steel shop/home plans and builders

[MThuntr]

Anyone have a lead on a good plan or website for steel home/shop (SHOME) plans? Would consider a kit system also. Let me know what you know.

I've decided that local housing prices are stupid for the garbage that they are and I'm investigating the costs and feasibilities of 2bed/2bath (or similar) with an attached large shop that I can tinker. Land and location TBD

 

[BigHornRam]

I always purchase the land first and design the building taking account the positive and negative attributes of the property. If you dont like what you see with existing housing right now, you will probably shocked at how expensive, and limited buildable land is at this time in this region. Materials, builders, and skilled subs are in short supply as well.

 

[Irrelevant]

Hot Tip #43 1/2

If you find some property you really love that isn't on the market, send to owner a letter expressing interest in buying or at least put a request out there that if they do even want to sell to give you a call. You'd be amazed how many property owners have no idea what real estate is going for. You can make them a low-ball offer but they think it's a fortune. Win-Win.

 

[C17loadclear]

Morton has some nice plans

 

[MThuntr]

It's a cart before the horse scenario I know but I need to go to the bank with my ducks in a row for them to even bother with me. That's why I was curious about what's out there so I can put together a plan of attack and then adjust. I know there are a handful of properties with water and power already so that's a pretty big hurdle already made. Unfortunately I got put in COVID timeout so I have to tread lightly thus my interest in looking at build plans and potential cost estimates since I have 1 more week before my "house arrest" is over.

Most landowners around here know what land is selling for...there is a 40% mark up since 2019 courtesy of out of state interest. Since they don't make anymore land that price will likely stick.

 

[TN2shot07]

We bought our first house last November, after several months of shopping. I had gotten to the point that I wanted to pursue the shop house route, even found the land. The two banks I went to would not do a traditional mortgage for those plans, even with >20% down. Could have been that it was a first home purchase or just the bank policy but just wanted to throw it out there.

 

[Irrelevant]

Most landowners around here know what land is selling for...there is a 40% mark up since 2019 courtesy of out of state interest. Since they don't make anymore land that price will likely stick.

Mostly true, but I'm telling you, there was way more opportunities out there than you would think. We live 2 hrs from Seattle, which is a doable commute, plus with covid people of moving to remote interfacing. We have a giant flux of people, land prices are going crazy (similar to MT), but when I track actual sales reported to the County auditors office, I'm shocked at the low prices some people are getting for land that never touched the market. And this isn't family sales, this is westsiders taking advantage of generally old people, who don't know what real estate is going for. A dude just bought 40 acres with 16 acres of cherries (that's enough to make a living) for less than I paid for my small 3-bed house a 3 acres not 1/2 mile up the road. That property was never for sale or I would have made an offer, it backs of to public on 3 sides. Now properties actually on the market are getting crazy high prices that is true and will stick long term.

 

[mtmuley]

Mostly true, but I'm telling you, there was way more opportunities out there than you would think. We live 2 hrs from Seattle, which is a doable commute, plus with covid people of moving to remote interfacing. We have a giant flux of people, land prices are going crazy (similar to MT), but when I track actual sales reported to the County auditors office, I'm shocked at the low prices some people are getting for land that never touched the market. And this isn't family sales, this is westsiders taking advantage of generally old people, who don't know what real estate is going for. A dude just bought 40 acres with 16 acres of cherries (that's enough to make a living) for less than I paid for my small 3-bed house a 3 acres not 1/2 mile up the road. That property was never for sale or I would have made an offer, it backs of to public on 3 sides. Now properties actually on the market are getting crazy high prices that is true and will stick long term.

He's in Montana. There are no deals anymore, especially right now. mtmuley

 

[MThuntr]

I'd love to snag a deal but they don't exist. Most realtors are related or connected to landowners around here. We'll also never get enough land to live off of...4 acres to the AUM is about average so I'd need about 5k acres and free cows to cover the mortgage.

 

[Gellar]

We bought our first house last November, after several months of shopping. I had gotten to the point that I wanted to pursue the shop house route, even found the land. The two banks I went to would not do a traditional mortgage for those plans, even with >20% down. Could have been that it was a first home purchase or just the bank policy but just wanted to throw it out there.

When we first started researching building 7 years ago our plan was to build a shop with small living quarters. We were going to need a loan to make it livable, but would have paid cash as we went to finish it. Our banker loved the idea but hesitated when it came to financing because their were not enough comparable sales to get an Idea of price. There had been/still are people building them or converting sheds into shouses as they are called around here but none were hitting the market for resale. After talking with all the big builders like Morton, Cleary, etc and the local builders the cost of the shouse was basically equal to a traditional stick built so we went that direction. Because of this the big contractors like Morton And Cleary offered their own financing.

 

[Irrelevant]

nevermind, I'm sure you guys are right, every land sale in montana is listed.

 

[Lilhowie83]

Anyone have a lead on a good plan or website for steel home/shop (SHOME) plans? Would consider a kit system also. Let me know what you know.

I've decided that local housing prices are stupid for the garbage that they are and I'm investigating the costs and feasibilities of 2bed/2bath (or similar) with an attached large shop that I can tinker. Land and location TBD

We are working on this same thing right now, because we sold our house with the intent of building on our 6 acres, but with current lumber prices that is not going to happen anytime soon. So we started looking into some steel buildings. Check out AmeriBuilt Steel Structures, they have some great designs and options, and all of their packages come complete with joists to do a mezzanine/living space above all or part of the shop.

 

[mtmuley]

nevermind, I'm sure you guys are right, every land sale in montana is listed.

Finding an unwary landowner in the desirable parts of Montana right now would be a miracle. Specifically my area is affected by the Yellowstone television series production. It's a literal zoo as far as real estate in the Bitterroot Valley right now. mtmuley

 

[buckbull]

Barndominium, shipping container, quonset huts are some options for housing.

 

[MThuntr]

nevermind, I'm sure you guys are right, every land sale in montana is listed.

I know what you were getting to but within 30 miles of Dillon a significant amount of land is controlled by a few. That's the fact and people that are receptive to offers know what land is selling for or their kids know what it's selling for. Already been through a deal on a house ruined by greedy kids wanting their share when dad dies

 

[Irrelevant]

Finding an unwary landowner in the desirable parts of Montana right now would be a miracle. Specifically my area is affected by the Yellowstone television series production. It's a literal zoo as far as real estate in the Bitterroot Valley right now. mtmuley

I get it, seriously, I visit the Bitteroot every year, I see the change (though respectfully don't live it). But you MT guys have to realize a lot of what you're seeing now are regular occurrences in WA and have been for decades. Take Leavenworth, 12 min from my front door, see 2 million tourist visits a year. The town has less land 2k people. Unlike much of MT, there are no large private ranches to turn into houses, town is in a narrow little valley surrounded by public land. Think 10% the size Jackson hole. Prices are crazy (similar to Bozeman), but I'm telling you there are crazy good deals to be found out there. I will say I didn't see any MT county that readily publishes sales data in a mapping format. Our county does, along with the sale price, making it easy to see all the freakin' good deals that happen without anyone ever knowing about them. Maybe they're all cash transactions, IDK, but I know they exist.

I know what you were getting to but within 30 miles of Dillon a significant amount of land is controlled by a few. That's the fact and people that are receptive to offers know what land is selling for or their kids know what it's selling for. Already been through a deal on a house ruined by greedy kids wanting their share when dad dies

Now that is a very real limitation.

 

[MTGomer]

Hot Tip #43 1/2

If you find some property you really love that isn't on the market, send to owner a letter expressing interest in buying or at least put a request out there that if they do even want to sell to give you a call. You'd be amazed how many property owners have no idea what real estate is going for. You can make them a low-ball offer but they think it's a fortune. Win-Win.

I almost did this last month. Had the letter written and everything but then another opportunity came up that I had to pounce on. I still wonder how it would have turned out

 

[Bambistew]

Sorry, no help. I would check on local ordinances for this type of building. They are not allowed in many places it seems and many banks won't finance them.

My folks in MT have got half a dozen solicitation for their property in the last 6 months. Its usually some young family just looking to raise their kids in a nice place. The offers are laughable, and they aren't from some family, they typically come through some slimy real estate agent.

MT is the next Colorado. Prices are never going down, and if you think its unaffordable now, wait 5 years.

 

[MThuntr]

So far I've found about 80 companies online and several look super sketchy but some do have interesting plans. Most exist in the midwest so it would be prohibitive to get them here. I did find "kits" that get you the exterior and possibly the interior wall studs and the rest is on you. They have full schematics and claim to be DIY friendly...we'll see about that...HA

The one thing I'm finding is that local developments don't have the restrictions that are seen elsewhere...you know the standard HOA BS. What I am finding is that there is plenty of land but a lot of it doesn't have power nearby and that's a huge killer to most ideas because dang getting power is expensive. I'd love to live 30 miles out of town but that isn't going to work for me at this time.

A realtor contacted me yesterday about a house on the market...a quick search says it sold for around 170k last year and is now listed at 240. It doesn't even have a yard. I laughed and said what did they do in the last year to justify the huge mark up. She said they painted the bathroom but otherwise that's the "new norm". Maybe I'll just live in a van down by the river.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

So far I've found about 80 companies online and several look super sketchy but some do have interesting plans. Most exist in the midwest so it would be prohibitive to get them here. I did find "kits" that get you the exterior and possibly the interior wall studs and the rest is on you. They have full schematics and claim to be DIY friendly...we'll see about that...HA

The one thing I'm finding is that local developments don't have the restrictions that are seen elsewhere...you know the standard HOA BS. What I am finding is that there is plenty of land but a lot of it doesn't have power nearby and that's a huge killer to most ideas because dang getting power is expensive. I'd love to live 30 miles out of town but that isn't going to work for me at this time.

A realtor contacted me yesterday about a house on the market...a quick search says it sold for around 170k last year and is now listed at 240. It doesn't even have a yard. I laughed and said what did they do in the last year to justify the huge mark up. She said they painted the bathroom but otherwise that's the "new norm". Maybe I'll just live in a van down by the river.

Grant, you should give Dave a call. He just finished his, and did something real similar to what you are talking about. He sent me some pics and it looks really nice...