Financing the Home, Interior Design and TRYING TO SELL OUR HOME

This particular topic should be of interest to all people considering a new home. What my family is going through right now, I wouldn't wish upon anyone. We are so excited to get started with building our Estemerwalt Log Home, but we need to sell our house.

Our Current Home - For Sale: $228,000.00

Since this is a tell all blog, I am going to share all the financial information about the home. We are currently in a home that we originally paid $238,00.00 in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. We have lived in this home for less than 3 years and currently owe $224,000.00. We have spoken to several real estate companies and due to the standard 6% interest that the real estate companies expect, we have decided to try and sell the home ourselves. We know the odds are against us, that only about 5% of homes listed by owner are ever sold. The hope is that we can list the home at a price that someone will find very attractive. We have the home listed for $228,000.00, which is $10,000.00 less than we paid for it three years ago. Also, there is a development being built by the same contractor a mile down the road, where our exact home is selling for approximately $260,000.00. The main issue is getting the word out!

Front Porch View of Pond

While we are trying to sell the home we would like to keep the process rolling on our new Estemerwalt Log Home, so I have spoken to two different finance companies, and I am already approved to take an additional mortgage with a 5% interest rate on top of my current mortgage. With the current economic climate, I am not comfortable with this option.

Backyard

We have also looked into a bridge loan which may be an option, but also has some negative aspects. Since I have never had a bridge loan before, I now have a basic understanding of how they work. When you have a bridge loan, you obviously continue to pay your first mortgage and you also pay the interest on your bridge loan. You must make sure you are financially able to handle both payments for the long haul.

It is not all gloom and doom and we are optimistic that we will sell the house soon. We will list with a real estate company by mid-June, but we would really like to give a family out there a great deal on a beautiful home. At the bottom of this blog you can see more info and photos of the home, so if you or anyone you know is interested in a great home at a great price don't hesitate to contact me!

On a lighter note, we have had our first opportunity to sit down with our interior designer, Struxtures Architecture and Construction. This phase of the project looks to be much more enjoyable than selling the home. Currently I am working with my wife Liza and pulling together many of the ideas and concepts we have for the home. Like I said to the Stuxtures staff, my wife and I have very different tastes. I would say the combination that best describes us is rustic elegance. Obviously me being rustic and Liza being elegant. Stuxtures assures me that combining the two in a log home is a realistic goal. We will be meeting with Stuxtures again in early June, so I should have more information and photos regarding the interior of the home next month.

While Estemerwalt Log Home designed the home and put together all the floor plans, it has been very beneficial having Stuxtures, a local company where we are building the home review the plans and make suggestions. Some of the things we have already changed include mirroring the home so the master bedroom windows are against the woodline and pond side of the home. Stuxtures is also very helpful when it comes to getting quotes and estimates from local contractors. Having a local company like Stuxtures to help us through everything from the interior designing to engineering changes has been extremely helpful. I look forward to bringing you more information as the project progresses.

I hope my next blog includes some great news that we sold our home, so until next time, we will keep plugging along.

HOUSE FOR SALE

• Location: Myerstown, Pennsylvania
• Price: $228,000.00
• Size: 2400 sq feet
• 4 Bedrooms
• 2.5 baths
• Large Back Deck
• Pond off the front porch
• Stream beside the home
• Premium Lot with Walkout basement
• Extra Layer of Block in Basement for high ceilings
• Large Backyard

Back Deck and Yard

Streamside neighbors

Living Room

Living Room and Kitchen

Formal Living Room

Dining Room

Streamside in the backyard

Designing The Home

Today I am going to talk about designing the home. Designing the home can certainly be fun and at the same time overwhelming. With so many different designs, so many little details that make a world of difference, it is very important to get it right the first time. So while designing the home has been very enjoyable, at times it has been stressful.

For A Larger PDF Version of the Actual Home - Click Here

Like I had mentioned before in one of my earlier blogs, Estemerwalt Log Homes is very different than many log home manufacturers in the fact that they encourage you to design your own home. This is one of the many reasons that we selected Estemerwalt. So that being said, we weren't handed 10 different models to choose from, we were off to do a lot of research. Our search began like many, on the internet and magazines. We knew going in where we were building the home so that helped tremendously.

From an exterior perspective, because we were building into the side of a hill overlooking a pond we wanted a home that had the large back deck, large back windows, and a walk out basement. We knew that we wanted comparable square footage with what we were already living in, 2700 sq feet. So in comparison to the interior, we had a really good idea of the look and size we wanted. When designing a home is always important to ask the experts. Every person we spoke to was in agreement that it is so important to know where you are building before you design the home. (Click Here for my blog on the Land and video)

Now the hard part, the interior. Going in I had one major request, I wanted a home that was very open, I did not want a compartmentalized home, if that makes sense. I love log homes that have that open feeling with the "Great Room" and cathedral ceilings. After selecting a couple of floor plans that my wife and I both liked, it was up to us to make a few minor adjustments. Take out a wall here, add a fireplace there and finally my wife and I were in agreement. You can see by looking at the floor plans that from the kitchen, dining room and great room it is going to be very open. To view the floor plans the links are provided below.

• Basement Floor Plan (pdf) - Click Here
• Floor 1 Floor Plan (pdf) - Click Here
• Floor 2 Floor Plan (pdf) - Click Here

I am also excited to announce the addition of our Interior Design & Architecture Sponsor - Struxures Architecture and Construction company. I had the opportunity to sit down with Kevin and Amos from Struxures a couple of weeks ago and discuss with them some of our needs including an interior designer. While discussing the interior design aspect of the home I discovered there main focus is obviously architecture and design. Not really considering them for this part of the project, as Estemerwalt Log Homes had already designed the home and floor plans, they explained to me that it is always wise to have someone look over the plans and make sure everything is properly laid out according to where you are building.

I took a walk with Kevin and Amos to the top of the hill where we are building our home with floor plans in hand and within in two minutes they made two suggestions that I never would have considered. First was to mirror the home so the master bedroom was on the same side as the woods instead of overlooking my parents property and secondly, was to move the garage to the other side of the home where the driveway would run directly too. Having these guys on board and having someone in the immediate area that can help us with all the design aspects based on where we are building is going to be a tremendous help. We welcome them on board and look forward to working together.

My next couple blogs are going to be dealing with a lot of not so fun stuff. This includes things like sewage, driveway permits, surveryors, etc. We are also interviewing contractors and should have a decision in the next few weeks. So check back regularly or subscribe to my blog for all the latest updates. Also, don't hesitate to send me an email with your home that you built and any suggestions you may have. I take all the help I can get! Until next time, I hope everyone has a very Happy Easter.

Purchasing Land

This past week I took the opportunity to make the three and a half hour trip to northwest Pennsylvania, where we will be building our Estemerwalt Log Home. I currently live in Myerstown, PA on the eastern side of the state and with our hectic schedule, finding the time to make the trip was difficult. However, it was important for me to show you where we will be building our home and why.
This was a chance to do some filming and bring you a better perspective than just photos. Although the time of year, last day of February, is certainly not the best time to showcase the beautiful surroundings, you will still get the idea.
When selecting this location, it was important to move my wife and children to a location where I could give my kids the same experiences and opportunities that I had growing up. I want to be able to come home and tell my son to put down the video game and go play outside without having to worry about the creepy guy down the street, or him getting hit by a car. What better place to build, but on the same hillsides that I roamed as a child.
My parents own a 60 acre farm in Clarion County, PA and I will be building our home on top of the hill approximately 150 yards from my parent's house. These are the hills where I grew up chasing small game as a youngster, playing football and baseball with my friends and shooting my first ever whitetail. I can't think of a better place to raise a family!
When choosing a home, it is good to research and ask for the advice of your builders, log home manufacturers, and anyone else involved in the project. They all seem to tell you the same thing - "THE LOCATION OF THE HOME WILL MAKE OR BREAK THE PROJECT." So what they are saying is, it is very important to take your time and don't just throw up a beautiful home in a questionable location. Make sure it is the perfect spot. Even if you have to put off building the home for some time, purchase the land first.
I am 100% sure of the location where we are building and it is going to exceed all of our dreams and expectations!

Show Wrap Up - Time To Buy Some Land

Just wanted to stop in and let everyone know that the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show was a tremendous success! Estemerwalt built us a beautiful 10x20 booth that knocked everyone's socks off. In fact, we had many vendors stopping by to see if Estemerwalt could build them a booth like ours. There was a lot of pressure for us to have a fantastic booth as we were the internet coverage sponsors of the show this year!

View Video Below of Our Interview With Jack Mundy of Estemerwalt Log Homes

It was a great week but now it is time to get down to business. Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting some video as well as blogs regarding "Purchasing Land". We have met with many people and have picked out just the right spot for my family and I. We are also getting close on the final designs of the home as well as our contractor. So check back soon!

See Us At The Eastern Outdoor Show

I just wanted to let you all know that we are going to be at the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA from February 7-15. We will be there with the Estemerwalt crew in our brand new booth that was built by Estemerwalt Log Homes. Stop by and see us in booth #3001 in the North Hall and for more information about the show you can visit - www.pasportsmenportal.com/eastern-sports-outdoor-show/

I look forward to seeing you there.

Here is a photo of what our booth looks like, of course it doesn't have all the nice signs and decorations on it yet, but it turned out awesome. As usual, Estemerwalt Log Homes always does an awesome job.

Choosing The Perfect Log Home Manufacturer

Estemerwalt Log Homes Team

Once we knew we wanted to build a log home, the search for a great company was on. Where do you start and how do you weed through all the companies out there and find the best one that will suit your needs? You may have guessed, my search began on the internet. The web is a great tool when doing research on log home companies as well as financing, designing the home, and more. Since I live in Pennsylvania, my search began with PA and we interviewed three different log home companies and the decision was easy, Estemerwalt Log Homes, Honesdale PA.

What I was looking for
I am not the handiest person around the house. I don't know much about building a home and really wanted to find a company that would hold my hand. I didn't want a company that would try and shove a standard design down my throat and leave me out there on my own to deal with contractors, purchasing the land, picking the accents and furnishings, etc. I am what you would call high maintenance and it was a must to find a company that would help us each step of the way. Also in today's economy it was vital to find a business that has been around for a long time and financially healthy. The last thing I wanted to do was put down a payment and have our log home company go bankrupt.

Why I Chose Estemerwalt Log Homes
The reason we chose Estemerwalt Log Homes was mainly the reasons that I mentioned above.

1. Estemerwalt has been in business since 1883, so I would say that qualifies as a financially healthy company.
2. Estemerwalt stressed the importance of hand holding. I really felt at ease with Kurt Propst, Owner and his entire staff. It is important that you feel comfortable with folks who will be building your home. You are going to be spending a lot of time with them over the next year.
   
3. One of the most important reasons, was the homes themselves. Estemerwalt builds log homes that are stunning and exactly what we were looking for.
4. We loved the option of building with the round logs. Of the three companies we interviewed, Estemerwalt was the only one that offered this style. We are building our home with the 12' round logs. Since their website says it better than I can, here it is;
   

   "This offers the beauty of the round log profile both inside and out. What sets us apart in the Northeast is our ability to offer larger diameter logs than many of our competitors. Round logs are available in 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch diameters. The larger diameter of logs not only offer a more dramatic appearance, they can also increase energy efficiency of your home. We offer either a log-on-log look or a chinked style for a more historical appearance. "

5. While the other two companies really wanted you to pick from their standard design set, Estemerwalt was excited and encouraged us to come up with our own design that would fit my family's needs. This really energized my wife and she has been spending a lot of time researching and determining what designs works best for us.

There you have it. Everyone is different and the needs of each family differ on what is important to them. For me, choosing Estemerwalt was a very easy decision and we are excited about working with them throughout the entire process. When you are looking for your log home provider, determine what is important to you go in with a plan, don't compromise. Good luck in your search.

Introduction - Dreams To Reality

Hello and welcome to my first blog on the Estemerwalt's Dreams To Reality website. I am thrilled to be bringing you along on this journey as my family and I build our dream log home in Northwest Pennsylvania. Since this is my first entry I should tell you a little bit about myself and what the Dreams To Reality website is all about.

I am an avid outdoorsmen and the owner of the Sportsmen Portal, a hunting and fishing website dedicated to my passion. Being a country boy at heart and growing up on the hillsides of Northwest PA I always had a dream to build my own log home someday.

For the past 13 years I have been living in the city and working as the Director of Marketing and Strategic planning of a health system. I came to the realization that I wanted something different for me and my family, and that included a more rural lifestyle with a log home. So I quit my job at the health system and here I am working full time for myself.

I have a wonderful family, wife Liza, son Colin, and daughter Addison and they have always been supportive of me and my goals and we are all very excited about moving to the country! You will probably be seeing much more of them over the next 10 months as we build our home.

Now you may be asking yourself, "what is the Dreams To Reality website and what kind of information can I find there?" Over the next 10 months or so we are going to be brining the log home building process to you like no other website, including my blogs, video, photos, email updates and more. This is site dedicated to helping you understand the log home building process from beginning to end. It is also an interactive process and I encourage you to get involved. Let me know what kind of questions you may have, or maybe you already have a log home and you can help me with some suggestions. I am all ears and look forward to hearing from you. Register to receive our email updates regarding the progress of our new Estemerwalt Log Home.