| |
| |
|
Home Improvement Information |
|
|
|
Log Homes - Is a Log Home In Your Future?
Many people dream about a log home in their future but never get around to making their dream come true. Here's how to get past the hurdles and start living your dream. Finances are one of the most common reasons many people never live their log home dreams. The reasons may only be perceived or they may be real. But even if real, it may be possible to overcome the obstacles. First, you'll have to decide on a basic floorplan and house size. Selecting one of the standard plans from a log home company's portfolio simplifies this process. The company can tell you the price of the log "kit" and may be able to give you a "turn-key" estimate for the finished house. If not, you can make a very rough estimate by assuming that the final turn-key cost will be between two and three times the cost of the kit. This estimate does not account for the cost of land. Understand that this is simply a crude way of approximating the cost of the home of your dreams. The objective is to determine if you are even in the ballpark of a cost that you can afford. Consider the home that you now live in and what price it might bring if you sell. Subtract the amount you still owe on your mortgage plus real estate commissions to determine your equity. This equity can be applied to the purchase of your log home as a down payment, or used to purchase land. Also consider any savings, investments, or inheritance funds you have that might be applied. Use an online calculator or visit a bank to determine how much you might be able to borrow. This will depend on your current income and debt load. Most lenders use a formula that limits your future mortgage payment, plus taxes and insurance, plus your existing debt load (credit cards, car payments, etc.) to 36% of your gross income. This determines your maximum mortgage amount. Add your down payment and you'll get the amount you can afford to spend on your dream home. If you find that your dream home is affordable, great. If not, you might be able to scale back on your home plans or find additional funds, or both. Sometimes, simply waiting a few years solves the problem. Often, when you have a dream and are committed to it, you will be able to find solutions through sheer determination. Al Hearn is owner and operator of Log Home Advisor (http://www.LogHomeAdvisor.com) where log home enthusiasts can find helpful information, advice, cost calculators, and affordability calculators.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Which Lamp Should I Choose? With all the lighting choices out there, you may want to reconsider just purchasing a lamp for your lighting needs. Whether you are looking for interior lighting or outdoor lighting, you can find many options pretty easily. Removing Your Old Sliding Glass Door Last week I explained how to measure your existing sliding glass door so you can order the vinyl replacement door. This week I am going to go over the steps required to remove the old sliding door before installing the new door. How To Choose Decorative, Recessed Locking Mailboxes Do you need a decorative, quality, recessed locking mailboxfor your home? There is a large selection of mailboxes fromwhich to choose, and you may wonder which is the rightmailbox for you. A recessed locking mailbox is a perfectway to keep your mail safe from prying eyes, and can beinstalled on the exterior of your home or as part of afreestanding mailbox. In The Mood Creating a Designer Home With LightingTraditionally, spring is the time when many of us think about redecorating or remodelling a room in our home and we begin skimming through glossy magazines, or visiting showrooms for ideas. The results always look stunning, but how do you replicate 'that' look in your own home when your rooms are probably a fraction of the size of those featured in home interior publications? Even if you had the time, energy and resources to purchase exactly the same products that appear in a beautifully prepared photograph or showroom, somehow they never seem to look the same in your own home. How To Choose The Perfect Granite Work Surface My Grandmother used to say to me "Nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap". This ring true when dealing with the purchase especially on the internet of Granite Work Surfaces. Would You Steel Your Household Appliances Would you steel your appliances? That is a question many consumers are now asking themselves.The "in" style -----------------------Stainless steel household appliances are the "in" style right now. Finishing Your Basement Can be Very Rewarding Transforming your home's basement into a finished space can prove to be very rewarding. Frequently the additional living space is used for a variety of entertainment functions including: Recreation Rooms, Bars, Gyms, Billiard Rooms, Home Theatres and Family Rooms. Protecting Yourself from Miter Saw Hazards A miter saw, also known as a "chop saw," is a circular saw that is mounted on a frame. It is designed to be portable and to make very accurate angled cuts between 45 and 90 degrees. Trading in Corporate Office for Home Office Six years ago, I had not yet turned on a computer. Today I run several successful Internet Businesses and by me being a single parent of 4 children my friends calls me a marketing expert. Hardwood Floor Refinishing - For The Faint of Heart Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe they just need a refinishing job. It can be a daunting task, but here are some ideas to make it a little easier. Building Your Dream Home - Part 2 Razing the CottageWith new house plans and permits in hand, subcontractors hired and a Septic Design in process, it was now time to raze the existing cottage. I considered employing the local fire department to burn it down, however I chose the demolition route instead. The Great American Dream Are you ready to starting building your dream home. House plan designs are abundant and easy to customize. Basic Methods of Foundation Waterproofing It is absolutely necessary to waterproof the foundation of your home. Foundation waterproofing is a critical step in maintaining your home's value and an important measure for preventing very serious damage. Ideas For Interior Design Ideas for interior design are a dime a dozen these days. In fact, you can likely watch one hour of television dedicated to the subject and come away with enough information to design an entire home. The Art of Power Washing Decks Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started banning the use of pressure treated wood due to chromated copper arsenate (CCA), most people have decided to seal their wood decks as the EPA suggests to prevent the arsenic from leaching into the soil. Most homeowners use local companies to pressure wash their decks and siding to save valuable time and the expense of rental equipment and some prefer to do the job themselves on a hot summer day. The Wireless Home It was only a few years ago that Real Estate agents and Builders were promoting the "Wired" feature as a must have when buying a new home. Wired meant that the home not only had cable running throughout it, but also Cat-5 wire. Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged - freestanding resin-based (aka clear wax) candles. Using a base of mineral oil, the candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles. Are Showers Harmful to Your Health? The last thing you would think about when you are taking a nice, refreshing shower is, "Am I jeopardizing my health"?Chlorine is used by many municipalities to disinfect their water supply.Unfortunalely, according to many health experts, chlorine has been linked to breast, bladder and colon cancer. Comparing Types Of Conservatory Blinds The cost of furnishing a conservatory can catch many people out, in fact it can often cost more than the conservatory itself. Conservatory Blinds can be very expensive so it is important to know what the choices are and what value a particular blind will bring. Refrigerators Electric Consumption - Lower It In 15 Minutes I recently had a customer ask for my advise about cleaning her refrigerator.I started to describe the pros and cons of different cleaners that can be used to clean the interior when she stopped me abruptly.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
