Started New House

[Parttimer]

Here in Southern Mass we contend with 4' of frost protection, I doubt we would ever get close to that though. I just finished building an 32' x 40' cape with 5 bed rooms and I think all the fees for permits and such were around 1,500 dollars in total. That included my license to install my own septic system. PS It took me 14 months with the help of my Dad. When he wasn't in Florida. LOL oh yea I also had help with my tc-30 and loader and backhoe.
Real estate taxes here are 9.00 / 1,000.00 house evaluated at 380k
Dave

 

[saltman]

30 % of all people on welfare in the United States live in CA. Next to Texas we have the largest population of illegal immigrants (maybe #1) and we have a whole lot of liberals in control with a euro governor who spends and spends.

I try not to think about it too much for it takes years off my life and makes me angry and I feel even worse when a Canadian tells me he pays about what we do here!! We should unite with Canada and fight all those politicians!

Ok back to the house & tractor. It's a 990 and I bought it new 4 years ago, it's a great tractor and just right for what I use it for which is landscaping on the ranch, digging holes for fences and keeping my 3,000 foot road in order.

The house should be done in March, stained concrete inside, marble stone in the showers/ and silestone for the countertops. Solar and propane. The entire project should be under 250,000 which is inexpensive for here.

 

[mjncad]

The entire project should be under 250,000 which is inexpensive for here.

That is a bargain for California.

 

[saltman]

I think it was timing, the economy here is bad and I got a much better deal now than I would have gotten two years ago to build. I didn't include my "taxes" fees to build in that number that was just for the house, I also didn't include my solar.

Here are some photos I took tonight, the roofing is done other than some trim, the dry wall guys showed up today and the insulation was done yesterday. Still looking at about a month until move in.

 

[EddieWalker]

Great pictures. I love the setting and how the house fits in there. Amazing!!!

Eddie

 

[teg]

So how's the neighbors??? Looking really good...

 

[saltman]

The nearest neighbor is about a mile away then I have about a million plus acres behind me with only three neighbors living back there. Getting rather ani social after living with over 2 million people the past 16 near San Diego.

I envy you guys living in other states and Canada with so much open space. We are very limited here in Southern CA.

 

[Tractor Shopper]

Fantastic pictures, place looks terrific and in front of that hill just amazing. I didn't mean to upset anyone by asking my questions, we may not have the building permit fees that you have to content with and land tax may be simalar but I assure you that in our income tax, and hidden taxes on items like gas, oil, alcohol, etc. are very inflated. But on the other hand there is not one toll highway in my area and I do not pay 5 cents for health care which is major to me right now as I broke 2 vertabrae in my back 4 months ago and couldn't imagine what my hosiptal bills would have been.

I lived in Maine for a year when I was younger so I got a feel of what it was like to live in the US, and I really enjoyed it. But for two countries that are very simlar there is alot of differences. It comes down to where you want to live and the advantages of every place is different, but it comes down to what is important to you and where you are happy.

Again didn't want to ruffle any feathers talking tax because the man gets us all no matter where you live, maybe just some worst than others.

 

[saltman]

Tractor Shopper, thanks for the compliments.

I was born in Alaska and grew up in Washington State and have traveled through BC and Alberta, wonderful country and warm friendly people. I am not offended at all by tax talk so don't sweat it. My thinking always was that the US was cheaper than Canada & you paid higher taxes but had more public services. Now we pay higher taxes and get little to nothing in return because 20% Of our US population pays 95% of the taxes..our government spends spends and spends and fewer and fewer of us are paying taxes. No jobs, no money but they keep spending and raising taxes..

I have a plan, I am soon to go on the Obama Plan where I work very little and guess what.. pay little. If you can't beat um join them!

House should be done in Three weeks!

 

[Tractor Shopper]

No worries,

I actually live in the east coast of Canada but work towards the West in Alberta, Oil sands money is fantastic, not how I pictured my life right now flying 6000 miles every 2 weeks but for the time being I'm going to roll with the money. Saying that I can't even cash in lately as I'm recovering from 2 broken vertebra in my back from an ATV accident but should be back to myself in the next couple months. I can relate to the working hard and trying to make as much income for your family as you can although i dread being away from them, I can put them in a nicer home and they can have whatever they want, but on ethe other hand is missing that much time with your family worth it, we'll see.

Guess it comes down too I understand how you feel, work your rear end off all the time an sacirfice alot of your life just because your a good worker and want the best for your family but in the end are you much farther ahead of the bum that just floats along and seems to do the very best. Canada and US are still similar with people that abuse the system and reap the benefits. Anyhow don't want to get stuck on bad subjects, we live in the 2 greatest countries in the world and you must be very excited to move into the new place!

 

[saltman]

We both are lucky to live in great counties, and I feel blessed to have one home and to be building another!

Sometimes I need to ground myself and look at the big picture.

We had a big storm over the weekend and the road getting to my property was mudded up so bad that things were delayed a few days. Shooting for the 23rd for the texture on the walls and drywall mud to be done.

I'll post photos of my solar this weekend.

 

[saltman]

Mounted the solar panels on Friday. 2,000 watts enough to power the house for everything but heat and ac.

They finished the dry wall texture on Thursday and started painting this morning. Trim will be done early this week and more paint and then I am having the floors stained. Cabinets will be installed next week!

 

[mjncad]

Don't let Barbara Boxer see that hideously ugly solar panel, or she'll find a way to fine you.

 

[saltman]

mjncad "hidiously ugly" I disagree, I think the solar panels look good, not good enough to put them on the front (South Facing) roof but ok for the back of the house. They look much better than the over head power lines running into my house in town.

 

[mjncad]

Saltman:

Oops, I forgot to add a cheesy or sarcastic smile to my post. I don't find the panel ugly; but I'm sure Barbara Boxer would since she's opposing construction of a solar power plant in the Mojave. I guess she expects everyone to generate electricity with fart gas or some such thing.

 

[saltman]

Here is a quick update, the house is done except for the finish details. The final inspection is set for this Monday!!

Solar is up and running, making over 2,000 watts an hour and getting over 8 hours of full sun this time of year and gaining.

Lot's of staining and painting to do but those are things I don't mind.

 

[ultrarunner]

Any updates???

 

[Alan L.]

What I hate about CFLs is that by the time they are bright enough for me to see anything I'm done with that room. I call them Obama bulbs. I can see where you do what you gotta do though if you are dealing with expensive alternate energy.

House looks great. I like trees but your view is beautiful.

 

[Qapla]

I checked into the cost of converting my house to solar. Mine is about 2500 sq ft. Since I live in Florida, the amount of sunshine is not a problem (and we also have trees).

However, I discovered the cost of installing the solar was estimated to be $249,000 and would take 19.5 years to recover. At my age, that is a bit out of the question.

Solar and other alternative power needs to be much cheaper for it to become piratical and commonplace. The benefits of moving off the grid are not the problem, it is the cost of purchase and installation that stops most people from being able to get past the "that sounds interesting" point.

 

[ultrarunner]

I checked into the cost of converting my house to solar. Mine is about 2500 sq ft. Since I live in Florida, the amount of sunshine is not a problem (and we also have trees).

However, I discovered the cost of installing the solar was estimated to be $249,000 and would take 19.5 years to recover. At my age, that is a bit out of the question.

Solar and other alternative power needs to be much cheaper for it to become piratical and commonplace. The benefits of moving off the grid are not the problem, it is the cost of purchase and installation that stops most people from being able to get past the "that sounds interesting" point.

My 76 year old California neighbor installed a solar system last year... he has almost 50k into it... materials, wages for one helper and permits.

Hasn't had an electric bill since... now he's looking into buying an electric car because he produces extra power... his built his 3800 square foot home 20 years ago when he retired from the phone company