Does anyone else think I'm crazy?!?

Fire-Man · #21 01/31/15, 08:24 AM

My Wife and I (almost 60) built a 1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath 992sqft, 3 1/2 years ago renting out our 2200sqft 4 bedroom. We are very happy------for some reason no one ask us if they can come live with us for a while---LOL.

BlackFeather · #22 01/31/15, 08:26 AM

As mentioned, home 1 may have high taxes, may cost a lot to heat, and the logs may need to be maintained more.

Home 2, My home was built in 1833, it is a barn frame house. So boards are nailed on the outside for a wall, and plaster is spread over the boards on the inside. No insulation and nowhere to put it. So it is cold in the winter and I have to burn more fuel than a well insulated one. Since barn frame was popular then, check and see what the house you want to buy is. Second point, no matter what you do to the house it will always be an old house, no matter how much you fix it up it will still not look new. Unless there is an emotional reason to buy it, you might want to beware. (For me our family bought the house in 1865 so it is part of our history so I have no desire to move.)

mmoetc · #23 01/31/15, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

Good question, Snowfan. I'll have to check into that.

Harry, I totally agree. That's one reason I'm trying to find someplace with reasonable property taxes. I looked at one place where it was $7K a year!!! That's ridiculous around here. The 1835 house tax is about $900 a year.

Taxes will never go down and you will always have to pay them. That's a huge consideration for me in my search.

Remember, as you add improvements to that old house you add value. As you add a barn, storage building, music studio you add value. All that added value adds taxes. Look at what the tax bill will be and then compare.

cc-rider · #24 01/31/15, 08:50 AM

Blackfeather, I agree. I think house #2 is for more of an emotional reason. It "feels" like where I grew up.

Have you ever heard the song by Wil Maring? (Probably not, pretty obscure singer outside of the Americana world). She has a beautiful song called "Keeper of the Farm" that just tugs on me.

"Red and golden on the farmhouse wall
The sun shone in to show the place that I knew all along,
The place that needed me, the place that I'd call home,
The place that I knew I belonged.

They came 300 years ago to rest beneath this tree.
They built a home, just like the home they left across the sea.
Three generations, and now it's come to me.
I am the Keeper of the Farm.

Weathered wood against the bright blue sky.
The whites just aren't as white now as they were in Grandpa's time.
But I've got the power, and I hope I've got the time...
I am the Keeper of the Farm.

Have you ever stopped to wonder, how why its up to me
To care for this museum from another family?
Tireless and faithful since the day fate spoke to me...
I am the Keeper of the Farm.

Chorus
I am the Keeper of the Farm.
I am the holder of its history.
There's nothing here to do that can't be done with two strong arms,
I am the Keeper of the Farm.

Oh! They have a youtube of that song now. Listen to it. I'm sure you will love it... Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin Keeper of the Farm

bolophonic · #25 01/31/15, 01:09 PM

My wife and I just finished up a farmhouse renovation project. It took us a year and a half to modernize the place. Our house was built in 1911 and renovated a few times from the 50's through the 80's. You can expect a full renovation to cost at least $100,000 cash, and that is IF you are able to get through the demolition process without unearthing some sort of environmental hazard (lead, asbestos, etc.) We were fortunate to be able to complete our project without hitting any major hitches and we were able to do a lot of the work ourselves. Even with a full insulation job, we are still finding and plugging drafts and it will be expensive to heat until we have our wood stove installed in a few weeks.

am1too · #26 01/31/15, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

If I thought I was capable, I'd build something on the smaller side, very well insulated. On a larger piece of land. With a big barn to store my "stuff". One of the problems is that I love "quirky" and you can't build that. You can only find it accidentally, it seems.

My fear is that I'm not capable of building any longer. And truthfully, if I have to hire someone, it probably costs more to start from scratch with a well, septic, driveway, permits, outbuildings, and then finally building a house, than it would be to buy an older one and re-do it.

My dream had been to build in the hills of southern Ohio (where you can see Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia around you). I bought 112 acres there in the Wayne National Forest and had a small cabin built by the amish. It was vandalized four times in the first year alone. The last time, they totally wiped me out...right down to the bedding and toilet paper! Even used my trailer to haul it all away. Decided I wasn't retiring there since I hope to travel a lot. Can't trust stuff to be there when I get back! Unless I find other like-minded individuals who want to build beside me in exchange for keeping an eye on my property??? LOL

I would say if you really want to travel a lot, rent an apartment in the city. Country living is only for those who wish to satay home.

cc-rider · #27 01/31/15, 07:11 PM

Am1too....really??? I would guess that 90% of the people on this board would disagree with that statement. Or you misunderstood what I was saying. Are you saying that everyone that goes away for a weekend (to visit grandchildren, to go snowmobiling, or whatever) should just get an apartment in town because they aren't fit to live in the country since they don't want to stay home?

What about over-the-road truck drivers who come home a couple days a week? Should they be required to live in an apartment in town, too? In my case, once I retire from my "day job", I will still have my "weekend" job...which is teaching or performing at music festivals, farmer's markets, and fairs...all of which I spend the weekend. None of this so far has stopped me from all of my homesteading duties....although it takes me longer since I can only devote a few hours a day to it. Does that make me unfit for country living?? I'll bet that less than 5% of the people on this board make a living ENTIRELY on the homestead...and they probably still have to leave it occasionally to sell product, etc.

AnnieinBC · #28 02/01/15, 11:36 AM

Home #1: Log homes need a lot of maintenance. There are a LOT of log homes in our area. As someone pointed out to me, people do buy a log home, but have they ever moved and bought another log home? No, don't know anyone who has done that.

Log homes are really cool, but they are a bear to maintain. And if it is log on the inside walls, that is a lot of dust collecting areas.

Home #2: Sounds like it could be wonderful, but a lot of work. I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean you won't.

Why not build a new, smaller place as has been suggested? Within 10 years, that's what I'm pushing for. We have no need for our 3000 sq ft house, and why clean unneeded space? I'd rather be in the garden

Good luck!

cruffleluficus · #29 02/01/15, 10:34 PM

Just a couple thoughts based on what I've picked up over the last few years. I'm in NWO now and thinking about moving a little further south (a couple counties away) in a few years. The house I'm in now is roughly 2200 sq ft (finished basement) on just under 1 1/2 acres. I do love the house, raised my kids here and all, but it's way more house than I need and more than I really want to have to clean and keep up. I only have a small shed and a 1 car garage so I'm lacking in working space also. So, the goal for my next place is much less house and more property and out buildings.
That being said, the cabin would be out just because without a big family to help out, it's too much house to keep up with.
House 2 would be a maybe because I love the old farm houses, but you may have to budget for insulation, updating windows, electric, etc.
Unless you're in a hurry, you might want to wait till spring when more homes come on the market. I've seen several in the last couple years a little west of where you're looking with acreage and barn(s) in the 150k range.

cc-rider · #30 02/01/15, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruffleluficus

Just a couple thoughts based on what I've picked up over the last few years. I'm in NWO now and thinking about moving a little further south (a couple counties away) in a few years.

What counties are you looking in? Maybe I can keep my eyes open for you, too.

I'm really in no hurry to find something, other than I'd love to just settle down and quit looking. I really need to work another 3 years - probably right where I'm at - so I can't move until then. We currently have a weekend house in the Akron area near DH's family. And two houses here in NWO since we just got married and each had a home. And the land we bought in Gallia county thinking we'd retire there, and then changing our minds. I'm really stressed about having so many properties to take care of, and I'd rather have ONE that I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life. But if it takes another few years to find it, so be it. I'm just afraid I'll miss it if I don't keep looking NOW, though. Make sense? Maybe only to me. LOL

ChristieAcres · #31 02/01/15, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnieinBC

Home #1: Log homes need a lot of maintenance. There are a LOT of log homes in our area. As someone pointed out to me, people do buy a log home, but have they ever moved and bought another log home? No, don't know anyone who has done that.

Log homes are really cool, but they are a bear to maintain. And if it is log on the inside walls, that is a lot of dust collecting areas.

Home #2: Sounds like it could be wonderful, but a lot of work. I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean you won't.

Why not build a new, smaller place as has been suggested? Within 10 years, that's what I'm pushing for. We have no need for our 3000 sq ft house, and why clean unneeded space? I'd rather be in the garden

Good luck!

Sure wouldn't want to deal with a 3,000 sq foot home, either

DH built a three story log home (30) years ago, sold it after living in it for (10) years. We are planning to build a log home here. The method of construction and original finish choice has everything to do with the maintenance required (our choice is butt and pass).

Jennifer L. · #32 02/02/15, 03:16 PM

I'd go with the newer place, but I'd make sure I could keep large portions of it unheated in the wintertime to save on heating costs if I wanted to. Also, I would really need it to BE a home that would last if it came to health issues. Ground floor master, easy access without a huge number of stairs to get in and out of the house, etc. Just makes sense if you are talking retirement home. The LAST thing I'd want to be doing if I had ongoing health issues would be looking for a new home and trying to move.

BTW, the "rec room" is larger than my entire house!

Get the house that works for you long term, with your "fun stuff room or outbuildings" already in place. I think you would be happier.

CountryMom22 · #33 02/02/15, 07:30 PM

If your not ready to move now, I would wait and start looking when you are closer to being ready to move. In the meantime, why not start trying to sell the other properties that you own to help lessen your stress levels. If you can sell those properties and invest/save the money, maybe by the time you are ready to start looking, you'll be able to buy something better suited to what you need long term, like maybe an older home that has already been renovated/updated fairly recently. Or be able to pay cash/have a smaller mortgage thus making you more financially secure.

By waiting to start your search you might also find a different area to look in. Playing the devil's advocate here, you might also buy a house now and miss out on something that you would like even more! Just sayin'!

Best of luck with whatever you decide!
Sue

reubenT · #34 02/03/15, 11:33 PM

I'd get me land lotsa land and forget the house. move into a tent until i got some little warm tidbit of a building put up to survive in. But a nice big barn would have to come first. But you aren't me and I aren't you so do what you want to.

mnn2501 · #35 02/04/15, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

What would YOUR choice be? Would it be different if it wasn't a retirement home and you weren't as capable of remodeling, etc.?

'weren't as capable of remodeling' for this reason I would lean towards #1