Tiny Houses

[Russell Kanning]

tax men are everywhere at all times

there is a whole thread on them ... and some guys have plans to build them

[miamiballoonguy]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/22/tiny.houses/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

... The limiting factor on these now is probably zoning and getting them hooked to utilities....

Yes, To an established RV Park is OK but what about if you want it on your own land?  The electric company, I've been told by my neighbor in Boscawen with a car-port and bob-house as his "camp", does not do poles with a box anymore that you can just plug into.  You've got to have to buy or build one of those storage sheds you see in the parking lot of Home Depot.  THEN "they"/ the electric company will wire that up, and you can have a extension to your RV unit.

Here in N.H. all lots on Class VI and private roads are supposed to be building lots by RSA Ch. 674:41,I(e) of the 2004 Amendment, when there was at least one building thereon that road prior to zoning.  http://www.state.nh.us/ The Town cannot "prohibit" (but they do), because the statute from the Legislature that gives the towns the zoning powers can only "restrict" and defined as up to the limit allowed= that one building lot per each lot on that road. Even if a non-conforming lot as not up to the required # of acres, but that was legal at the time it was first sub-divided.

Yours truly, - Joe

P.S. See http://www.pruverani.com for their search by town of land for sale.

Check out: Andover, N.H. (just north of Concord, past Boscawen and Salisbury) on Route 4 of about 20 -30 minutes away). MLS #2703102 and to be exact: http://www.pruverani.com/NH/real-estate/mls/2703102/property-search for this 237.4 acre parcel in the Agricultural/Residential Zone For sale at: $450,000 Asking Price, so roughly 225 acres x 2 = 450, or about $2,000 per acre, and so if eight investors with $50,000 each would like to buy into 240 acres divided by 8 = 30 acre lots, let me know and I'll be one of those eight, to sub-divide lots off the old logging road therein to upgrade to a gravel "Country Lane" one-rod wide (16.5 feet) as allowed in some towns (that's about $200 per truckload of gravel x about 5 = $1000 for 1/4 mile is what my neighbors and I did in Boscawen in 2004), and this after an Approval for say: not 8, but 16 lots (of 15 acres each), so either: to keep that extra 15-acre lot as your retirement to sell later at a profit, or 16 investors now at only $25,000 each* to get started.  How's that for a Free State Project? Bring your RV here, pay a grader about $______ to level the logging road, bring in #___ truckloads of gravel, be sure to drive a 4-wheel drive over the snow for the winter, put in #__ utility poles at $_______ each, and you're like in the RV business: self-contained needing no septic approvals until you start building your cabin (to house) with metal roof, and gutter to a rain barrel put 1/2 way up the side, with gravity fed water to your kitchen sink, and 55-gallon drum with holes outhouse for sludge removal later upgraded to a septic system.

Thus similar to what Namaste has over at their compound in Barnstead, where it's already set up, for $100/yr. membership fee and #__ time to pick the crops.

* Actually maybe to get not 16 15-acre lots @ $25,000 each, but maybe x 2 = 32 7.5-acre lots @ $12,500 each, if there are that many Free Stater's with the $money.  I think the way to go IF there are about a dozen Free Stater's willing to fund such a venture, is to divide and conquer as they say with to subdivide your 15-acre lot later as the savings for retirement. Like what others have done in the past of 4-acre lots on Class V roads with hook-up to town/city sewer, building their house on the 2-acre lot, and since in Residential, allowed the lower number of to sub-divide out the 2-acre lot for their retirement.  Some town residents TRYing to pass 5-acre Zoning by petitions from newbies to town, but in effect an insult to the natives, the flatlanders they call those from MAss. to N.H. in a way trying to steal their retirement!

Hell, I'd be down for even juat a 1 or 2 acre lot. Those tiny houses that are mobile are too small...  I need a little bit more space than that.  the z Glass would be just about all I need...  Plus an outside storage area for my Helium tanks and balloon supplies...  Thanks for the link.

[dalebert]

It seems like the tiny houses are onto something and are very innovative. However, they do go just a bit far, I think. It seems you coulc get a substantial benefit for far less cost by just not going quite as extreme with the smallness. They seem awfully expensive for their size. Surely many of the innovations could be incorporated into a very efficiently-sized home while trimming out some of the more expensive parts needed to keep it so small.

[JosephSHaas]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/22/tiny.houses/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

... The limiting factor on these now is probably zoning and getting them hooked to utilities....

...

P.S. See http://www.pruverani.com for their search by town of land for sale.
....

Hell, I'd be down for even juat a 1 or 2 acre lot...  Thanks for the link.

You're welcome, plus good luck.

There are deals out there, like my 2.95 acre lot (non-conforming by current zoning to 3-acre lots in the Agricultural/Residential zone) with cabin that I bought in Spring 2004 for only $5,000, and the 1.5 acre woodlot for $4,000 or almost $2,000 per acre is the going price on big-lots, my 96 acres in another town in Fall 2004 sold for $1,000/acre, but most of these smaller 1-2 acre lots are "building lots" already on a Class V road with permits in place going for about $25,000 each I think it is, so for the bargains to find on Class VI and private roads. Buy it, then drive in your house-on-wheels and camp out with a temporary utility pole during the building permit phase that could theoretically last forever, by renewal every year, or will they then set a #limit on that too?

- - Joe

[JosephSHaas]

P.S.

M.B.G.,

Check out these (2) 1/4 acre lots around Pillsbury Lake, in Webster, N.H. just 12 minutes north of Concord, at only $10,000 each, and get this incredible offer:

MLS #2702999 of another 1/4 acre lot (worth the extra $2,500) because of the fact that it already has a 2-bedroom septic approval, driveway permit, and $50/yr association fees. http://www.pruverani.com/ See agent Don Goudreau at the Concord office on South Main Street just north of McDonald's at the Exit 13 onto Manchester Street off of I-93 just north of the I-89 exit from the south. He is a great land agent, most other agents lazy, only wanting to show a $300,000 house and collect 10% = $30,000 split 50/50 with the broker for an easy $15,000 or in other words free lot here.

And if you like waterfront lots, there are two there of 1/2 acre, and 1/3 acre for $15,000 and $35,000 respectfully, plus more.

Good luck, - Joe

footnote: Christy Goodhue seems to be the listing agent for these lots as right down the road in Boscawen. She told me years ago that the Town of Webster was requiring that these 1/4 acre lots be combined to be a building lot, and so only camper lots at present, so I was surprised to find this 1/4 acre building lot there (although not "on" the water, close enough within walking distance to the beach, so if ever you wanted one, now is THE time! He that hesitates is lost.)

footnote #2: there are a lot of people homeless camping out in their RV's at the WalMart's that I bet if they knew about this building lot, and had the $money, would buy it in a heartbeat to have a place near their work where they would not be harassed by the WalMart employee saying that "your time is up" you've spent your quota here, now move on! This is NOT a campground, just a layover on your way from point A to B.

[miamiballoonguy]

P.S.

M.B.G.,

Check out these (2) 1/4 acre lots around Pillsbury Lake, in Webster, N.H. just 12 minutes north of Concord, at only $10,000 each, and get this incredible offer:

MLS #2702999 of another 1/4 acre lot (worth the extra $2,500) because of the fact that it already has a 2-bedroom septic approval, driveway permit, and $50/yr association fees. http://www.pruverani.com/ See agent Don Goudreau at the Concord office on South Main Street just north of McDonald's at the Exit 13 onto Manchester Street off of I-93 just north of the I-89 exit from the south. He is a great land agent, most other agents lazy, only wanting to show a $300,000 house and collect 10% = $30,000 split 50/50 with the broker for an easy $15,000 or in other words free lot here.

And if you like waterfront lots, there are two there of 1/2 acre, and 1/3 acre for $15,000 and $35,000 respectfully, plus more.

Good luck, - Joe

footnote: Christy Goodhue seems to be the listing agent for these lots as right down the road in Boscawen. She told me years ago that the Town of Webster was requiring that these 1/4 acre lots be combined to be a building lot, and so only camper lots at present, so I was surprised to find this 1/4 acre building lot there (although not "on" the water, close enough within walking distance to the beach, so if ever you wanted one, now is THE time! He that hesitates is lost.)

footnote #2: there are a lot of people homeless camping out in their RV's at the WalMart's that I bet if they knew about this building lot, and had the $money, would buy it in a heartbeat to have a place near their work where they would not be harassed by the WalMart employee saying that "your time is up" you've spent your quota here, now move on! This is NOT a campground, just a layover on your way from point A to B.

Thanks for all the info...  I'll have to save up the cash for it cause I never want to take out anther loan again if I can avoid it...  ANyhow, As the time grows closer to my eventual arrival in NH I will start looking into it... 

Now, how does the snow on th eroof thing work?  I Lived in Boston for about 2 years in the mid 90's but I lived in an apartment building.  Is there anything special that needs to be done to prepare a roof for holding all that snow through the winter?

Just Curious.

[John Edward Mercier]

Remove the snow.
Last year we removed the snow several times during the season.

[Russell Kanning]

It seems like the tiny houses are onto something and are very innovative. However, they do go just a bit far, I think.

sounds like you need a "small" house dale
how can these guys be taking the idea too far? ... it is for them
you can build one that is bigger and then they can complain that you are living in luxury

[AntonLee]

put up a small house, and dig out an underground LAIR!

[Toadstool]

put up a small house, and dig out an underground LAIR!

LOL!
I wanted to dig out 2 levels deep and have a batmoblie type entrance like a ramp into the side of a hill....
underground homes ftw!  easy to heat and cool... no need to replace roof!  lol

I will figure something out...
I can build a house EASY!  I did it for 10 years!  Framing million dollar homes for RICH! in North Reading MA!
these lil trailer things are WAY over priced...

well maybe not trailer it self will cost a few,  but if you have a trailer already!! be so easy!  you would probly want 2x6 studs for NH! its cold!!! but heating it would take a single fart anyway!!!  good for 1 hour of heat!

dang,  kinda odd having convo's lately...
SO sad we fucked up our world...porc we make it better right!?  i dont even know what a porc is!?  lol...

[JosephSHaas]

put up a small house, and dig out an underground LAIR!

LOL!
I wanted to dig out 2 levels deep and have a batmoblie type entrance like a ramp into the side of a hill....
underground homes ftw!  easy to heat and cool... no need to replace roof!  lol

... in North Reading MA! ....

See also for Nantucket, MAss.achusetts: the "subterranean hermit spread" during the years: 1988-98 of Thomas Johnson before a hunter found his "stovepipe protrudes a foot above ground."  The ground being The "Boy Scout's Camp Richard" next to Channel 5 WCVB News Anchor Chet Curtis and Natalie Jacobson, a UNH graduate.

The website: http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/Dec98/0117.html The story by Brian MacQuarrie, for "The Boston Globe" http://boston.com/ repeats at this page, so at first glace, it is only 1/2 the page, to read the details of how he was captured by federal agents for his "priceless totems" of "the barn owl's wings and the talons of a red-tailed hawk".

- - Joe

[ColdSoul]

Better yet read about the Japanese Pilot that got was sent on a secret mission to capture a US Island during WW II (there was actually multiple guys on 2 different Islands with similar stories) who  lived on the Islands with no support for up to 40 something years without getting caught.

The one who was living in the jungle had been searched for many times but nobody was able to find him. He had a hide out that was hidden so well made from bamboo that you couldn't see it until he opened it. Inside he had running water he had put up bamboo pipes to his that was underground so he could use it to "flush his toilet" so to speak. He even made his own suits that were so nice when he was finally convinced that the war was over (they had to get his original commanding officer who was long since retire to convince him) a lot of people wanted to know how he made them, and I think he now teaches people.

Another was a group of I think 4 of 5 who also hide underground and raided the town at night, they didn't last as long, but they did go I think 30 years.

[KBCraig]

put up a small house, and dig out an underground LAIR!

On another tiny houses thread, I've advocated exactly that. And if you don't use outside contractors, and don't have nosy neighbors within view, even the tax assessor will never know. 

[Raineyrocks]

You know I was just remembering this time I rented this real cheap motel room in Ocean City Maryland so Rick and I could go away for the weekend on his birthday.   The room was $65 a night, which is dirt cheap, especially for "season" prices, I should've known better. 

This room was so small we had to turn the bed around so we could open the door all the way, the bathroom was as small as a closet, blah, blah.   We ending up getting into so many fights over stupid stuff that we just ended up going home.   In a weird way it's an endearing memory, to me anyway, it wasn't my birthday! 

[jaqeboy]

Tumbleweed is having an open house on the East Coast a week from tomorrow:

Here's their U-print-it brochure: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/Brochure.pdf
=======================================

WHAT TO EXPECT AT AN OPEN HOUSE.
This is a residential area, and out of respect to the neighbors, we ask that you make sure to park legally on the street. This is a great opportunity to take pictures or videos of the house. The open house will be hosted by Walt & Doti. They do not work for Tumbleweed and are not able to sell the house. They are Jay's in-laws, and have graciously offered to host the open house for us. Jay will not be there.

NO SHOES INSIDE THE HOUSE.
You will be asked to take your shoes off before entering.

WEATHER.
This is a rain or shine event. Please come prepared

TIME
Sunday, September 13, 2009 between 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. We advise that you don't come after 3:45.

LOCATION
16 Pepperwood Ct.
Madison, Connecticut

PARKING
This is a residential neighborhood. Please remember to park legally. Do not block any driveways.

FAQ
How many houses do you have to see?
Just the Fencl.

Can I bring friends?
Of course, bring as many people as possible.

How do I buy this house?
If you are interested in buying the house, please let us know by email, and we can proceed from there.
The price is $49,997. The price won't be discounted. However, we have a special deal on this house, and we will deliver it to you for free (on the East Coast). Payment is by Cashier's check or credit card. Unfortunately, financing is not available.