Are Log homes more expensive (Sevierville: mortgage, refinance, loan)

[cubsfan]

than regular construction? I'm going to retire soon and have always wanted a log home. Are they practical? Are they more expensive to build? Are they more expensive to maintain?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

I too always wanted a log home. I am not in Tennessee yet, but plan to be in the future, so I have been researching different cities, land prices, pre-existing home prices, and then log home prices. It appears to me, after being on different websites, that they are more expensive to have made than a regular house, and more expensive to make than to buy pre-existing. However, their quality is supposed to be better, adn they sure look prettier. If I was a little bit better financially than I am, I would choose to do that route in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, the career paths my husband and I choose...without lots of savings...I don't think I can have my dream home

[Calabash]

Originally Posted by cubsfan

than regular construction? I'm going to retire soon and have always wanted a log home. Are they practical? Are they more expensive to build? Are they more expensive to maintain?
Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Check out this site:

[Magster]

I met a young man from Sevierville who actually builds log homes for a living. I was surprised when he told me that, not only are they a bit pricey, they require a lot of continuing maintenance. He rained on my parade.
I am equally certain there are others who have an entirely different take on the matter.
Cheers

[mbmouse]

I am in the mortgage industry. When you look to buy, build or refinance a log home there are several key factors you need to consider. 1. Comparables for an appraisal. Log homes require other log homes with similar square footage, number of floors, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc. all with in 10 miles of each other to be considered an acceptable comparable property. 2. Interest rates tend to be higher on log home properties unless you are able to find a local bank that will finance it on a portfolio basis.
That being said, if you build one and pay cash, you maybe be stuck with it as a non refinancable or sellable( yea, I like making up new words heheheh) property unless others build similar log homes within 10 miles of yours. Now appraisals can use comparable properties further than 10 miles but that makes it a "rural" property which means higher interest rates and/or less loan to value funding.
Now, how do builders of log cabins avoid this? They build several similar ones all in close proximity of one another. So it is not out of the question and certainly doable, just make sure you do your financial homework on them as well as the structure its self.
Hope this info helps.

[insanesmooch]

I used to listen to a radio show in Nashville that talked about log homes. My mom always wanted one so I paid more attention than I normally would have. They did say there is more maintenence to log homes. There is some type of sealer or something that does make it easier. It goes between the logs. Maybe someone else can elaborate on that.
I also heard on another radio show that log homes can be pricier and can be harder to resell. The main reason being there are not as many people in the market for log homes as there are just regular made homes. I guess that could depend on the area. There seem to be more log homes around the mountainous areas.

[cubsfan]

Originally Posted by Calabash

Check out this site:

Could you PM the link to me?

[macklen]

There are several log homes here on my ridge......my neighbor says he would never do it again. You have to re-c h i n k every year, the carpenter bees and woodpeckers are a constant problem. Way too much upkeep. My home is stone, a good option for a country Tennessee farmhouse look. You can have spruce walls with paint or white wash (any color wash, actually) to let the wood grain and knots show through. Very beautiful. Rough-hewn logs make great ceiling beams or for another authentic option, beadboard ceilings(farmhouses have had these for 2 centuries). Just don't use any drywall and you can get the look you want without the problems involved with log homes. Pine floors are very country-chic and cheap. Plain 1x5 boards for baseboards and trim. Many, many ways to achieve the look.

[swampbuck]

They do require more maint . And can be more to insure also obtaining financing can be more difficult.

[cubsfan]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It sounds like the log home dream isn't practical.