Buying land. Then get a Log Cabin, Motorhome, Trailer, or Other?

[MarkV]

CatLady, I think we may have some confusion as to what you mean by "log cabin". Many of us think of that term to mean a house on a foundation built of logs. I think you mean a factory built structure hauled to the site on wheels. Can you link something similar to what you are considering?

MarkV

 

[Boeing]

A bit of caution here.....I fould acreage in the Roanoke, Va area....beautiful hills, forests, views etc. The seller and realtor worked with me estimating costs of road, well, septic; availability of elect etc....
I bought the land. The elect is ONLY avail AFTER you submit a building permit AND pour/build a foundation. The ESTIMATED (by seller/realtor) cost of a well was $6000. Four drillers later it's more like $25,000 due to elevation and dubious soil......with NO GUARANTEES. The drive was within estimates.....still don't know what to do about the water???? So, check on those well/septic issues BEFORE you buy land. Good Luck

 

[CatLady]

That log cabin is probably delivered in pieces, and must be assembled. Check on the assembly cost, and what you must provide -- things like a foundation, utilities, etc.

No, it was gently used by someone else. They installed a toilet, extra insulation, electric wiring, etc. I am considering it instead of a trailer. Seems easier to move, less likely to cause allergies, probably better insulated. It's also a lot smaller.

 

[CatLady]

CatLady, I think we may have some confusion as to what you mean by "log cabin". Many of us think of that term to mean a house on a foundation built of logs. I think you mean a factory built structure hauled to the site on wheels. Can you link something similar to what you are considering?

MarkV

I am considering all kinds of options. I am not a DIYer but I have friends so assembling could work. I know most people will say don't use a kit. I would rather not. I don't feel like I have enough time to build for real, without buying or setting up temp living quarters, and it would be tricky. I would need a decent roomy storage building if my temp space was a camper or small to medium cabin.

My main reasons for considering a cabin from a kit are: if someone else already bought the new kit made by the Amish, and is selling it for a discount, especially if they've done good improvements to it (cutting down on the time and labor and money I need before it's comfortable to live in). I feel the construction would last and be superior to buying a 15-25 year old singlewide. Or, *maybe* a new kit if they would finance and if I couldn't find a trailer with financing (if I spent most of my money on the land and essential utils).

I am iffy on buying an "old fashioned" traditional log cabin. I did see a couple of those for sale. Really old ones and you had to disassemble and move them. I don't know much about them, but feel like the moving would be too difficult and not worth it.

I looked at the FEMA campers and trailers. I am worried about the formaldehyde issue and the cost to haul one from Louisiana or other location.

 

[teg]

I have been looking for months, and trying to be patient, but I need to get away from my current situation soon. Without rushing and settling for something...

THAT's a tough statement... Time is what you need but I guess you don't have it... I hope you are lucky...

One thing that help us find the right place, was friends looking for us and talking to others in the area letting them know we were looking to buy. Had a call on Christmas day that we needed to see a place (or else he would have to figure a way to buy it!!)

Good property at a good price, sell fast... you should look at lot of land (good and bad) to know before hand if something is "worth" it. That includes land that you have no interest in, just to get a feel for it. With in 15 minutes of seeing the land, we made an offer.

What we got was nothing like we were looking for either... we wanted 10 acres with nothing. We got 28 acres with an old house (not livable but great storage) and 33' camper trailer and a "playhouse" (very rough cabin shack, also not livable) but the house came with electric, water and sewer.

Living in a camper... doable. Not sure you would want to do it for a long time. TBN member "Obed", lived in one... for what 12 years??? It all depends on you. I'm pretty sure I could... pretty sure I would NOT be married after a few months

 

[CatLady]

@TEG...

Yes, that's why I am ready to buy... as soon as I find a place that "fits". If I think, "this is great", then I would probably make an offer the next day, maybe the same day. (Sleeping on it is good. Getting beat out by someone else isn't... yikes.) I am not in a big rush to where I'll take an "okay" place.

With the limited options I have, I may take a place that is "good" but not great. Especially if it's good with potential. Good would mean I am making no concessions on my major wants, maybe one minor concession. And getting about half of my smaller wants. It helps my clarity to write these things here

That is the best, finding property that isn't advertised well. As someone else posted about (seeing a sign in the brush). Seems much harder if looking for cheap / land contract / land with septic or preferrably a liveable structure

Despite the economy, I find a huge number of sellers are unreasonable with their expectations. (Buyers are too! Because they can't afford any more. Or are investors trying to squeeze cash out.) Probably since I'm in touch with them when they are newer to trying to sell. After weeks or months, they would change their expectations.

 

[CatLady]

Oh, and I like the idea of putting my camper or other inside a nice garage. However I doubt I could afford the garage in addition to the camper. One property that sounds good so far has a 30x30 barn in very good shape.

Unfortunately no septic yet. And I have heard the horror stories. So sorry to hear of the problems (@Boeing). It seems even if you do research, there is a little risk involved about not being able to get utilities without paying lots. I am scared about putting in a septic. If it doesn't already have a perk test result. Surprised to hear that getting electric can cause a really big problem too

Motorhomes I like because I don't own a truck to haul a camper with. A friend will haul it when needed, but that means more time and waiting and gas money. However, good point, if I am going to let it sit around, then I could lose value if anything goes bad / have to put in some money and time for maintenance. It also seems like you can get really cheap old motorhomes. $1500-$2500. I haven't done a lot of comparison in detail yet, but it seems like you can get the same thing that a camper has, and NOT pay more.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I am considering all kinds of options. I am not a DIYer but I have friends so assembling could work.

If you want to keep your friends, you will not ask them to contribute every weekend and holiday for the next six months to your rural living project. You are severely underestimating the labor necessary to "assemble" even a small cabin, starting with a concrete foundation, sewers, wiring, plumbing and roofing. All of those things have to come apart unless you hire a contractor to move the whole building down the road in one piece. It would be less of an imposition to just ask them to pay your rent for the next year.

Since you are not a DIYer, don't even consider anything that is not habitable the day you sign the papers.

If there is no electricity, you are responsible for installing poles or trenches and wire. Typically the power company makes you hire them to do that, and they charge in the neighborhood of $10 - $50 a foot for the service. The same with the phone company. They will not hook up to anything they have not installed themselves.

 

[CatLady]

I don't mean friends who are not compensated in some way. People with skills.

Yeah, mostly looking at the places with existing septic and electric and so on. Pretty limiting however. Thankfully around here the electric company is pretty nice with costs. Yes, it really adds up though, even gravel for the driveway.

The cabin that I found with wiring, insulation, etc -- I am pretty sure they do move it as one piece. But those are so small. Also in my area we are not required to have concrete slab foundations (for trailers anyway, cabins probably are included). Can go the cheap route, and most people do. I would prefer one but gotta keep costs down.

This one property has a really rundown house that needs bulldozing...:confused3:

 

[CatLady]

I wish I could spend longer searching. A lot of good ones will pop up in the Spring won't they? People who don't want to move out or show the place while it's cold, and when it warms up they'll list their property. I could take more time if I'm willing to move things into storage and go through some other hassles.

Now that I think about how little I've found that was cheaper and available on contract, I guess I am going to have to settle more. If my one good lead pans out, I wouldn't want to miss out and have it taken by someone else. Hard to know where to draw the line.