Wow, yea, $150K is a nice budget to work with. 

You should easily come in well below that if you build a LHBA butt & pass style home, with plenty of money left over for the "non-essentials" and "luxury items."  A 30x30 is an easy and affordable build, considering the fairly short log lengths. If you built it with a 3/4 second floor, (1/4 open to below) you'd have 1575 s.f.

I've budgeted $60K for my 35x35 and other folks have even come in well below that. 

Most money that goes into an expensive home is spent on the "fancies" and much of that is in the kitchen. So, if you stay away from imported granite countertops, stainless steel commercial appliances, and bathtubs hand carved from boulders, (you'll read about that one in the forums) and 100 inch plasma screen TVs, then building your own home can be very affordable.

Building LHBA style can be built even far less than you might even thought possible. (just in case you're picking up flak from the uninformed, that log homes are expensive and high maintenance) I strongly recommend that you and your wife take the class, and then draw a conclusion from that. I think you'll be pleasently surprised at what you'll learn.

Thanks to all for the great advice. I was beginning to wonder about the feasibility of doing this.
I think you guys have opened up a few more questions: When you guys are talking about having "plenty" of money left over for extras, what do you think the actual HOME can be built for? What kind of home are you talking about building? Kit or....?

I've seen several kits available, but I've heard/read they aren't that great. I dont want to buy a junk heap that will be rotten in a few years. I'm not opposed to treating the wood when necessary, I believe in preventative maintenance for my vehicles, and the same for pretty much everything else.

Again, your help is MUCH appreciated and I'll definately look into the class.

No, definitely NOT kits. Kits are not only expensive, (typically more than a standard stick framed home) but are also full of inherent problems. (which is where most of the "expensive and high maintenance" rumors originate) LHBA teaches true (whole) log home construction techniques which use the best of all features with minimal maintenance required and at minimal cost. Please read up in this general discussion forum and the main website at http://www.loghomebuilders.org if you haven't already. There is a wealth of information there, and probably that much again in the Member's section for those who have taken the class. (keep in mind that the website and this forum is no substitute for the class itself. I'd never recommend anyone try to build a home from the information from just the website and forum. The class is a key part of the equation)

It's impossible to quote what your home will cost. Too many variables/options. Much of it will come down to the amount of labor (we call it sweat-equity here) you put into it, and your ingenuity and determination of obtaining materials to build it. Fortunately, the class teaches much of this. Most folks find a balance between time/labor and money available, which ultimately determines the cost of their homes. I believe some folks have built for as little as $20K plus land, for a nice single story home.

Unfortunately, the only class location is in Monroe, WA, and probably always will be. I will say though, that the journey for me was well worth it. I do not exaggerate when I say it was (and still is) a life changing experience that was worth far more than the price of admission.

So, to give you some ideas, I'll list a few of my cost cutting plans which I may or may not use:

For a couple thousand, I can build my own sawmill and save thousands on dimensional lumber (and make higher quality lumber, like quarter-sawn floor boards)

Concrete countertops (don't laugh, Google it, and be amazed at what can be done)

Ultra affordable thermal mass/masonry heater (could possibly be built for free if you played your cards right)

Live on the property. DO NOT RENT if at all possible. More time and money can be applied to building your home, rather than making a landlord rich and constantly driving between the property and wherever you're renting. (besides, living in a trailer is a real incentive to getting that home built! :wink: )

Josh, Look at the home 2 gals built for 20k! That says it all. 8) http://www.loghomebuilders.org/sheri-debbies-log-home

That should set your britches on fire and get yur belly burning for some REAL loghome building! Even if you don't build it yourself you will still have a boatload of info (from the class) to know what to look out for... :wink: Kola

I agree with Rod. You probably would not be able to make your flight if it was going out on Sunday night anyway. The 2 hour security check in makes it harder to make flights on time. :x

I could not get any flights (made my reservations too late :evil: ) into Seattle, so I flew into Vancouver, BC and actually cost me less. I just rented a car and drove down to Seattle where my hotel was.

Once you realize this is what you want to do and the "juices" get flowing for taking the class, you WILL find a way to get there.

It was well worth the trip!!!! 8)

The_Truth

way to go Josh..

I am planning to fly out of Denver on a Friday afternoon..then drive around Washington (see some country) then bunker down for a good nites sleep...my return flight leaves monday morning, so I will have some time to rest up. I try to avoid stress at all costs and I want to be at my best to digest all the material at the class. Rod siad something about all the folks who left early to catch their flight...that is just crazy.
Lately there seems to be a lot of flight delays and the security checks are a pain in the rumplestiltskin. Pretty soon all passengers will be boarding planes in the buff and the planes will carry some goons dressed in SWAT gear...all for our "protection." :evil:

Anyone know where a good close motel is? (from Skips loghome).

peace, courage and freedom,
Kola

Hello jsf252 welcome. So do tell, does the company you work for making cast stone ever come up with "seconds" and what do they do with them?

Sparky

..is it hunker down..or bunker down?

..and thanks for the info Kyle!

kola

Well I'm officially signed up for the class (and paid). So now all I need is to get air fare. Unfortunately its gone up $50 since I checked last week.

Think I should wait and see if it goes down again?

Josh. BUY NOW!
I bought my ticket 3 weeks ago for the Apr 28th class for 210 smackers.
Usually you get some good prices if you buy within 4 weeks of your flight...but it sounds like it could go even higher with those fisher-guys heading up to Alaska...

got me a rental car too, Dodge charger...you know how that goes..they will be all out of Chargers and I will get a Yugo.

BTW "hunker-down" is correct..a bunker is where you might take refuge to hunker-down.
..therefore you could hunker in the bunker.

here in Colorado when most of us pronounce the word cement, we say CEE' ment and not sah-ment'...and we say "britches" alot and "dang".
"you-betcha" is popular too.

YOU betcha, :wink:
kola

Yeah I checked the air fare about a week ago and it was $244 (round trip) from Atlanta - Seattle. I checked yesterday and it was $305 for garbage tickets that put me back in Atlanta 2:30am Tuesday morning (I have to work Tuesday). In order for me to get in by a decent hour I have to spend $350+ (todays price).

Who else is signed up for this class?

What time are you flying in/out?

I just bought the tickets, and I arrive ~11:00am Friday, and Leave out 6:10am Monday.