So off topic but has anyone had any good experiences with pre-fab cabins? Or the kits? 

I am currently pursuing a new job, most that require me to move a little ways. And I'm ready to purchase my own home but in the areas I'm looking, there's nothing decent in our price range so I'm looking to preferably do a pre-fab log cabin on some land.

I live in SW Virginia. Anyone had any experience with SIPs? I know the disadvantages but curious if anyone has dealt with it. Any advice?? Also concerned about resale although that's not an imminent concern. I'll add the pre-fabs I'm looking at are around 700 sqft with a loft and I've figured will cost total (basement foundation, well and septic, electric) $165,000-$180,000.

Any advice would be helpful! My credit score is 750-760 and I just became debt free, and I've met with a credit union rep and I believe I can get a construction loan. Trying to find a lender with the FHA one time close loan since the down payment is lower.

We live in a beautiful log cabin, with real logs and all I can say is that the maintenance is a PAIN IN THE A$$!!!  My advice is go with prefab!!!   Good luck!!!

if there is nothing compairable to the cost you want to build for my guess is there is not much of a market for that price range. 

Would this be a 10 year investment for you?  I think the time frame you plan on being there would be something that should figure into the equation. 

I second this.  We have a log cabin and it takes $$$$$ for upkeep.  

You will need to find comparables for financing.   Another pain (in south MS anyway)

Good luck

Thanks for all of the advice! I would hope we would live in it for a very long time, I didn't think of that variable before! Lol. I've heard maintenance is a lot like you all are saying so I think that could be a pro to the pre-fab.

Still have a lot to think about!

How much pest maintenance is required with these homes? I've read even the SIPs can have problems with that and to spray often.

Anyone else live in 700 sq ft but with a basement? The way these are set up, they look pretty spacious for what they are and have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, and the loft. I figured a basement could be more living space once finished. We plan on going to visit this place in the next couple months to see if we really like it or not. I really like a smaller, open concept, functional space that does not make me a slave to my house with cleaning! 

Our house is not very big, but it is the coziest!!!  when we are home we spent most of the time in the living room/great room and I have my little studio in the balcony.  I don't think I would like a big house myself either.  My son is a senior in high school and before we know it we are going to be empty nesters.  Our house is pleanty big for us and our two furry kids (two dogs).

I am trying to upload a pic of our house but I am not being very successful :(

700 sq ft?  Two bed room. 

I would do some kind of actual visual, spray paint, use lime and outline floor pan for you to stand in and invision you idea. 

Not a lot of room especially two bedroom. 

Perhaps it would make a snug one bedroom studio type place 

Oh darn, I'd love to see your house lovetoridepre!

And I definitely am going to visit this place to see what these are all about and how they feel! I also want a basement that I would eventually finish so that would also be about 1400 sq ft of living space total!

Have you thought about a steel building?  A lot of people in Texas do it.  Buy a kit and then do the inside.  No bearing walls needed so you can do the floor plan however you want.  Very little mainentance and easy upkeep..

And extremely inexpensive to insure.  This is our plan when the time comes to move. 

Thank you for that suggestion too! I've seen them before but kind of forgot about them. I'll look into those too!!

Honestly if you’re looking to spend $180,000 anyway, why not look into building a home that is bigger than 700 sq ft? In your area there should be plenty of builders who could help you get around 1500sq ft on land with that budget. 

I've been considering that too Please Let Me Run. I'm going to talk to someone who just built my boss's 200 ft feed barn. He builds houses too I believe. Also looking into Clayton Homes modulars but really not sure about anything yet, weighing all options!!

I used to have an infatuation with the idea of a log cabin.  I mean, who hasn’t?  You have to really be careful when planning on building a log home.  All those beautiful logs can hide bad workmanship.  Logs are not very energy efficient.  Unless you have well insulated walls, your log home will be hot in the summer and cold in the winter (look up “R factor” for log homes).  Also, log homes need to be thoroughly washed every year, and the logs need to be treated fairly often...like every other year.  That can be a pain in the as$.  I’ve had a couple friends who have had a real hard time selling their log homes.  Generally, insurance costs more, as well.  The critters sure do like them....woodpeckers, carpenter ants, and termites. 

 Anyway, other than that, they sure seem cool.  

Log homes are very energy efficient but the type of wood used will determine how efficient it actually is.  

When you build your log cabin/house, the builder should use treated logs.  Once the house is up, chinked in, the house should be sealed.  Our cabin was built over 30 years ago and is currently going through a major cleaning,  treatment,  and re-chinked, and re-sealed.  It was not properly done when they built it.  Our log home contractor recommends washing every 3 years after he's completed the job.  I'll post before and after pictures once they are done.

Proper treatment and sealing will take care of insects (especially termites).  You can keep woodpeckers away too.  We' haven't had a problem with woodpeckers.   We did have some termite damage and they will be replacing a couple of logs.

Good luck with whatever you choose.  We really do love our log cabin!

Where I live we have sandy loam soil and termits love the sandy loam.. I love the log cabins but here you got to think about the termits, woodpeckers, and the humidity and moisture they sure can be tough on a log cabin, would love to have one in the back but theres alot of strikes of having one here..

Thanks for all the advice guys! Definitely makes me think. Hopefully we'll be able to do this this year.