sould I buy this property?

05/11/2009 - 07:03
tgb3's picture
Posts: 21
Joined: 2008-06-19

Hello everyone.
I am going on vacation next month and will be checking out this 40ac property I have been watching for the last few months. It has 20ac of pine planted approx 30+ years ago, is in southwestern KY, and the owner states the trees are about 3' around at chest high. This would make the logs less than 12" thick after the bark is peeled. (36/3.14=11.46")<---I think thats right? I have seen the 12" number used alot but also know that southern KY doesn't get as cold as where I am now (Nebraska). Would 10" be fine to use structurally speaking? I would be building 1-1/2 story only.
I plan on attending the class next year with my son who will be 16 by then. I know the advice is to take the class before getting the property--but if the trees are good and I can use them for my house logs then it should be a good deal. $69,000 for 40ac in rural southwestern KY. There are no restrictions--but we all know what that means--will look into it while we are there.
Just for a little background info, I am an RN and my wife is an LPN so we can live out where the land is cheap, far away from the big cities.:-)
Any comments or advice welcome---PLEASE.
Thanks,
Tom
Here is a pic of the pines---nothing to use as a size referance though.

woods.jpg


Comments

05/11/2009 - 12:40
hemlock77's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 648
Joined: 2006-03-02
land

Thare are many variables to consider when it comes to choosing a building site. Based on info given, assuming 1" taper per 10 ft you tips that will be less than 9" on a 35' log. My brother lives in Omaha NE, I have been out his place in the winter a few times, It gets pretty cold there. So if you are looking at simular temps, personaly I would be searching for logs that can provide more thermal mass than those.  One thing you will have to consider is what it would cost you to purchase property with "harvestable Timber", VS buying property that doesn't have Those tall stright trees and purchasing logs seperatly. In my area timber property comes at a super premium price, The cannot justify the extra expence from a return on your dollar standpoint. The class goes into great detail on things to look for when choosing property. Not to mention the resources you will have accsess to after the class. Best money I ever spent.Stuhttp://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/hemlock77/ 

--

" and the second little pig build his house of sticks" we all know what happend next.



05/11/2009 - 13:27
patrickandbianca's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 220
Joined: 2008-02-17
I would wait

to buy the land. If the land is for sale for that price, not much is going to change in a year. Even if that land is sold, you can probably find something similar. I cant count the number of times that I have almost pulled the trigger on a deal and backed off. Then 1 or 2 years later look back and think I sure did make the right decision. There have been a few times that I did go through with a deal when my gut was telling me not to and I look back and think"What were you thinking you idiot!". I dont think you will learn anything in the class that will make this land any less/more desirable than it is now, but since you wont be building until after the class a lot of things can happen between now and then.

Patrick

--

Got land!, Got water!, Logs being cut 3/1! Driveway going in 3/1,footers going in 3/2).
http://kleinloghome.shutterfly.com/



05/11/2009 - 14:00
spiralsands's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 397
Joined: 2007-11-21
buying your land

I bought my land before I took the class because I found what I thought was the perfect land for me. It had what I wanted: beauty, quiet and water. If you go see this property and you love it, why not buy it? My only advice would be to make sure the price reflects TODAY'S market and that it's where you really want to be.

It sounds wonderful to me. Good luck.

Frances



05/11/2009 - 14:53
LHBA Member
Posts: 206
Joined: 2006-02-22
Too Small for me

I would not try and build a house from logs this small. 10" at the base, 9" at 10', 8" at 20' and 7" at 30'. Too small for this style of building. But if you give the trees a few years they will be larger, and you may be able to pick the larger ones? You will learn the two year plan in class!
Dean
LHBA Class of Feb. 2006
Best investment of my life.
http://s522.photobucket.com/albums/w343/deanbrossman/

--

Dean
LHBA Class of Feb. 2006
Best investment of my life.
http://s522.photobucket.com/albums/w343/deanbrossman/



05/11/2009 - 18:01
LHBA Member
Posts: 394
Joined: 2005-02-24
Where in SW KY? I'm in

Where in SW KY? I'm in Glasgow. I could actually come out and look at the trees and give you some advice if you aren't too far away. If you like the property, buy it. If the trees don't work, well, shoot. I guess you'll just have to make do with 40 wooded acres....



05/12/2009 - 03:27
tgb3's picture
Posts: 21
Joined: 2008-06-19
That sounds like a fantastic

That sounds like a fantastic offer Basil!!! We will be staying at a campground in the LBL area from June 12th until the 19th or so. The property is around Marion, just north of there. My wife is from the area around Ft Knox. She wants to be closer to her family due to her parents health problems, I just don't want to be THAT close to my inlaws :-). We both like the Marion area and with all the Ahmish up there and the LBL area---just about everything we want.
My email is: thmsbowden@yahoo.com if you would like to get in touch with me. It would be great to talk to someone that has done the class. Maybe you could come out to the campsite for a few beers and cookout. :-)
Tom



05/12/2009 - 03:35
tgb3's picture
Posts: 21
Joined: 2008-06-19
Thanks to everyone that has

Thanks to everyone that has replied. I may not buy it but if Basil were to come out with me--THAT WOULD BE PERFECT! Did I hint at that hard enough? :-) I could make it worth your while--Beer, food, I have no Idea if your house is done but if not a helper when I move out there. Did I mention I'm an RN--I only work 3 days a week--12hr shifts--4 days off every week --think of all that extra help. Oh ya 6'1" 220lbs here--I LAUGH at hard work----well, smerk anyway.
Tom



05/12/2009 - 13:34
JAK's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 37
Joined: 2007-12-22
south west kentucky

welcome tom im around murray sounds like u got a nice
little forest your looking at the trees that large are awsom to watch in a mild wind huge, swaying back and forth got some on my property aswell im in limbo trying to save for backhoe-ulitity tractor before i can start droping them best of luck with inlaws Joe



05/13/2009 - 00:17
fossten's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 180
Joined: 2009-05-05
Glasgow

Basil,

My wife is from Glasgow and we're thinking of building a log home outside of Louisville. If you get a chance, email me at fossten@yahoo.com, I'd appreciate a chance to pick your brain.

David S.

--

Status: Land offer pending...

http://newkentuckyhome.blogspot.com/



05/13/2009 - 04:32
tgb3's picture
Posts: 21
Joined: 2008-06-19
Sounds like I need to get

Sounds like I need to get this class over with and get out to KY, several members out that way. I will be looking at the property next month and will up date as to all of the results then. Thanks for the replies.
Tom



05/13/2009 - 17:47
LHBA Member
Posts: 394
Joined: 2005-02-24
Hey, keep up with me-It's

Hey, keep up with me-It's about an hour drive or a little more from here. It'll be nice to get out of the house-

Fossten- the guy that shingled my house took the class and is now preparing to build outside Louisville himself. He occasionally shows up around here. His name (and screen name) is will dye. You guys should hook up-



05/13/2009 - 22:30
fossten's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 180
Joined: 2009-05-05
Glasgow

Ok thanks Basil.

By the way, my wife thinks she knows you. Do you remember Jill Bryant?

--

Status: Land offer pending...

http://newkentuckyhome.blogspot.com/



06/08/2009 - 07:38
tgb3's picture
Posts: 21
Joined: 2008-06-19
Basil, I'm heading to MO

Basil,
I'm heading to MO for 4 nights then off to KY. I will be at the Energy Lake campground in LBL from the 12th through the 20th. Email me if you want to hook up and get out of the house.
Tom



06/08/2009 - 17:31
LHBA Member
Posts: 195
Joined: 2007-04-13
Need your number again Basil

Hey Scott! An idiot friend of mine pushed me in a pool on Memorial Day and ruined my phone, I need your number again man. Sounds like we might have a little Kentucky log home mafia coming together here. LOL I am going to be building my first one in Fairdale (southern part of Louisville) and one exit south down I-65 Allen has a monster just about completed in Brooks. I need to stop by and see what he's got left to do.



06/09/2009 - 14:51
LHBA Member
Posts: 394
Joined: 2005-02-24
270 678 5427 I'll be out of

270 678 5427

I'll be out of town until saturday night, get in touch after that and we'll see what we can put together.



06/11/2009 - 13:13
Posts: 1
Joined: 2009-06-11
Greetings

This is my first post. I have been lurking for a year or so. When the kids graduate in 6 years here in TN I will be building on my land a log home too. I have about 25 acres in planted pine (1986) that will be great to use. It is nice to know there are several people in the area that are building or wanting to build. Hope to talk more sometime. Bart

--

94 acres near Marion KY but stuck in TN until kids graduate from school, "sigh".



06/28/2009 - 08:18
tgb3's picture
Posts: 21
Joined: 2008-06-19
update

Well my vacation sucked,
It rained every day and was hot as hell. The property in Kentucky was junk tree wise. The ice storm had taken out almost all the pines or broke them in half.
The up side is that I found an area in MO that looks very nice even though the name is a little strange--Licking, MO. Beautiful area, half way from my family and hers---now gotta get to a class and build one of these things there.
Tom



06/29/2009 - 12:59
Tolzer's picture
Posts: 2
Joined: 2008-02-24
Breckenridge County, KY

Greetings Will Dye and Basil.

We will be building in Breckenridge County, KY. Hope to break ground late fall 09 or early spring 2010. Add another to the KY group.



06/29/2009 - 13:47
LHBA Member
Posts: 195
Joined: 2007-04-13
Hello Tolzer

I was hoping to start around that time too, but it's looking like I will be delayed a bit. Give me a yell and I will help out. I have seen alot of good deals down there, but I just didn't want to have to drive an hour to get to work in Louisville. My number is 502-299-6233.

Will



07/02/2009 - 17:15
LHBA Member
Posts: 394
Joined: 2005-02-24
I may have recovered enough

I may have recovered enough from my build to help by spring of 2010...still worn out! Read as much as you can, these forums are worth a ton of information!!



07/04/2009 - 03:02
fossten's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 180
Joined: 2009-05-05
Another Kentucky Paisano

Will Dye wrote:
Hey Scott! An idiot friend of mine pushed me in a pool on Memorial Day and ruined my phone, I need your number again man. Sounds like we might have a little Kentucky log home mafia coming together here. LOL I am going to be building my first one in Fairdale (southern part of Louisville) and one exit south down I-65 Allen has a monster just about completed in Brooks. I need to stop by and see what he's got left to do.

Hey Will, if you need some free labor contact me via email at fossten@yahoo.com. I live in Louisville (Bashford Manor) and just finished the June class. I'm looking for some experience and can do whatever you need.

--

Status: Land offer pending...

http://newkentuckyhome.blogspot.com/



11/27/2009 - 01:21
ramblinman502's picture
LHBA Member
Posts: 204
Joined: 2007-07-04
Kentucky Log Home mafia???? I'm IN!

well howdy to my new kentucky friends!! i wonder if its legal to have a log home mafia?????

Rusty in Louisville