Introduce yourself

[panderson03]

hey Shari. having ones spouse attend and report back might work for you but it wouldn't have worked for us. having us both take the class gave us a shared foundation of log home building knowledge. if we hadn't taken it together, there would have been endless questions about how to build, why we build that way, etc. it helped our marriage to have done it together cause we were both on the same page. and Jim's right. we were both in the class together most of the time but our notes looked quite different. my husband focussed his notes on some things and I on others.

[happyquilter]

Good news! I just signed both myself and my husband up for the January class. He now feels it is worth it to both attend. Thanks for all the great advice!

[loghousenut]

Good news! I just signed both myself and my husband up for the January class. He now feels it is worth it to both attend. Thanks for all the great advice!

That's the ticket. It wouldn't have worked any other way in our family. Good to have you two on board. Merry Christmas.

[Tom Featherstone]

Good news! I just signed both myself and my husband up for the January class. He now feels it is worth it to both attend. Thanks for all the great advice!

Congratulations to you both! You both will be sounding the horn here soon. A few more tips.... Be a sponge during the class, absorb as much as possible. Linda took great notes, I'm more of the listen/ visual person. Try to keep your questions to the end of the section, they usually answer them anyway without even asking it. They will answer All your questions. You'll come up with many more after attending, that's where our Members Forum comes into play, this is where this organization is invaluable. See you on the other side soon!

Merry Christmas!
Tom

[panderson03]

Good news! I just signed both myself and my husband up for the January class. He now feels it is worth it to both attend. Thanks for all the great advice!

I'm so glad to hear that Shari!! the 2 of you will enjoy the class and even better you'll have a shared knowledge and foundation for your cabin building journey. Welcome to the family

[gamecockmom]

My name is Deb; just joined. My husband and I plan to build our second log home within a few years (our retirement home). We built our first when we were newlyweds. We could use some help from members...we are trying to locate the designer/builder of a log home pictured in the Feb 2012 issue of Log Home Living. It's the featured picture in an article on page 52 "Savvy Planning." This home is exactly what we're looking for. If any one knows the company that designed this home or any type of log home similar would you please pass along the info? Thanks so much!

[edkemper]

Mom,

You're speaking of a Kit, manufactured log home. You may want to read our site and read why we don't support kit homes. Welcome to our site and I/we hope you'll stick around and read what we are all about and perhaps, you will understand why we do what we do.

[TW WA]

My names Tom. I recently moved to Spokane WA area from the Seattle area. I was signed up for the January Class, but had to back out right before due to an issue that popped up at work. Just got the good news that the next class will be in March and I am already signed up.

I was attracted to LHBA by John Koenig (Johnny Coho or The Koenig's here on the forum). I have been a long time customer of John and his Fishing Guide business and was able to see the progress on his place from a pile of logs spread out over his land drying to the Beautiful place him and his wife own now. When I was over in December fishing with him we toured his house afterwards. Not sure if all of the other member homes featured in the Gallery Section look as good in person, but the Koenig's sure does. In fact it looks even better then the pictures in real life.

Looking forward to taking the class and getting started on this adventure!

Tom

[happyquilter]

Hi Tom, My hubby and I just took the class this month. You will love it! It is well worth the money spent.

Shari

[houndog1970]

My name is Lonnie, I just signed up for the class in march. I bought 3 acres this last year after I found the LHBA website and solidified the fact that my dream was possible. I am eager to get things rolling with the whole process. I have dreamed about this most of my life so there isnt a whole lot that I havent already figured out as far as what I want to build. The solar aspect seems to constantly grow as far as options so that is one area that is uncertain. I dont want a big one so my build will be simple and (should be) fairly easy. I look forward to picking all available brains for info on the members side when I can get over there. Until then I will be content to just ask what I can on this side. Thanks to all in advance and I look forward to meeting all possible in the future....

[some_guy]

Hello!

I have 21 acres of untouched forest-land in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. I'm sure you don't have to guess too hard what I'm hoping to do with it . I'd like to start building something within the next 5 years. (I'm 37, so I figure I've got some wiggle room on that.) I won't be able to attend a class this year, but i'm hoping to get some ideas about what I can be doing in the mean-time to be as prepared as I can be.

Thanks!

[edkemper]

some_guy,

First off let me say it's nice to meet a young man with his head screwed on right. Welcome.

Now as to what we can offer so you can get ready? Take the class. Stop planning anything except how to get to the class. You already have the most important part. No matter how much planning you do now, all of your plans will change once you take the class. Save your pennies and every twenty you can hoard. While you're waiting, read every post you have access to on this board.

Now to the serious side, I think you should just give up and give me your land. My family is from Charlotte/Ashville area. I'd take really good care of it for you. <smile>

The most important thing for you to do at the moment is save and read. You're already ahead of the game. With pretty surroundings.

[some_guy]

I can take no credit for my head being screwed on right. I was raised by my grandparents, and I guess after having to tear it off so many times, they figured they might as well screw it back on correctly.

Thanks for the point in the right direction. I figured that's what the answer would be, but I thought I would check just in case. I will certainly avail myself of the posts I have access to, It's just hard to wait (i'm sure that's a common feeling around here.)

Sadly, I'll have to decline your offer to take my land off of my hands (Unless of course you have a bridge or something somewhere you'd be willing to trade for it ) It is a pretty place though. About 20 or so minutes from the Nantahala National Forest.

[ssrusticlogdream]

Hi everyone. My name is Shaina and my husband's James. We are 22 and 23 respectively, got married a little over a year ago, and have no children. We both really love the off the beaten path living and would prefer to live in our own little wooded paradise, with no neighbors, and lots of room to do as we please. We always knew we wanted to live in a log home, its our dream and until recently had been looking into log home kits. I fell in love with one design, and we seriously considered buying it. The only thing is, whenever I thought about how much that house was going to cost us and how much our monthly payments were going to be for the next 30 years, it made me sick to my stomach. We tried to estimate how much it would be if we did most of the extra work required instead of hiring it done, and it was still awful. I came across the LHBA website, and immediately fell in love. My husband and I hope to move to the Black Hills area of South Dakota within the next 6 months, and have found 20+ acres of land we are looking into buying. We are saving money and hope to attend the class the end of this year or beginning of next. We are both very young, but have less than $10,000 in debt (which is mostly student loans), which we have the means to pay off quickly. The aspect of no 30 year mortgage is very thrilling. Don't get me wrong, we know this will be A LOT of HARD WORK, but James and I believe we can do this ourselves, and we are no strangers to hard work. It is very nice to find other people who still believe that hard work, determination, and a little luck can accomplish big things. We look forward to the class and meeting people who can help us accomplish our dream.

[WornOut]

Leaving later today for a run to look at sevral 20a and up parcels myself myself yet this afternoon. Well, by time I get there it'll be morning. ;-)
Custer, Deadwood and a couple just south of Rapid City.
Some nice parcels all around there and with the economy weak yet I imagine more to come in next year. If one wants to venture further west Montana has loads for sale cheaper and more isolated yet.
You 2 are so young .... lots of time to find the right fit for you. Happy hunting

[panderson03]

welcome Shaina. sounds like you'll fit in well here read all you can on this site. there's a lot of great information there. I LOVE the Black Hills. SO beautiful and pretty balmy in the winter

[loghousenut]

Welcome aboard folks. Looks to me like ALL of you have your head screwed on straight!

Sure wish I'd started when I was your age.

[houndog1970]

Welcome aboard folks. Looks to me like ALL of you have your head screwed on straight!

Sure wish I'd started when I was your age.

thanks.... I was beginning to get a complex from eds comment.... lol

[edkemper]

Just remember, some of us grew up when it took training to learn to use that black thing on the counter that was connected to the wall. Many years before they even offered seat belts in cars or A.M. radios w/1 speaker as standard equipment. Back when people were still living in log cabins. Wait, what just happened?

[irace2win41]

Welcome to the fun!!

We took the class in January and I want to echo what others have said. Take the class first and then you can know the right direction to take after that. A lot of our thinking changed after taking the class. If you have a wife get her to the class with you. Ellen and I attended together and I'm so grateful we did. Now I can call home when I'm on the road and ask: "Honey, do you have the walls up yet?"

I'm in the Winston Salem area. Stay in touch and get to the class. It is well worth the money spent!!

Rod

Hello!

I have 21 acres of untouched forest-land in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. I'm sure you don't have to guess too hard what I'm hoping to do with it . I'd like to start building something within the next 5 years. (I'm 37, so I figure I've got some wiggle room on that.) I won't be able to attend a class this year, but i'm hoping to get some ideas about what I can be doing in the mean-time to be as prepared as I can be.

Thanks!

[Swannytheswan]

My name is Ben I am looking for prop. in Western WA. I really want a log home but finances are tight. I am trying to decide if I should buy a stick built home now and save for a bigger property to build my log home on. I'm 28 so I figure I got some time to get my home built but I'm impatient. I haven't taken the class yet and will be saving to be able to soon.

[spiralsands]

My name is Ben I am looking for prop. in Western WA. I really want a log home but finances are tight. I am trying to decide if I should buy a stick built home now and save for a bigger property to build my log home on. I'm 28 so I figure I got some time to get my home built but I'm impatient. I haven't taken the class yet and will be saving to be able to soon.

Ben, if you buy a stick built home, most of your hard earned money will end up going to the bank's profit as mortgage interest instead of to your savings like it should. I don't know how you are living now, whether there is a family or not, but if I were you, I would stash your cash for YOU and temper my impatience by knowing that I'm not enriching the banking industry. Pay YOURSELF, not them.

Frances

[ronwoodcraft]

Hello, My name is Ron, Have a couple of acres in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. Bought the bare property 10 years ago, and put in a small wood shop, and a trailer house, to be used as a temporary living quarters which I am still living in. My wife and I had planned on beginning construction of a small log house this spring, but I lost her to breast cancer last summer.

I still hope to get started someday. I'm not new to the handcrafted log home business. My family and I built a log home in Idaho, and I worked for a while as a handcrafter for Oregon Log Homes, and a couple of other places. Also have made lots of artistic rustic furniture. Heres a picture of the pumphouse I built 10 years ago. Built from windfall logs that were on the property. I took the picture recently.

[rkissinger]

Nice to meet you Ron, So sorry for your loss, hope you are grieving well and able to start putting the pieces back together. You've stumbled onto just the organization you need right now. If you decide to take the class and join us you won't regret it. It will be difficult for someone with your experience to readjust to our way of thinking (my dad took the class with me after spending most of his life in construction including many log buildings, and you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks), but there are very good reasons we do things the way we do. I am currently working on my house in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon. I would love to have yet another OR member to network with, there are a few of us actively building right now, I for one would be happy to help you achieve your dream in any way I can. Your pump house is beautiful, you obviously have the skill to build. If you need a network of people to help, and a proven system to build the strongest, cheapest, and simplest house for your money, you've found it. Hope to see you one the other side someday.

Hello, My name is Ron, Have a couple of acres in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. Bought the bare property 10 years ago, and put in a small wood shop, and a trailer house, to be used as a temporary living quarters which I am still living in. My wife and I had planned on beginning construction of a small log house this spring, but I lost her to breast cancer last summer.

I still hope to get started someday. I'm not new to the handcrafted log home business. My family and I built a log home in Idaho, and I worked for a while as a handcrafter for Oregon Log Homes, and a couple of other places. Also have made lots of artistic rustic furniture. Heres a picture of the pumphouse I built 10 years ago. Built from windfall logs that were on the property. I took the picture recently.

[kaster]

Hi guys! Glad to be here and really enjoy these forums.

I'm a real estate agent in San Jose, Ca with dreams of buying some land this year in Southern Oregon, or along the Sierras in Ca and eventually building a log cabin/homestead on the land.

P.S. My condolences Ron, very sorry to hear that.

[ottodog]

Sorry for your loss Ron...

God Bless, Chris

[chokonen888]

Hey everyone, I'm a youngin' from Los Angeles (currently residing in Tokyo) and due to alot of factors (land/construction is insanely overpriced here, insurance is a joke, construction is a joke, earthquakes, radiation, etc.) I don't plan on being a homeowner in Japan in the near future. The past few years when back in the states, visiting, I decided I wanted to make my home up near Lake Arrowhead (gotta love how you can most business can be handled from home/online nowadays) and have been checking pricing on homes up there. Designing your own home is fairly common in Japan (though constructing it yourself is almost unheard of) and I liked the idea....though it wasn't until I came across LHBA til I was sold on the idea. Now I'm checking pricing on lands/lots in the area I want From the few days of reading I've done so far, I am thinking to buy a good plot of land with lake view and build a simple 30x30 cabin that can be modified and added onto over the years. (Possible basement with two stories on top) My only concern is the size of the land available varies from small to extremely small. (compared to what some of you guys have to work with) Is it wishful thinking to think I can pull this off? haha

[sdart]

Hi,
Welcome to the forum! Lake Arrowhead is in San Bernardino county, I think? Before you buy land, check out what kind of permits the county would require and how much they cost. California can be very expensive for permits in comparison to many other states. As for the size of the land parcel, remember that you will need a place to store your logs while building and room to maneuver around the building site.
Sarah