Driggs, Idaho-- cost of building? (Boise, Idaho Falls: fit in, homes, buying)

[Lightspeed]

We are planning to eventually retire part-time in Driggs. We have land, but going back and forth between buying a re-sale home/cabin vs. building a modest home (1200-1500 s.f.). We've looked at a lot of homes, just haven't found anything we've fallen in love with. Anyone build recently? Wondering what costs are in that region. We're going out there to speak to builders for the first time this summer.

[ShouldIMoveOrStayPut...?]

You have asked one of the most loaded blanket questions in the construction field.....costs can run the gamut from $80 per square foot to $200 and up....the sky's the limit.
You could be assembling a pre-fab acting as your own GC and doing some of the finish work yourself to a top of the line custom log home with mahogany cabinets, granite counters, soapstone sinks, etc.....
$110 to $150 is a good range for the average home fully contracted out, but as you are probably aware Driggs has become an upscale haven for Jackson Hole refugees and is becoming pricey.....builders tend to se $$$ signs in their eyes when they hear this is where you want to build.

A way to get good value for your money is to buy a discontinued model log home, or one where someone put a deposit and never paid for the final order and the company discounts it, etc.

Down the road in Menan there is a builder named Randy South who builds incredibly strong, near disaster proof and super efficient homes (you can heat them with a warm personality) called Monolithic Domes.....they are about as far from a conventional home or log home as you can get but the benefits are many...

Here's a link to their site if you would like to investigate.....

Monolithic Dome Institute

[katiewa]

We are currently building out Packsaddle Road (400 N) and will be moving up there toward the end of the summer. When you're visiting for the summer, stop in and talk to Don or Dave. I know Don has some stuff lined up for the fall as soon as he finishes our place; don't know what Dave's plans are. Neither is local: Don lives in Boise; Dave, Bozeman.

Might read this thread http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breakti...es?msg=86663.1 -- it's how we found Don. (Don found the rest of his crew.)

Best of luck.
Kathleen

[Lightspeed]

Originally Posted by katiewa

We are currently building out Packsaddle Road (400 N) and will be moving up there toward the end of the summer. When you're visiting for the summer, stop in and talk to Don or Dave. I know Don has some stuff lined up for the fall as soon as he finishes our place; don't know what Dave's plans are. Neither is local: Don lives in Boise; Dave, Bozeman.

Might read this thread http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breakti...es?msg=86663.1 -- it's how we found Don. (Don found the rest of his crew.)

Best of luck.
Kathleen

Thanks for the contacts.

Just curious what brings others to Driggs.... I know the demographics must be changing. Have you lived there before, or have family/friends there? Are you working there, retiring, living there full time or part-time?

We're building a cabin there because it is just so different than our current environment, the simplicity of life there, and the recreation. Other than spending vacstions in that region, it is very foreign but appealing to us.

[katiewa]

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

Thanks for the contacts.

Just curious what brings others to Driggs.... I know the demographics must be changing. Have you lived there before, or have family/friends there? Are you working there, retiring, living there full time or part-time?

We're building a cabin there because it is just so different than our current environment, the simplicity of life there, and the recreation. Other than spending vacstions in that region, it is very foreign but appealing to us.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner--the construction project rather engulfed us! After two GC's, we're down to the interior finishes and plan to be in before Christmas.

We used to live in Idaho Falls--Targhee was our favorite place to ski. Ended up moving to New Mexico--lots of other things happened--including ending up with some land outside Driggs. We've wanted to get back to SE Idaho since we left. Our son was entering high school this fall, so decided it was now or never.

We had a pretty good idea of the culture and were very much aware of the climate and the considerations of living "out". We love it--but it's definitely not for everyone. Even though we are not LDS, we fit in with that culture pretty well. We like the fact that most everything is closed on Sundays. We like the smallness--even if it ocassionally complicates things a bit. We like the schools--teachers and curriculum.

Kathleen