|
 Author | Topic: Looking at properties, Questions (Read 225 times) |
yanos
Chicken Person 1st Class
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male 
Posts: 23
Location: Alaska
|  | Looking at properties, Questions
« Thread Started on Aug 26, 2009, 2:56pm » | ![[Quote]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/quote.gif) |
So the past month has been spent looking at various properties throughout our area. The reasons we have decided to build in this area are two-fold 1.)No plan approval process or inspections required. 2.) The area has been very resistant to economic pressure. Home prices and sales are not decreasing.
Through our property search we've discovered a subdivision that is exactly where we would like to build. It is up against the mountains with easy backcountry, potential for exactly views and most of the lots are near our price target. It turns out that this tract of property was originally owned by a friend of my DW. The friend’s husband ended up selling the tract to an investor and then through some odd arrangement developed the subdivision. It sounds as if we may be able to get a decent deal on one of the properties.
I just recently got sent a packet of information containing, site map, price schedule and the covenants. I began reviewing the covenants today and a few things are jumping out at me. First of all, they limit the types of siding that can be used and do not allow flat roofs. These two items directly conflict with my preliminary design. Secondly, they do not allow occupancy of the building or temporary living quarters. We had plan on selling our house this spring or earlier to allow us to free up some additional capitol and then live onsite via a temporary structure until we had the shell completed. The idea being that if you’re living in unfinished home, you'll be more motivated to work on it after the workday.
DW and I have talked to the previously mentioned friend prior to receiving the covenants and she had mentioned that they may be willing to reword the covenants since they still have control of these documents until 25% of the lots are purchased.
So should I try to work with her to rewrite the covenants and/or revise my plans or is this a recipe for disaster in the long run? Comments, suggestions, experiences?
Thanks.
| |
|
kcmoken
Biscuit & Gravy Connisewer
member is offline
Joined: Jan 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 229
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #1 on Aug 26, 2009, 3:06pm » | |
Is the "no plan approval process and no inspections" viewed as a positive attribute, or negative attribute?
| |
|
yanos
Chicken Person 1st Class
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 23
Location: Alaska
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #2 on Aug 26, 2009, 5:01pm » | |
^I see your point, but I have built and designed buildings and homes in Anchorage, for example, and the review process is running nearly 7 months right now. I have dealt with many inspectors and it got to the point that I started to write down their schedules to ensure that the day I requested a particular inspection I would get a particular inspector, one whom would work with me.
The other side of it is that my father is a retired architect and I am a civil engineer. My dad does not have his stamp anymore (retired two years ago) and I do not have a stamp yet. Both of us are competent in what we do, so I am not concerned on the structure side of things.
The reason I see it as a positive attribute is that I do not need to retain the services or either discipline which allows mean to afford nicer finishes on the house. I do not see an advantage to moving to an area where their would be plan reviews and inspections. I believe the only areas in Alaska that do residential plan reviews and inspections are the Municipality of Anchorage (which I have considered), Fairbanks (lived there for 1 year, that's enough) and Juneau (no job options for us.)
Short answer: I may have considered moving to Anchorage, but between moving jobs and the headaches asscoiated with building within the Municipality, we decided to build in our area (Matanuska Susitna Borough).
| |
|
Rosemary
Spike Potentate
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa37/steinr_2007/708169592_dsc_0187c.jpg)
My Favorite Superman :>)
Joined: Mar 2007
Gender: Female 
Posts: 5,096
Location: Willamette Valley
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #3 on Aug 26, 2009, 7:37pm » | |
To rewrite convenants in Oregon requires an attorney and $ to file with the state. So if the same thing is required in AK who is paying the $?
If you only have to worry about yourself and your wife, living onsite may not be too bad. With kids, I wouldn't do it, personally. Good luck!
|
Enjoying the wonders of GrandMotherHood |
|
Allison
Moderator
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/Allison0704/BAHRR/Cat.jpg)
Kick Royal Ass, Merj!
Joined: May 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 53,671
Location: Outside the Box
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #4 on Aug 27, 2009, 7:12am » | |
Same thing here, with the Covenants. But, our Developer did do an addition to them after they were filed with the state.
Since your Developer is still in control, they should be able just to give you a variance. Their Covenants most likely states that any variance given in the past does not require them to give the same variance in the future.
They also may be worried if you are living in the house, how quickly you will actually finish the house. AKA they don't want a house to stay under construction for years, when it normally wouldn't take X months to build.
|
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
**************************************************************
If you don't know how to treat a princess, you shouldn't try to be around one! |
|
kcmoken
Biscuit & Gravy Connisewer
member is offline
Joined: Jan 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 229
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #5 on Aug 27, 2009, 7:37am » | |
OK, I'll take that you are perhaps qualified to undertake this project without plan review and inspections. Don't let the subs know that their work is being overseen by and architect or engineer, they tend to surcharge their bids that way.
| |
|
yanos
Chicken Person 1st Class
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 23
Location: Alaska
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #6 on Aug 27, 2009, 11:41am » | |
No kids to worry about. I would agree that would be a handful. Then again, my folks capitalized on their two children when we were 12 and 13, having us help them build a home...
I guess that I need to sit down with the developer. It does not appear that the covenants have been filled as of yet. I think I am just going to lay out our plans (figuratively and literally) on the table and see what they say. Since they are building their own home on an adjacent 50 Ac lot, they may be willing to work with us. If not, it wasn't meant to be.
^Don't tell my DW that I am going to be overseeing her work. It will mostly be the other way around! 
| |
|
Rosemary
Spike Potentate
member is offline
My Favorite Superman :>)
Joined: Mar 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 5,096
Location: Willamette Valley
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #7 on Aug 27, 2009, 12:48pm » | |
I think sitting down with them is a great idea. I'm sure they will work with you. good luck!
|
Enjoying the wonders of GrandMotherHood |
|
yanos
Chicken Person 1st Class
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 23
Location: Alaska
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #8 on Aug 27, 2009, 7:16pm » | |
We're crossing our fingers. I hate when I fall in love with something material (property in this case). You end up putting up with more crap than you should otherwise...
| |
|
robinnc
Spike Potentate
Gas price curmudgeon
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/Allison0704/BAHRR/RobinAvatar.jpg)
Kick ASS Merj...!!!!
Joined: Aug 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,570
Location: Charlotte suburb
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #9 on Aug 27, 2009, 9:37pm » | |
Good luck yanos.....hope it works out.
|
The measure of success is how high you bounce after you hit bottom... |
|
Allison
Moderator
member is offline
Kick Royal Ass, Merj!
Joined: May 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 53,671
Location: Outside the Box
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #10 on Aug 28, 2009, 7:37am » | |
I can hear Doris Day singing now.......
|
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
**************************************************************
If you don't know how to treat a princess, you shouldn't try to be around one! |
|
yanos
Chicken Person 1st Class
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 23
Location: Alaska
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #11 on Aug 28, 2009, 12:57pm » | |
Is this a reference to "The Man Who Knew Too Much"?
| |
|
Allison
Moderator
member is offline
Kick Royal Ass, Merj!
Joined: May 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 53,671
Location: Outside the Box
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #12 on Aug 28, 2009, 2:58pm » | |
lol No! Que sara sara.....
|
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
**************************************************************
If you don't know how to treat a princess, you shouldn't try to be around one! |
|
jasonmi
Star Meister
member is offline
Joined: Mar 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 15,097
Location: Nearing apogee
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #13 on Aug 28, 2009, 3:07pm » | |
Do not, under any circumstances, forget the very first commandment of building.
| |
|
Rosemary
Spike Potentate
member is offline
My Favorite Superman :>)
Joined: Mar 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 5,096
Location: Willamette Valley
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #14 on Aug 28, 2009, 3:37pm » | |
Aug 28, 2009, 3:07pm, jasonmi wrote:| Do not, under any circumstances, forget the very first commandment of building. |
|
which is?
|
Enjoying the wonders of GrandMotherHood |
|
yanos
Chicken Person 1st Class
member is offline
Joined: Jul 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 23
Location: Alaska
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #15 on Aug 28, 2009, 4:27pm » | |
Aug 28, 2009, 3:07pm, jasonmi wrote:| Do not, under any circumstances, forget the very first commandment of building. |
|
Do not fall in love with the puppy???
| |
|
jasonmi
Star Meister
member is offline
Joined: Mar 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 15,097
Location: Nearing apogee
| |
robinnc
Spike Potentate
Gas price curmudgeon
member is offline
Kick ASS Merj...!!!!
Joined: Aug 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 6,570
Location: Charlotte suburb
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #17 on Nov 18, 2009, 11:02pm » | |
Any new news on this yanos...... 
|
The measure of success is how high you bounce after you hit bottom... |
|
Allison
Moderator
member is offline
Kick Royal Ass, Merj!
Joined: May 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 53,671
Location: Outside the Box
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #18 on Dec 5, 2009, 9:13am » | |
Are you looking for property or building a home, Reem?
|
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
**************************************************************
If you don't know how to treat a princess, you shouldn't try to be around one! |
|
mizzou
Top of the Food Chain
member is offline
![[avatar]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/bmvi250/zz-bahrr%20pics/horsetiara.jpg)
Kick royal ass, Merj ! ! !
Joined: Nov 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 11,462
Location: Here .... most of the time
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #19 on Dec 5, 2009, 9:20am » | |
I'm looking for a translator. 
|
Attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance since 2002 |
|
Allison
Moderator
member is offline
Kick Royal Ass, Merj!
Joined: May 2005
Gender: Female
Posts: 53,671
Location: Outside the Box
| | Re: Looking at properties, Questions
« Reply #20 on Dec 5, 2009, 9:27am » | |
Always the comedian.
Aviedk and Ashkra - understood everything but these two words. Helps that I understand construction talk aka a jaw full of chew.
|
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
**************************************************************
If you don't know how to treat a princess, you shouldn't try to be around one! |
|
|
![[Home]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/bmvi250/zz-bahrr%20pics/Button-home.jpg)
![[Help]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/bmvi250/zz-bahrr%20pics/button-help.jpg)
![[Search]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/bmvi250/zz-bahrr%20pics/button-search.jpg)
![[Login]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/bmvi250/zz-bahrr%20pics/button-login.jpg)
![[Register]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/bmvi250/zz-bahrr%20pics/button-register.jpg)
![[Search This Thread]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/search2.gif)
![[Reply]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/reply.gif)
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif)
![[Print]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif)
Logged