Finding a Farm House

[podzie]

TexasBid has one that just showed up today. http://www.texasbid.com/auction/ItemDetail.aspx?itemid=6969

It says "(BISD100) Home to be moved or for salvage for Boerne ISD" and looks like an older, turn of the century home with allot of character. The current bid as of this morning, 7:30am, Firday the 13th, is $18,350 with 62 bids. There is 14 days to go on the auction.

The house is located at 308 Live Oak St., Boerne, TX, 78006

Eddie

Thanks so much, Eddie!

This is EXACTLY what I would want....but yeah, that's a LOT of geography between Boerne and Austin County.

 

[CharlieTR]

There is a piece of land near Bonham Texas, I forget the road it is on.
There always seems to be a handfull of old small to small-medium sized houses on those moving "rails" and dollies. I am not sure if they are for sale?
I guess so, but I never saw a sign.

I know it might be a rare event, but if you have the time to wait look for a lake going in somewhere. The state will be buying the land and flooding all kinds of houses that might go for cheap. There is Lake Ralph Hall going in in Ladonia, but that is around 5 years from now. Maybe people collect houses from lake sites?

 

[riptides]

If you are doing this for a cheap house, you might want to rethink this. The only real advantage to moving a house is sentimental reasons. Financialy, you can build new for less when you consider what it takes to move it, prep the land for it and then get it rebuilt.

Eddie

HeeHaw.

We are in the middle years of a five year, farm restoration project. Three out of five contractors told us they would demolish our house and start from scratch.

Well, that did not happen. Since the SO was on site and had cheap labor on hand (me, myself and I) teamed together and did whatever it took for dream fufillment.

Yes, one can build a new house. but I feel something when one adds to an established 100+ year old residency.

They dont make wood like that anymore, comes to mind.

Choose carefully and you may wind up with something truely spectacular and unique.

-Mike Z.

 

[California]

One way to hear about abandoned tractors behind barns, and in this case old houses ready for demolition, is to ask the postman and the propane delivery driver. Those guys visit every property in the region, and probably know it better than anyone. This should locate more houses than just what you see advertised.

But listen to the guys who say it isn't worth it. I've been patching stuff on this simple 1910?? farmhouse ever since helping Dad 50 years ago and I'm losing the battle. Go to open a window, the frame comes off in your hands. Go under the house, and find the gophers have undermined another pier block. Every single thing you look at needs attention and keeping it going is far more labor-intensive than a house that was built in modern times. There's usually a good reason why those houses to be moved are no longer in use.

 

[mikim]

podzie - building out living quarters in the barn is what I'm doing .. almost done -- 16 x 30 - less than $10,000 total. That includes septic system, electric, cabinets, insulation,-- everything but water. "the plan" is to live in it while having a house built after retirement - in 29 months.

 

[podzie]

The postman idea sure does make a lot of sense....

Mike,

Does that $10k include the floor? Seems like that's where it gets kinda cost prohibitive for me. I currently just have a coliche base for the floor on my pole barn (wood post barn).

I could build a wood floor myself, and might have to. Anymore if you want a slab this way, you're competing with the I-10 reconstruction for concrete....the prices are out of sight.

 

[mikim]

The "barn" is actually a new metal building I had put up last year - and yeah the concrete was outrageous. I think the biggest expense so far though was the electric. Copper is the new gold. I built the cabinets from construction grade 1x4s and cd plywood, and the walls are the cheapest paneling we could find - ~$10 a sheet -- so that gives you an idea of what it is -- nothing fancy at all - just something to keep us out of the rain for a few months. And serve us on weekends in the meantime. But no - the $10k does not include the floor. We did spend $400 to stain it though.

 

[txdon]

Podzie, we drove through Sealy three nights ago and saw a beautiful old house for sale to be moved. it was on HWY 36 north of I10. Was this the house moved to Bellville or is this another house to be moved? The house was 2 story, white and was still there Tuesday night with a big sign on it "For sale - to be moved". I would love to have that home on my hill, but Austin county is a bit far to move a house from that size.

The place in Giddings on Hwy290 will build your house on their property and move it to yours. They also move older homes, contacting them would be a good start: C. W. Hale house moving Co.- just google for address and phone.

 

[podzie]

You guys are the best!

TXDon, I'll drive through Sealy today. Thanks so much for the info. I believe they're gonna widen 36 between Bellville and Sealy, so plenty of those old houses will become Eminent Domain. I guess it's kinda sad really, but hopefully the state will pay them a good penny.

Had another fella recommend the Giddings company to me when I was in the pasture yesterday. I may just take me a drive this evening....still gotta do what's right by the family, financially, so I'll probably just build out the barn....just never know what God's plan is.

Have a great weekend Boys!

 

[ToadHill]

Check with your local modular home dealer. I got a repossessed 2000 sq. ft. modular 4 years ago for 19K and that included them transorting and setting it up. Dealer told me they get several repo's each year.