Log and Timber Home Living September/Log Home Buyer's Guide 2025

IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, I was fortunate to visit our cover home while it was under construction. Even unfinished, the place was impressive. At that point, the exterior of the Pennsylvania Poconos hybrid was weathertight, the halflogs were applied and the stonework was stacked. Inside, however, it was still very much a work in progress, with barely more than the basic framework for the interior walls, which actually afforded us an unencumbered appreciation for the massive trusswork that was suspended above our heads. Accompanied by our national sales manager Mari Campbell and the marketing director for Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes (the company behind this masterpiece) Bobbi Landis, soon-to-be-homeowner Christine Nikles excitedly showed me around the job site, detailing with great enthusiasm all of the plans she had for…

LOVE THE LOOK OF A LOG HOME but wonder if there are more benefits than mere beauty? Learn the what else makes these wooden masterpieces irresistible at loghome.com/why-build-wood-homes. IF YOU HAVE A LOG, TIMBER OR HYBRID HOME, wood is clearly a priority for you. Visit timberhomeliving.com/special-wood-treatments to learn about a few of the applications and techniques that will punch up the panache of your home’s wood elements. WHETHER YOU’VE LIVED IN A COZY CABIN for years or are considering making the leap, maintenance is the key to ensuring your property withstands the test of time. Get a jump start on your to-do list with the essentials at cabinlife.com/preserving-maintaining-log-cabins. WHY WAIT UNTIL RETIREMENT to enjoy the home of your dreams? On our Youtube channel @logandtimberhomeliving, we find out how that question…

Living Big in a Little Footprint You could say this 1,331-squarefoot getaway was a long time coming. The owner’s ancestor purchased the property back in 1769. Today, 6-by-8-inch D-shaped (flat interior, rounded exterior) engineered logs come together in a cabin that makes the most of the hillside property, with wraparound porches and a custom patio featuring a fireplace and built-in hot tub to extend the living space. Home on the Range Perched on the edge of Montana’s Hebgen Lake, this classically Western cabin sources its style authentically; the lodgepole pine for the walls came from the lake region of Yellowstone Park (where they were predesignated for harvesting), and the hefty Douglas fir logs that support the roof were felled as hazard trees at a nearby ski resort. From the…

Shopping for land is more than just buying a piece of dirt. It sets the stage for every design and construction decision you will make afterward—not to mention that it will contribute to your lifestyle. It’s so essential to the process that one of the first questions you’ll be asked by log home providers you interview will be: Do you have land? Geographic location, topography and soil composition impact everything from excavation costs to the home’s layout, so knowing where you’ll build will help your rep help you achieve the home of your dreams. It’s ok if you don’t have land yet. These four questions will help you navigate the path toward the perfect piece of property. 1 What kind of lifestyle are you looking for? Proximity to activities and amenities…

IT’S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: What does a log home cost? If only it had a straightforward answer... Wood species, log size/diameter and how the logs are prepared are three factors that will play a significant role in how much you’ll pay for your log home. In our 2023 industry survey*, 37 percent of log home providers say the average cost of materials has been at or slightly below $100 per square foot for the past several years. A small cabin comprised of a slim, pine, milledlog package may only run in the neighborhood of $60,000 to $100,000. That said, there is a small number of providers who specialize in giant, handcrafted logs or species that are much harder to come by, and you can expect the cost to reflect…

UNLESS YOU ARE AMONG THE VERY LUCKY FEW, you’ll likely need to finance at least part of your log home project to be able to afford it. Even if you do have the wherewithal to fully fund it yourself, borrowing money can be an advantageous financial strategy. Whether you’re looking to secure a construction-to-permanent loan or a basic mortgage, successful qualification requires an examination of one’s finances, and a complex road to loan closing is common. It can be stressful. But by leveraging some wise advice you can reduce the stress and push the program along to the happy day when papers are signed and the deal is done. One of the best ways to begin is to choose an experienced lending professional who will serve as a trusted advisor—one…