Finding a Farm House

[podzie]

How do you fellas think would be a way to locate an old house to be moved onto a rural property?

We have a small place in Austin County, Texas and spend a few days there each week. Up until now, we've been staying in a Travel Trailer that I just parked up under the barn shed.

The kids are getting older now and kinda need their independance, and it's true the camper does get a little tight.

Anyway, it seems that when you're not looking, the old farm houses are everywhere, but when you are, you can't find one for sale.

Anybody know of any pubication of listings?

Thanks guys!

 

[schmism]

in my area many arnt listed with any agency...

your best bet is to spend hrs driveing the back roads and talking with people in the little hole in the wall "resterants" .

 

[EddieWalker]

I've seen houses for sale that the owner wants moved in the newspaper classifieds and the free classifieds papers. They come and go all the time, but most are not worth the cost of moving them.

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

 

[HappyCPE]

Eddie is right - if you are doing this to save $ forget it. If you have a soft spot for antique houses, though, you might want to consider contacting house movers. They hear of buildings and could hook you up. I worked with a mover on Long Island who actually supplemented his income by moving houses to his yard in lieu of demolishing them; at any given time he had 5-10 buildings he would sell you for 10-25 grand a pop. Also contact some of the local historical societies. They actively seek out old properties and can help make owners connect with you. Of course a hard-core preservationist would be appalled at the prospect of moving a building but the pragmatic folks would be happy to help.

 

[3RRL]

Seems to me the best way is like you said...
Anyway, it seems that when you're not looking, the old farm houses are everywhere, but when you are, you can't find one for sale.

Just stop looking and they'll start popping up again. I see lots of them just driving around the countryside. But non of them that are specifically for moving the house off. There were several homes moved to lots on the way up to my property. Only one of them has been finished and it looks pretty good. All the others are being worked on and it seems it's taking forever to "restore" them.

I think Eddie is right. You could look at the pre-fabbed homes too. Rustic but with modern amenities.

 

[MikeD74T]

Place a house wanted ad in a local paper with your specifications. Sometimes people want to move & just need motivation. Contact the bigger developers in the area. They ofter buy large parcels & remove the existing buildings & build all new ones. I got a 50x100 barn for free that way. MikeD74T

 

[EddieWalker]

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

 

[mikim]

Check out a place on 290 going into Giddings - they build little houses for weekend places .... no idea of $$ or anything -- just saw them driving by. I think they build then move to the site.

 

[JazzDad]

Kendall county to Austin county would be an expensive move, what with the routes they sometimes have to navigate; avoiding bridges (can't fit under, too much weight to go over), raising or removing power lines, police escorts, etc. You will want to find a house as close to your place as possible.

 

[podzie]

Now that you say that, I do remember seeing that business on the way to Austin from Brenham.

Original idea of the farm was to just build out a 20x40 living quarter in the barn. I just drove through Bellville not long ago and saw a local Realty Company had moved an old farm house into town to use it as an office on Main Street and Man, I tell you, it really is beautiful.

You guys are probably right, it just probably won't be a good financial thing to do. I just can't help but dream about sipping coffee on an old porch and watching my kids wrestle in the grass.

Thanks for all the input!

 

[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.