Off-Topic: Eric's building a house (updated)
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This time it's not just a spec home - this is going to be my new casa.
Check out the plot map here
The yellow/green boxes are ones that I put there and haves notes pertaining to our activity up there as well as some price updates on recent sales. This is an outdated plot map and the only lot left is the one that I just put an offer on - they're selling like hot cakes up there.
Here's a link to the plan that we're basing our design off of. We're having it custom drawn by an architect here locally because we have some changes.
I'm extending the garage to a 30' x 32' so that it can fit my boat. We're also rearranging the kitchen some, putting double doors at the entry to the master bedroom, changing the shower design in the master bathroom, among other things. The price to have an architect draw it was just about the same as ordering these stock plans from houseplans.com
We'll be finishing the basement as well so total square footage will be around 4,250.
I just felt inclined to share because I'm excited (and nervous) about it. What do you guys think?
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I think it's going to be one hell of a house! Hope it all goes well for ya!
It's sensible to get the plans drawn up by an architect rather than buying the generic plans, that way you get to add your own bit of personality to the house.
Plus whilst that is happening, you can be drawing up plans for the party :)
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Eric,
That's fantastic man!
Do you have any updated news on the housing development project?
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Posted By: Jason G
Eric,
That's fantastic man!
Do you have any updated news on the housing development project?
Currently working with the engineer to try and develop a good road system. We're in talks with the owner of the neighboring property to try and acquire another 5 acres of his land.
What we're running into is the grade of the hill is just a tad too steep on our property alone and it's causing us to either build very few lots or build cost prohibitive retaining walls to support the road & homes. If we can snatch his property up, or at least a little of it, we can engineer the roads in such a way that eliminates that problem. It's a pretty slow process...lots of hurrying up to wait. We're going along as best we can though.
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Gorgeous house! I love the symmetry of the windows upstairs. Congrats on the huge upgrade.
But where are you going to put the helipad?
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Posted By: Travis
Gorgeous house! I love the symmetry of the windows upstairs. Congrats on the huge upgrade.
But where are you going to put the helipad?
It's not the style of house I was originally planning but it really works on that lot which is shaped a bit awkward. I love the street frontage we get (it's like 125' of street footage). It's a classic design that, in my opinion, is rather timeless.
We're also bumping the ceiling height on the main & second floors from 8' to 10' to give it that extra openness that's really awe-inspiring.
There's room on the side yard for you to land the helo - when are you stopping by?
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Wow. Awesome!
Kevin. Jealous. Want. House.
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According to our estimates, we should be all moved in by mid September.
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Damn, that's pretty quick.
Is it far from your current neighbourhood?
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It's about a 5-10 minute drive from where I'm at now, depending on traffic. So...no, it's rather close.
My only gripe is that it's up on a prairie so the hill you have to climb is going to slaughter my MPG - but no biggie I guess. Long live Dubai!
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I just met with the architect tonight and talked about some changes to the house plan that we wanted to make.
We made an offer on the property and it was accepted at our offer price as long as we can close before April 1st. We had originally put April 15th on our offer because it takes 30-45 days for the loan to fund after they see the REAL blueprints.
Currently we only have the houseplans.com paperwork which isn't good enough for the bank so I have to wait until my architect is done drafting it up which I found out tonight is going to take til the 14th. That means I have a very narrow time frame to light a fire under the banks ass to fund or else I have to go full price on the property and close on my original date of the 15th of April.
You might ask: How am I going to push a 30 day closing in a 15(ish) day time period?
I may answer: Shit...I have no idea.
Cross your fingers for me :)
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Fingers and toes crossed for ya, I wish you the best of luck!
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Good luck E. Does the process actually take 30 days, or is that the result of the bank's tardiness?
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That's what they like to allow and commit to so they don't get themselves in trouble. I think I can push hard and get it done though.
If you're a sub-prime loan it takes longer because they have to dig a bit deeper and make sure you're going to be OK. Fortunately I don't suffer from that so we have a chance.
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We went 'house shopping' today to look at the market... wish I could win the lottery. Found a nice little cookie cutter house at the end of a cul-de-sac with a lot more space (yard and view wise) than the rest of the neighborhood.
At the very top end of our price range... once she has a job.
Sucks finding a house you really like when you can't buy it.
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Did you guys see extreme home makeover? I don't know if I got the name right of the program but it's the one where they go and help a family that's had really bad luck and build a new house?\
The house was amazing. I love that Spanish home look.
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I've heard of that show, haven't watched it yet. Found this on their website:
Was that the home Aaron?
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Close, but the one they just did blows that away.
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Is that style considered Spanish though? I don't know much about real estate styles and whatnot.
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Yeah that's a Spanish style home.
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Just an update: Working on the loan currently and trying to get as much processed as possible before the architect is done with his drawings. Loans are a bitch. Lenders are a bitch. It takes time and unfortunately I don't have much of it in order to close on the land at the price I want.
Some of you already know that I'm the credit-nazi - but I have to reiterate it again for all of you YGG's out there: PROTECT YOUR CREDIT. It's your biggest asset.
Being a small business owner means you spend your entire life trying to, how do I say this...disguise your true income to avoid heavy taxation. This means despite all the money you truly make, your tax returns look like last weeks trash warmed over. You'll never be able to do a huge full-doc loan with weak tax returns, and that means good credit is your ticket to ride. Good stated income loans start with credit scores over 720. So protect it with your life.
I'll keep bringing updates on this topic during the entire process. Whether you want to read it or not you should because you're probably going to learn a thing or to - I know I will. I'll be the YGG guinea pig and when you go to build your own house you can avoid the steaming piles I step in along the way.
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Can you put pictures of the interior when you're done?
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Posted By: marxist
Can you put pictures of the interior when you're done?
Most definitively - but that won't be until September :)
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Geo tech study holes are being dug by our foundation guy tomorrow. Geo tech soil tests won't actually happen until next week but start crossing your fingers for me now. We're hoping for 2 things.
1. We don't want to hit basalt rock that's too hard to dig through (aka no basement aka no house)
2. We don't want a lot of water. It's on a prairie so you'd think being on a higher elevation it wouldn't matter. Yeah well Spokane doesn't work like that. Strange water around these parts.
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Good luck E.
I didn't notice any blueprints for your basement in that link you provided. What you plan to do with the basement, moisture permitting? lol
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We're putting in 2 bedrooms and 1 full bath in the basement, plus a full bar & theater. Sooner or later there will be a pool table as well - that's a must.
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