Need a house on a tiny budget. Go with a barn builder??

[Stringer]

Hi,

I need a home on a rediculously small budget (~25-40k), trying to avoid getting a mobile. Will be happy with just a "shell", and work on interior over time. Local barn builder tells me "a 24'x40' building with concrete floor, double bubble reflective insulated roof and walls, 8 windows, 2 doors and 24" overhangs and soffits would run $29,000. installed". And that it is engineered to 140MPH windloads. Should I look into this further? Any other conceivable options? Thanks.

 

[smstonypoint]

Hi,

I need a home on a rediculously small budget (~25-40k), trying to avoid getting a mobile. Will be happy with just a "shell", and work on interior over time. Local barn builder tells me "a 24'x40' building with concrete floor, double bubble reflective insulated roof and walls, 8 windows, 2 doors and 24" overhangs and soffits would run $29,000. installed". And that it is engineered to 140MPH windloads. Should I look into this further? Any other conceivable options? Thanks.

You might want to talk to your local building inspector about whether you can get a certificate of occupancy.

Steve

 

[crazyal]

Are you able to do the work yourself or part of it? What sort of zoning is in your area? Do you have town water or will you need to drill a well? Is power close by or can you live without it?

Around me the only zoning is septic but if you plan on living in it and have water running to it you need a state approved septic system. Depending on the land and if you have your own equipment that could set you back anywhere from a few grand to $20k. An option could be to build the barn then buy a used camper and park it inside of it. As you get more money you can do things to the barn to get to a point where it's livable.

 

[sweettractors]

Hi,

I need a home on a rediculously small budget (~25-40k), trying to avoid getting a mobile. Will be happy with just a "shell", and work on interior over time. Local barn builder tells me "a 24'x40' building with concrete floor, double bubble reflective insulated roof and walls, 8 windows, 2 doors and 24" overhangs and soffits would run $29,000. installed". And that it is engineered to 140MPH windloads. Should I look into this further? Any other conceivable options? Thanks.

Build it as a shop/garage with a bathroom. Ken Sweet

 

[Stringer]

Are you able to do the work yourself or part of it? What sort of zoning is in your area? Do you have town water or will you need to drill a well? Is power close by or can you live without it?

Probably couldn't do much myself, no experience at all. It's zoned A-1 Agricultural. I am having a new 4" submursible well installed. Septic in place. Power pole on property. Impact fees paid.

 

[Dmace]

Go modular, you can get some pretty nice double wide and even 2-floor ranch style homes for under $50k delivered.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I know of several people that built a basement, lived in it and then built the house on top. some of them put a tar paper type roof on the first deck as a temporary roof, others put the shell up and a roof on, then lived in the basement. In my area, to get occupancy you need one bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen. If your homeless, you can pretty much squat on anybody's land in a tent and they won't throw you off. However, if you try to live in a camper on your own land while you build, they will throw you off. go figure.

 

[crazyal]

Probably couldn't do much myself, no experience at all. It's zoned A-1 Agricultural. I am having a new 4" submursible well installed. Septic in place. Power pole on property. Impact fees paid.

So you have a start then. I would take Dmace's advice and look at some modular homes and get some prices. In your area are there any restrictions to building a homestead on land zoned A-1 Ag? The barn may not be a bad idea but if you can't do work to finish it up then you'll either just learn to live with it half done or have to deal with people doing upgrades as you can afford them. It gets old having to spend saved money over and over again doing upgrades with little left over for other stuff, but that's my opinion.

 

[kebo]

The knock with a modular is that if the owner decides to sell it after he eventually builds a permanent home to take it's place, he will take a beating. They typically do not hold resale value well. At least around here they don't hold up too well, guess maybe because there are so many of them?? Now if he decided to keep it for one of the kids to move into later on, or the inlaws/guest house that would be a good move. If you're going to get a "mobile" type home, then just go ahead bite the bullet and get a cheap, used one. I know, it will not help you with any style points, but when/if you go to sell it, you won't have much in it to lose. jmho.....

 

[204saskman]

Maybe you should look for an older home that some one is wanting to move off there property. Lots of people do it up here in canada. Some timesa house can be had for 1000 bucks plus moving which is were the cost adds up. Just a thought for ya.