Starter Home Advice (Buying, Building, Financing, Inspiration, etc)

[Stoneman]

...would have to dig up the lot plans to see what the actual river frontage is.

Most counties have that info online now. Go to that county's Registry of Deeds online and search the database. You can find deeds, plot plans, tax records, etc. You can usually view it all for free, but normally hafta pay a fee and/or open an account to print anything out...

That's how we tracked down wunna the property owners we bought wunna the woodlots from. We found the plot plan, then traced it to the former owner - all online and all for free...

[RyanNicholson]

All good info guys, thanks a ton.

Obviously talking about the house itself its kind of putting the carriage before the horse at this point, but I'd like to look at all this stuff, figure out if I actually want it, and have a plan ready for action when it does go on the market.

Another concern after asking around was getting a conventional mortgage for the place. Apparently banks don't like the "I'm gunna buy it, demo it, and rebuilt it" idea... since they have a vested interest in the home (even if it isn't in good shape). So we'll see...

[Stoneman]

...Apparently banks don't like the "I'm gunna buy it, demo it, and rebuilt it" idea... since they have a vested interest in the home (even if it isn't in good shape). So we'll see...

Don't tell 'em...

[Kurlon]

Another concern after asking around was getting a conventional mortgage for the place. Apparently banks don't like the "I'm gunna buy it, demo it, and rebuilt it" idea... since they have a vested interest in the home (even if it isn't in good shape). So we'll see...

Depends on the lender. We had no problem securing lending for that exact scenario when we were looking. It was to be done in two loans, a small loan to buy the place, a second to cover the construction. Looked at a few foreclosures where it was going to be cheaper to knock the place down, save the foundation and septic and plop a new building on top than to revive the original structure...

And after seeing all the problems we've run into just redoing the roof on a garage on our new place... I almost wish we had gone with one of the ground up options.

[BMFR6]

Skipped through a lot of this so i'm not sure if its still a consideration for you, but my parents had Epoch put up a home a couple years ago, great product and i'd recommend it. my only word of advice there is be selective of your GC. the end result and your experience is going to depend heavily on them.

edit: as far as the mortgage, what about a new construction loan? technically really all you are doing is buying the land if you plan to knock the house over.

[obsolete]

my only word of advice there is be selective of your GC. the end result and your experience is going to depend heavily on them.

This.

Reminded me of this news article.

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/...hange-20100413

Also worth looking into is the actual construction methods used in the house. A lot of trusses are just nail plated but no nails put in them, wood Ibeams drilled through in a manner that severely effects the integrity of the beam, etc.

The biggest thing is to find a great GC that will give a shit about your safety.