Suggestions or advise on building a home?
We are trying to sell our first home (which will be at a loss of about $30,000) And we've moved into the country, in another state - for job, and it's long winding and hilly roads...with little or no turn-over of houses at least in our price range. ($100,000-$180,000 has almost nothing available.)
Many folks build here, but we're not sure if we should or if we can even take the time and hassle.
We've been given about 4 acres if we decide to build, but it will take setting things up, like a well, septic system, bringing in electricity, getting satellite as there won't be any other way to get internet.
Anyone have suggestions? Pro or Con's that you've encountered?
I know building will be a huge learning curve, and the folks here have some great advice on many things. If we decide to build we'd like to go into it with our eyes wide open.
We're currently building a home at the moment - it's something I've ALWAYS wanted to do. It can be a bit stressful at times but once construction started it's just been the most amazing experience and I love that we're getting a house that will be pretty much perfect for us. Our current home we've been living in for 5 years and it's an older house that's falling apart and was poorly built. My only advice is that if you DO decide to build (and it's a very long term home) then get the best you can afford.
We're building in suburbia of Perth, Western Australia so building standards/methods are very different (although if you'd like a sticky beak, then this is my build thread). Right now, there's nothing stopping you from talking to a few local builders, talking to your bank, talking to people who have built in your area - doing those things may sway you one way or the other and just talking/getting advice is obligation free.
If you are going to be on a well .... get it dug before you build .... you want to know if you have good water first
Expect extra expenses .. always and the faster you build the better because you pay interest on the money you are given to build the house
Before doing anything you will have to get a building permit and you will have to stay within the limits of their bylaws re: house size etc
We contracted out for the plumbing and building the frame of the house and basement. I wish we had done the same thing for the wallboard .. that is a lot of dusty work. We did the wiring ourselves. We were fortunate to know our contractors so we knew they would do a good job. This is an area where you have to be very careful . talk to the locals about who they trust.
If you have a mortgage there will be inspections as you go along before you get another advance and fix anything they don't like.
Do not add things like appliances etc to your mortgage ... you will be paying for them for a long time, longer than they will last.
Expect to pay for land survey before building as well if you get a mortgage.
Good luck .. although there are a lot of things to do and it does take a lot of time and dedication it can be a good experience. Our house was as strong as it was when we first built it when we sold 35 years later, unlike many of the cookie cutter homes and it was built to suit us, including higher kitchen counters because I am tall
I agree with Susan, you first need to get the well put in - you need to know if your water is good, and plentiful. It will be expensive. In Oregon, it costs around $35K for the well. I don't suggest building. I suggest that you put a modular home on the site. A beautiful modular home is within your budget, and the company will deliver and set it up for you. Building a house from the ground up has too many possible cost issues. If you do build and use a licensed and bonded contractor, get everything pinned down in a contract BEFORE they begin. Good luck with your move.
I don't have much experience in this topic - but what Sunny was saying about a modular home might be a great option for you with your budget. I am dreaming of my chance to own a home, and explore options all the time. There are so many options out there for modular homes. It's probably one of my own only options in the area I live in because it's mostly already developed and if there is land,it is just as expensive as the houses are.
The problems and extra expenses piling up scares the crap out of me, in any situation. I have terrible luck with cars, I can only imagine all the things that would go wrong if I tried to build...