooooooooooooooong time! Travel safely when you go! Sara
PS... New Hampshire rules! :cool:
Heck yeah, Sara! Thanks! Life got in the way and the class took a back seat on my priority list. But I'm beyond excited to take the class now.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffandSara
NH is great. I moved away for a couple years, but kept a canning jar full of soil, moss, sticks, and leaves with me. When I'd get homesick, all I needed to do was pop the top off and take a deep breath of good ol' NH forest smell!