Building Your Own Homestead Cabin

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Building Your Own Homestead Cabin

by Heather
(Kentucky)

Hi,
I just purchased 30 acres to start a homestead. I already own a home, and am afraid that I will not be able to sell it in the current housing market.

My land is about a fifteen minute drive from my home. I am afraid that I won't be able to sell my home in order to build another one on my land. And with the declining economy, I really want to be out on my land to protect my livestock from theft.

Plus the fuel to get out there everyday is an added expense I would like to eliminate. I was wondering if you had any ideas on the cheapest way to put or build a small homestead on the property without breaking the bank.

Thank you for your wonderful website. It has served both as an inspirational and educational place to go for the beginning and experienced homesteader.

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Building Your Own Homestead Cabin

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DO IT
by: kan-green

This is exactly what we are doing. Have you seen those portable buildings everyone is selling nowadays? We priced them and decided we could build one for a third of their asking price. They even rent to own these. You could build one big enough to suit your needs for now and use it for storage, a craft shop, or even rent it or sell it when you decide to build bigger. Use your imagination, visit the habitat restore for good deals on building material, freecycle, and Craigslist are also good options for building supplies. Rent out your current home until it sells. The biggest thing is getting started. Putting it off and worrying about what ifs will get you nowhere. Michael

cheap house
by: Anonymous

I have seen some really nice homes built out of storage containers or shipping containers. Find them on the web. Never looks the same when you're done.

There are Many Ways to Build a Cabin
by: Sue Merriam

Hi Heather!

You may not be able to sell your home in the current market, but you could rent it out. That way you can get a little income to pay your mortgage, and your home won't be standing vacant, two pluses. Then, when the economy gets better, you can sell it. Since your land is only 15 minutes from your home, you should be able to check on it from time to time, or you could hire a property manager to manage the place for you.

In the meantime there are several options available that would enable you to live on your land in an inexpensive way. You could certainly build a log cabin, and often for less than having a home built. But your cabin doesn't necessarily have to be made from logs. One of my neighbors built his own home out of used garage doors and old telephone poles. It took him a few years, but he now owns a really nice, two-story home, and you would never know it was made out of discarded wood.

You could also build your home using straw bales. It's a reasonably inexpensive way to go, and the end result is a sturdy and beautiful home.

If you don't have carpentry skills, you could buy a repossessed, single-wide trailer. They don't look like much, but they'll certainly do in a pinch until you are able to sell your home and build another one on your land. But no matter what you choose, you are wise to go as low-cost as possible. If you do have to take out a loan, try to shoot for a five-year mortgage, and do as much as you can to pay it off early.

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