Off Topic
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 0
From: VA
Ok. I know I'm younger than most everyone here, but my family owns a construction business and we do general contracting and home building.
If you want a house a specific way you need to have it built to your spec and not compromise. It might cost more and it might take longer, but you will have a WAY nicer finished product when you are done. Old houses can be nightmares. Especially if you find asbestos.
I already have a plan laid out for myself.
Once I'm out of college and I'm a civil engineer I'll invest in a decent sized chunk of land. I won't have any major responsibilities to anyone except paying the mortgage on that 30-40 acres. Eventually when I'm ready to build/buy a house I can either build on that land or sell that land and buy a house because by that time it will have appreciated in value.
In the meanwhile I'd have it for wheeling or hunting.
If you want a house a specific way you need to have it built to your spec and not compromise. It might cost more and it might take longer, but you will have a WAY nicer finished product when you are done. Old houses can be nightmares. Especially if you find asbestos.
I already have a plan laid out for myself.
Once I'm out of college and I'm a civil engineer I'll invest in a decent sized chunk of land. I won't have any major responsibilities to anyone except paying the mortgage on that 30-40 acres. Eventually when I'm ready to build/buy a house I can either build on that land or sell that land and buy a house because by that time it will have appreciated in value.
In the meanwhile I'd have it for wheeling or hunting.
Not a liberal...
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,635
Likes: 4
From: Cut & Shoot, Texas
Nope, don't see it too much. We used to have snow in California but in the ten years we have been in Texas we have only seen snow twice. We are loving this!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2
From: Wallingford, CT
Yea I know. The economy is in the crapper now, but if you look at land prices now as compared to land prices in the 60s it's incredible. A 2 acre building lot in the 60s was $5,000 or so. Before the economy went in the crapper they were somewhere between 150k and 250k depending on location and how much of the 2 acres was usable.
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
I couldnt agree with ya more here. We have been looking at house plans, and rtms for quite awhile now, and sandi keeps asking me if I like this one or that one, and sometimes i cant really see a damn difference between them.
SOMETIMES you can find a good quality builder, but then it seems like they are charging around 50 dollars a square foot MORE then a "regular" builder.
Least that is how i find it up here right now.
SOMETIMES you can find a good quality builder, but then it seems like they are charging around 50 dollars a square foot MORE then a "regular" builder.
Least that is how i find it up here right now.
Ok. I know I'm younger than most everyone here, but my family owns a construction business and we do general contracting and home building.
If you want a house a specific way you need to have it built to your spec and not compromise. It might cost more and it might take longer, but you will have a WAY nicer finished product when you are done. Old houses can be nightmares. Especially if you find asbestos.
I already have a plan laid out for myself.
Once I'm out of college and I'm a civil engineer I'll invest in a decent sized chunk of land. I won't have any major responsibilities to anyone except paying the mortgage on that 30-40 acres. Eventually when I'm ready to build/buy a house I can either build on that land or sell that land and buy a house because by that time it will have appreciated in value.
In the meanwhile I'd have it for wheeling or hunting.
If you want a house a specific way you need to have it built to your spec and not compromise. It might cost more and it might take longer, but you will have a WAY nicer finished product when you are done. Old houses can be nightmares. Especially if you find asbestos.
I already have a plan laid out for myself.
Once I'm out of college and I'm a civil engineer I'll invest in a decent sized chunk of land. I won't have any major responsibilities to anyone except paying the mortgage on that 30-40 acres. Eventually when I'm ready to build/buy a house I can either build on that land or sell that land and buy a house because by that time it will have appreciated in value.
In the meanwhile I'd have it for wheeling or hunting.
If I were going to go all out like that and pay to have a house built, I'd do it the way I wanted it...including a double sided fireplace between the kitchen and living room. BOO-YAH.
Thats kind of a tricky situation. I dont think most mortgage companies wouldnt like the idea of someones house on someone elses land if it was foreclosed on. Ive never bought a house and they cant go over ever possible situation in class. Ill see what I can dig up for ya. Im sure the other guys can tell you what they did a lot quicker!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2
From: Wallingford, CT
I'm only 16. However I've been around the family business that I described earlier since I could walk. I drove my first PowerStroke solo when I was 8. And yes it was a 7.3L just an old style.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 0
From: VA
You shouldn't have told me you have a degree in this $h*t, because now I'm gonna ask you questions..
How does a process like that happen? Would I buy the land, and try and estimate the cost of the build and wrap it up into that same mortgage? Or would it be two separate loans?
I thought that you couldn't build on land you didn't outright own. My thought being that if you foreclosed on the property, you'd owe both the builder AND the landowner, and how would that mess get sorted out?
How does a process like that happen? Would I buy the land, and try and estimate the cost of the build and wrap it up into that same mortgage? Or would it be two separate loans?
I thought that you couldn't build on land you didn't outright own. My thought being that if you foreclosed on the property, you'd owe both the builder AND the landowner, and how would that mess get sorted out?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
There are good and bad points about the older homes - especially ones that are more than a century old. Usually built better, handcrafted details, hardier materials, one of a kind styling are just some things off the top of my head for pros. Cons: Electrical issues can be a problem: wiring not up to current loads of modern appliances like microwaves, electric dryers, glass fuses verses breakers, aluminum wiring etc (unless it was updated). Lead paint, questionable updates and renovations from previous owners and so forth. Just like anything else, use your judgement on what you see, get some expert opinions on the house and research all you can. Just my 2 pennies.
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Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
Makes me feel old. lol
Dangit Christopher. Stop making so much damn sense.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
Likes: 2
From: Wallingford, CT
Everyone in my class thinks I'm weird since I think so far ahead and I can do all sorts of things like drive a truck with a 53' dry van.
Pretty much everywhere I look I can learn something. My "grandpa" (not by blood, but you know what I mean) owns a dairy farm and I've learned a lot from him and helping him out as well. The main thing I learned is to appreciate any job that is better than unloading hay for 7 bucks an hour.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 0
From: VA
Never drove a combine...but an old F100. I was about 8 or so and hit a neighbors old hound dog. We paid for the ER service but my father told the owner he wasnt paying for anything else. He took us to court...I still drove like there was no tomorrow because I was on my property and we didnt pay another cent. Judge actually awarded our ER payment back to us. Good ol PG county and their leash law....
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
Sorry, I tend to analyze stuff too much. Funny, if you notice the word **** in analyze. 
I do handyman work and I've seen lots of stuff - good and bad - done to homes. Old ones have lots of charm but come with issues. I worked on a house in the Denver City Park area a few years back and it was a nightmare. It was built in the 20's and I help renovate if for a buddy. It was cool when we were done but too much work in my opinion. Then again, if you have the skills, the patience and the desire, you can make a mansion out of a shack. I have a couple of acres in South Park and plan on building a year-round log cabin on it someday. I shutter at the cost and scope of the project but plan on having a builder do the shell, utilities and I will finish the rest myself.
I do handyman work and I've seen lots of stuff - good and bad - done to homes. Old ones have lots of charm but come with issues. I worked on a house in the Denver City Park area a few years back and it was a nightmare. It was built in the 20's and I help renovate if for a buddy. It was cool when we were done but too much work in my opinion. Then again, if you have the skills, the patience and the desire, you can make a mansion out of a shack. I have a couple of acres in South Park and plan on building a year-round log cabin on it someday. I shutter at the cost and scope of the project but plan on having a builder do the shell, utilities and I will finish the rest myself.