| Foothills of the Appalachian Chain | | | | |
| Alabama is home to the southern most foothill, or | | | | Once you locate the right lot, find a builder that is |
| "wrinkle" of the Appalachian Mountain chain, Double | | | | familiar with the construction of log homes. Although |
| Oak Mountain. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, | | | | some log home manufacturers, such as Southerland |
| Double Oak Mountain. could be referred to as the | | | | Log Homes, offer pre-numbered "kits" that can be |
| anchor of the Appalachian Chain. Regardless, the | | | | built by the purchaser, I would recommend hiring a |
| proximity of Birmingham to the "wrinkles" of the | | | | professional licensed contractor to get the job done. |
| Appalachian Mountains affords residents looking for a | | | | (Unless, of course, if you are going for the extreme |
| mountain retreat or log home, a natural woodland | | | | log home experience, then all you need is a few |
| environment in which to build. | | | | twigs, some strings, and mud so there isn't much |
| Building a Log Home | | | | need for a contractor). A professional builder will |
| Building a log home in Birmingham, Alabama is similar | | | | overlook the project to ensure everything is built to |
| to building a log home off in the mountains or even | | | | code. |
| building a "traditional" home in Birmingham. For | | | | When you have located a builder or two that has |
| instance, you will need to secure financing, locate a | | | | experience building log homes, even if it is from a kit, |
| lot, find a builder, then wait for the home to be | | | | interview them. Get to know them. Get references. |
| completed. Recently, I have been receiving | | | | This process should be no different than if you are |
| information requests involving the purchase of log | | | | building a spec house or a custom home. If hiring a |
| homes in Birmingham and beyond, so I thought I | | | | person to overlook and build your log home, ensure |
| would give a short detail of the steps involved to | | | | that they are qualified by checking their references, |
| help people get started. | | | | past jobs, and current builds. If the quality is |
| Log Home Financing | | | | acceptable on their other jobs, odds are in your |
| Like other pre-construction loans, you will need to | | | | favor that they will put forth the effort to ensure |
| contact your mortgage professional regarding | | | | your home is built at the same level of quality. |
| financing your log home. This loan should be similarly | | | | Building a Log Home |
| structured to any other new construction loan, but | | | | Once you have secured your financing, land, and |
| your mortgage lender will be able to assist you. Our | | | | builder, building the log home should seem like a |
| best advice is the same as any home shopping | | | | breeze. But, prepare for the unexpected. Like many |
| scenario. Get Pre-Approved prior to shopping. This will | | | | residential builds, the building of your log home can |
| greatly assist in your negotiating when working out | | | | experience delays that can interfere with the original |
| the details on your log home's build cost. | | | | schedule. Inspections will need to be completed by |
| Finding Land in Birmingham: | | | | the city, or county, along with any that your |
| Locating the right piece of property for sale on which | | | | mortgage lender requests. Rain can slow things down |
| to build a log home can be tricky. Especially if you are | | | | as well. Be patient though, these types of |
| attempting to buy land in Birmingham, Alabama or in | | | | occurrences are why we recommended the |
| one of the surrounding areas. Your best bet would | | | | experienced log home builder. For when delays |
| be to contact a local Realtor (R) that understands | | | | happen, an experienced home builder will be able to |
| your real estate needs and can assist you in locating | | | | navigate through the delays and obstacles by |
| property. Many neighborhoods in Birmingham have | | | | coordinating his subcontractors to maximize their |
| strict restrictions on the types of homes allowed to | | | | efforts while sticking to the timeline. |
| be built in that particular neighborhood, so be | | | | Live the Log Home Dream |
| prepared to look for land outside of established | | | | Ok, it may not be everyone's dream to live in a log |
| neighborhoods. Parcels of land in varying sizes are for | | | | home in Birmingham, Alabama, but why not? Basically, |
| sale throughout the Birmingham area, yet a thorough | | | | building a log home in Birmingham is really no different |
| search of the Birmingham MLS may be needed to | | | | than building a custom home in a distinguished |
| ensure success. If starting a search without the help | | | | neighborhood. The basic outline of building a home is |
| of a real estate agent, I would recommend beginning | | | | the same, except that in the end, you have a log |
| with lots or parcels of land greater than 1 acre in size. | | | | home instead of brick or hardy plank exterior home. |
| This should eliminate most neighborhoods in the | | | | About the only difficulty I have discovered is finding |
| Birmingham area and eliminate the need to sift | | | | the right piece of land for sale in Birmingham that |
| through unavailable lots. | | | | could "hold" a log home and not look silly. |
| Log Home Builders: | | | | |