Need a house on a tiny budget. Go with a barn builder??

[LBrown59]

I know of several people that built a basement, lived in it and then built the house on top.

There has been many who never made it to the house on top stage.

 

[LBrown59]

Go modular, you can get some pretty nice double wide and even 2-floor ranch style homes for under $50k delivered.

Housings best kept secret.

 

[texasjohn]

Stringer, no clue where in the country you are or the weather there.
Sounds to me like you are 100% ready for a mobile home/trailer. They are ready to go with your existing septic and electric service. Older versions are on Craig's list for within your price range.

Regardless of what you do, you are going to be "camping" in some form or another.... and you seem somewhat lacking in skills to complete a place that is barely dried in.

You asked for options.... to me it would be worth looking at mobile home or trailer... an older one that has been maintained well (hard to determine). These things lose their initial cost/value rapidly but are a complete unit with stove, fridge, beds, bath, shower, electricity, water, cabinets, heat and air, etc.... yes, often these require maintenance... but so does almost everything.

It's an idea, not ideal, but then, you are headed down a path of compromises because of $$ constraints. Thus, only you can determine what compromises you are willing to make and what skills you can bring to the mix.

 

[Stringer]

thanks for all the replies. im in florida. its looking more and more like theres no way around a mobile home.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You do not need a Certificate of Occupancy to live in your own place. You need a CO only if you have a bank loan or you are going to sell the place. How can they kick you out of of your own land? Only for health and safety concerns, but he has water and septic. So put up the barn, live it and fix it up as you have time and money. There also is no time limit on a building permit. The town may say there is, but case law says there is not. You can be building on you property for 20 years.

Wish it was that way here, but unfortunately you need Certificate here before you can stay, and they limit building permits to a year, that you can extend for more $$$$$.
I think here you would spend more in defending case law than what it would be worth to pay for the permits.

 

[texasjohn]

What about getting a large tent and staying in it for a while.... actually camping out... are you in a location where you could do this??? Dropping living expenses WAY down may allow you to save rapidly toward a different situation. Florida weather might allow you to do this, except for hurricanes.

You asked for options...this could be one under right circumstances. Just thought I'd throw it out there...no need to reply.... or reveal personal information preventing execution of such an idea.

 

[CurlyDave]

Before you do anything, think about your long-term goal, and you plans to get there.

For instance, if you could make do with a barn now to live in and a real house later when finances improve, that is certainly a plan. But, don't make the mistake of putting the barn in the very best building spot--that is where you want your eventual house. Even if you wind up selling the property before you build the house, the property will be more valuable with the barn in some other location than the best place for a house.

Same holds true of mobile homes. There is a certain amount of permanent or semi-permanent infrastructure for a mobile home. A property where a mobile is sited so that a buyer can live there while building their dream home is more valuable than one with a mobile right smack in the best home site.

Another thought, a big barn implies animals of some sort. Put the barn far from the home site, unless you like the small of manure.

 

[LBrown59]

The knock with a modular is that if the owner decides to sell it after he eventually builds a permanent home to take it's place, he will take a beating.
*They typically do not hold resale value well.

At least around here they don't hold up too well, guess maybe because there are so many of them?? Now if he decided to keep it for one of the kids to move into later on, or the inlaws/guest house that would be a good move. If you're going to get a "mobile" type home, then just go ahead bite the bullet and get a cheap, used one. I know, it will not help you with any style points, but when/if you go to sell it, you won't have much in it to lose. jmho.....

This old wifes tale is still being told.
Myths die hard.

 

[sweettractors]

This old wifes tale is still being told.
Myths die hard.

We bought a New fully furnished 10 X 47 mobile home in 1965 when we got married. Paid $3000 for it. We lived in it 7 years and when we bought the first farm, we sold it for $2500. Ken Sweet

 

[beppington]

There also is no time limit on a building permit.

My county's permits have expiration dates, & if you lapse there's a renewal fee.