Appreciate the many great responses!
Now let me muddy the waters a bit......the property was bought in 2009 at a very fair price, for a reason. We bought it knowing that a local coal company was planning to do some deep mining on the adjoining property in the future. We walked the corner of our property with a rep that they also have leased, to see the impact. I guess we had hoped it wouldn't go through, but looks like it is. It is still several hundred yards from the homesite, but will still be there and most likely heard.
More recent developments...with the big wet gas push in PA/Ohio, the property is sitting on top of one of those deposits. We have been contacted by several companies with offers to purchase mineral rights. We have not sold, and have been told the major gas companies will offer a substantial payment in the future when they purchase and use the existing oil well leases.....
Sooo, we are planning on keeping the property as an investment at the very least. It does have everything we want, land, pond, stream. I am in the process of working up the property, cutting in trails, and cleaning up the woods, as the seller logged the property before selling it to us. Tops and stumps everywhere.
I was planning on building a pole barn on the property this year, but re-thinking that option.
So back to the original question. We do want to have a good piece of property and nice house. We did recently look at a large older (built in 90's) all brick house on 30 acres, for less than $100/sq ft. The deals are out there, just have to wait for a good one.
We're both pretty picky, and can always find fault in the houses we look at. Definitely want a large mudroom/entry probably in thru the garage, seems like very few folks use the front door anymore.
If we built, I would do all I could, (ala Obed) to save $$$ and build sweat equity. But as Obed even mentioned, after all that work, it's still very expensive to build when you include everything you have to do.....and then possibly can't all your money back if you decided (or had to) sell?
Wish I could predict when the housing market will turn around.....
:laughing: