Log and Timber Home Living Log Annual Buyers Guide 2020

Building a log home of your own is a very exciting prospect, but if you’re like most people about to take the leap into log home ownership, you have a lot of questions: What do you want your home to look like? Do you want one level or two? How many square feet does your family need? Do you want round logs or square? How do you select a company to provide these logs, and who will help you design and assemble them into an actual house? The magazine you hold in your hands will help you solve these riddles. While we can’t make your choices for you (nor would you want us to), we can advise you about what key points you should consider, as well as how to…

The location, topography and composition of the site on which you plan to build will have a huge impact on everything to come, from excavation costs to the design and orientation of the house itself. This is why before you start to contact log home designers, producers and builders in earnest, it’s vital to know where your home will be. (One of the first questions any log home pro will ask you is, “Do you have land?”) If you don’t have property yet, don’t fret. Use these handy guidelines to narrow the field as you shop around. 1 Live Where Your Passions Lie As you start the log home planning process, your lifestyle should play a key role in where you build. Select a region close to the activities you…

An informed appraiser is the key to getting a fair market valuation of your log home. Many appraisers, even those with years of experience, aren’t familiar with log home construction and may not know how to fairly estimate a log home’s resale value. If you find yourself in need of an appraisal, either to finance an existing log home or to qualify for a construction loan, you’ll find helpful information in “How to Appraise Log Homes.” This free, 13-page booklet, written by log home construction expert Jim Cooper, is designed to help appraisers and lenders accurately determine the value of log and timber homes by familiarizing them with the distinguishing characteristics of these custom wood structures, including styles, construction, cost variables, market trends and points of comparison with other types…

When you decide to build a new log home rather than purchase an existing house, a once-(maybe twice)-in-a lifetime adventure begins. While you enjoy distinct advantages with custom construction, you also assume a measure of risk. True, while you control the design, materials, finishes and landscaping, among other elements, you must also trust your log home producer, builder and a host other trade professionals to realize your vision. You also commit to a process that may take six months to a year to complete. If you do your due diligence, odds are everything will work out according to plan, but one area where you won’t want to leave anything to chance is in the financing of your custom log home. For most, financing starts with a construction loan, and then…

Some log home buyers are in a position to finance construction themselves, which is great! But if you’re like most, you’re going to need to borrow money for the build. A short-term construction loan operates a little differently than the standard mortgage most people are familiar with. The construction loan pays for the materials and labor needed to build your home. These loans are made for periods from six to 18 months and have higher interest rates than mortgage loans because, as far as banks are concerned, they carry more risk. Lenders will want at least a 20 percent deposit on a construction loan because of that risk. Typically, you pay only the interest until the project is completed and then the mortgage takes over (assuming you have a construction-to-permanent…

Every log home is unique — even if you start with a stock floor plan. From the log diameter and profile you select to the stain shade to the cabinetry, almost every log home is a custom home. So, answering the “What does a log home cost?” is nearly impossible. It all depends on your budget and your selections. But we can help you plan. According to lenders, builders and manufacturers in the log homes industry, a historical analysis of their loans for log home buyers reveals average percentages devoted to specific materials and labor costs. Use these percentages to allocate your budget. A Interior Staining/Sealing/Painting 2% B Fireplace/Flue/Finish 2% HVAC Rough In 3% HVAC Finish Units Set 1% Electrical Rough In 2% C Interior Doors 2% D Finished Carpets & Hardwood Floors 3%…