Some useful thoughts here http://lessons-from-experience.blogspot.com/ on life, debt.

Land Prices Falling

Land / Building Plot Prices are definitely falling.

Interest rates are up, banks are worried about rolling over debt.

Good news.  Best time to buy a house is when it costs less to buy than rebuild!!!

At that stage land with planning will be cheap enough to buy and allow a great home to be built as opposed to a crudy ill designed and built box.

Finally had SOMETHING built!

This is a 'bedspacer' in the Philippines. 2 bedrooms with 4 beds (2 bunk beds) in each. 2 toilets and 2 shower cubicles.












Inside...














Cupboards/lockers...


















Toilets...

Construction Systems: Package Building

As part of H&R's 12 Steps of Self Build, we look at Package Builds and find there's more to choosing a build method than selecting materials and techniques.

ABOVE: Some examples of houses built by package companies. Clockwise from top left: Timber Frame by Baufritz; Timber Frame by Potton; Masonry by Design & Materials; Oak by TJ Crump & Oakwrights.

Central to the decision is the whole question of procurement, or how you get your superstructure delivered. Traditional, in this context, means going with an architect or a designer, allied with the skills of the local building trades. The alternative is to work with a dedicated homebuilding business, or package company. As a rule, these package companies deliver timber framed homes from their own factories, but there are many differences between them and if you are thinking of using one, you have to pay close attention to what it is they are offering.

Not all package-build companies are timber frame. Design & Materials, for example, works mainly with masonry mater - ials. There are some, such as Custom Homes, who offer a choice of build systems (SIPs or timber frame). And there are examples of continental custom home builders who deliver panelised masonry homes.

Scottish Experience

Scotland has the most developed packagebuild industry in the UK. It is based around a very standard product, delivered by a building trade which is fully conversant with it. Most Scottish package builds are based on timber frame, and the companies working in the sector all deliver much the same package, which includes the joinery ready-fitted and the plasterboard. This makes it much easier to compare quotations.

In contrast, package-build companies in the rest of the UK, and from the continent, work to very different standards and provide very different levels of service. Some are supplying nothing more than the superstructure, others offer to supply many additional items such as joinery and wall finishes, whilst many of the continental suppliers are keen to deliver every single item making up the finished house.

Even the measuring systems vary. Bear in mind that the unofficial UK method of measuring house size is to use the internal or net floor area, whereas most German and Swedish companies use the gross area, which includes the width of the external walls. So a 160m2 house measured the British way could well be said to be 180m2 using the continental system.

FACTORY BUILDS

There are a number of companies who can provide a full turnkey service, building virtually the whole house in a factory, not just the superstructure as happens with conventional timber frame. This solution is commonplace on the continent: the houses are usually timber frame but there are also masonry versions as well. This particular timber frame house is from German package company Baufritz. Read more about it here

SIPs Self Build - £1300 / sq metre = £124 / sq foot

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/your-projects/sips-self-build

A SIPs Self Build

Beccy and Steve Kestin’s unique energy-efficient home was built using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) – chosen for their fast construction time and airtightness – ensuring the property is superbly insulated, despite its extensive use of glazing.

• Comments - 0

Fact file

Name	Beccy and Steve Kestin
Profession	Mussel farmers
House Type	Four bedroom detached house
House Size	270 sq m
Finance	Private
Build Time	Jan '06 - March '07
Land Cost	£305000
Build Cost	£360000
Total Cost	£665000
Current Value	£850000
Cost /m2	£1333
Cost Saving	22 %
Build route	Builder and specialist subcontractors
Construction system	Structural insulated panles (SIPs), blockwork, zinc roof
Architectural features	Conservatory, Flat roof, Glazing, Open plan
County	Cornwall
Region	South West England

When Beccy and Steve Kestin decided to start a new life in Cornwall they took on two immense challenges. The first was to start up a mussel farm – Cornish Mussels – which they now run together, and the second was to build a brand new, eco-friendly home on the site of a bland 1950s bungalow.

Click here to read the full story...

Further reading:

• A SIPs House Built on a Small Site
• An Eco Friendly home Built Using SIPs
• Are SIPs the best choice for your self-build?

Demolition and site clearance

£1,200

Reinforced slab and footings

£12,800

Scaffolding

£1,000

Floor insulation

£2,100

Structural insulated panels (SIPs)

£59,000

Zinc roof, soffits gutters

£17,879

GRP flat roofs

£800

Velfac corner windows

£13,000

Conservatory and sliding doors

£74,000

External rendering

£17,000

Underfloor heating

£4,000

Plumbing

£8,500

Electrics

£11,500

Plasterboard and plastering

£7,000

Limestone flooring

£17,000

Sanitaryware

£7,500

Kitchen units, appliances and granite

£15,000

Hearth

£700

Heat recovery unit and fittings

£3,500

Staircase

£8,250

Lighting design and supply

£5,000

Central vacuum system

£1,000

Patio

£1,632

Deck

£1,500

Fees

£26,000

Main contractor

£43,000

try out selfbuild / low carbon house for weekend!

I don’t know why no one has thought of this before, but it’s taken an innovative Hereford-based green oak builder, TJ Crump Oakwrights, to pioneer the concept in the UK. Not only have they constructed a showhouse, but they offer it for weekend lets to prospective customers as well. Now you can get to live the dream, even if it’s only for a couple of nights.

Ever wondered what Lutron Homeworks is like to use? Or whether you can get to grips with MVHR? Or underfloor heating? Or a body shower? Or how a boiling water tap works? Or a whole house audio system? What are these big glazed gables like at night time when the stars are out? Or in the morning when the sun shines through? Or just what it’s like to pad about barefoot in a huge hallway, with cathedral ceilings? Seeing this stuff on tele and in magazines is one thing. Staying in a top of the range show house puts a whole new perspective on it.

OK, I admit it, I was a guest. It was a favour in return for a speaking engagement at their open day. But I learned a lot and really enjoyed the weekend. Not surprisingly, the house is booked up months in advance. And also I am not surprised to find that here is a housebuilding business with a full order book.

To-Do...

Check mortgage amounts

new job

rent somewhere to get to know area

building land or house probably looking at tail end of 2009 - and will be able to judge whether it's sensible, or even leave uk.

house prices - prediction dec 2009

using futures, halifax average house price down from

168K oct 2008
to
130k (ish) dec 2009

ie 23% fall.

so
250k => 182.5
300 => 231

i also reckon on another 10% 2010.

MUCH more for building land

HousePriceDisgrace

auction results/available

http://www.drivers.co.uk/auction/080701.htm - Sold £150,000
Freehold Commercial Premises
23 High Street, Wheathampstead, Herts Al4 8BB

A mid terrace two storey double fronted Grade 11 listed commercial premises previously retail A1 use. Situated in the heart of Wheathampstead High Street. The village is within approximately five miles of St Albans city centre with excellent transport links, the M25 and main line station affording easy access for commuting to London.

Details as follows: (approximate dimensions)
Retail Ground Floor
484 sq ft (45 sq m) 344 sq ft (Zone A 32 sq m)
First Floor
Office 377 sq ft (35 sq m)

================================================================================================
http://www.drivers.co.uk/auction/080746.htm - Available £850,000 - 5 houses + 5 flats ie 85k each for land
FREEHOLD DEVELOPMENT SITE

HESTA ANNEXE, REAR OF 291-301 WHITE HART LANE, TOTTENHAM N17 7BT

A freehold development site with planning consent granted on the 9th November 2007 for the construction of 3 x 4 bedroom houses, 2 x 3 bedroom houses, 4 x 2 bedroom flats and 4 x 1 bedroom flats with eleven car parking spaces. Ideally situated within a quarter of a mile of the A10 trunk road together with bus routes and local shopping parade. Full plans are available for inspection at the auctioneers office. The vendor informs us that there is a section 106 agreed with the London Borough of Haringey for a total amount of £141,838.55.

OFFERED FREEHOLD WITH FULL VACANT POSSESSION UPON COMPLETION

================================================================================================
http://www.drivers.co.uk/auction/080722.htm - SOLD £67,500
Freehold Vacant Site
Auburnville, Carthagena Estate, Broxbourne
EN10 6TA

A freehold level site extending to a quarter of an acre which was previously occupied by a detached residence which was partially burnt down some years ago. It is understood that there is electricity and water connected to the site. Ideally situated within ten meters of the Lea Valley Navigation and Wildlife nature reserve. This site offers the opportunity for potential reinstatement of the previous building subject to the necessary consents or for leisure purposes. The site lies within approximately one mile of Broxbourne main line station (Liverpool Street - 35minutes).

Details as follows: (approximate dimensions)
Approximate site area 1,210 sq yards (1,331 sq m)
Some parts of the previous dwelling remain on the
site

Offered Freehold And With Full Vacant Possession

================================================================================================

Auction prices down 18.5% may 2008 - Lib Dems

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgCEvtq03JkYVhBa7uj1J4T2F3gg

and this is excluding june/start july

Homes at auction take a hammering

20 hours ago

The average cost of a home being sold at auction has slumped by 17% during the past year, figures show.

Homes that went under the hammer between March and May fetched an average of £140,500 - £28,700 less than they sold for during the same period of 2007, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The study, based on the sale price of 4,748 properties around the country, found the rate of price falls accelerated to 18.5% in May.

There has also been a drop in the proportion of homes that are successfully sold at auction, with just 57% of all properties going under the hammer sold between March and May, down from 74% a year earlier.

The Liberal Democrats claimed the figures showed that annual house price falls were currently much steeper than the drop of around 6% currently being reported by house price indexes.

The party's Treasury spokesman, Lord Oakeshott, said: "Auctions are the sharp end of the housing market where real deals show the prices paid by real buyers. The published house price indices are well behind the game."

He said property professionals expected house prices to fall by 16.5% as measured by the Halifax house price index during the coming year and by 26.5% during the coming three years.

He said: "Ministers must wake up now and let housing associations and councils buy empty homes for social housing to rent.

"The feeble Government response to the housing crash so far has been like throwing pennies down a drain."

Abandoned Real Estate Bus Tours - Long Island Foreclosure Tours (VIDEO)

A unique bus tours company is capitalizing on the hard hit American real estate market. The Long Island Foreclosure Tours take patrons on excursions to homes which have been abandoned, and often vandalized by former owners, to show potential investors the unique opportunities in the New York district.

Ray Wilson is in an unfavorable career position at this point—he’s a New York real estate agent. On Long Island alone, generally a desirable living area with beautiful beach front, single family homes has experienced horrible slumps in the market, with people destroying their own homes before they’re evicted. Out of misplaced anger and frustration, former owners break down doors, demolish walls or break water pipes.

Wilson guides groups of around a dozen potential buyers at a time on the the aforementioned bus tours. Housing costs haven’t been this low in years and Wilson is helping those interested in taking advantage of the opportunity. The bus tours cost $50, but tour members get a $500 discount on any piece of real estate purchase as a result.

True, most of them are fixer-uppers, but Wilson doesn’t try to hide that fact, and most people are able to see the potential beyond the rubble. The prices are just too good to let go. For example, one house in Hyde Park sold for $595,000 in 2006 and is now listed at $270,000. It would probably only take $3,000 - $5,000 to bring it up to most people’s dream home standards.

http://www.lifttours.com/
http://www.foreclosuretoursinternational.com/

house / land prices down

now... prices down. dev sites abandoned / locked up.

1) Leave UK - will wait until lose job. Then off for a few years. maybe buy abroad

2) Buy dev plot 5-7 houses. redo as 2 less, but bigger. own house, slowly build others and rent out?

3) Buy near coast / west country. places where no jobs, so market crashes as people need to sell 2nd homes. but eventually londoners return in 12 years.

4) find out how to buy mooring / river rights etc. luxury show off which have low utility but high volatility

5) buy moorings in LONDON, docklands, southampton, chichester, rivers, canals.

Background

In March 2007, Baufritz began the construction of its very first carbon positive* house in the UK in the beautiful coastal village of Trevone Bay near Padstow in Cornwall. Despite the adverse weather conditions on site, (35 mile per hour winds, sleet and hail storms!) the German construction team still made excellent progress, completing the shell of the timber-frame house in just two and a half days.

House Nicholls is a bespoke timber-frame house with stunning coastal views. The house comprises a self contained basement, sun lounge and a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea. The building encompasses around 305 sq metres of living space on a 0.6 ha plot. Owners, Andrew and Alison Nicholls, first demolished their holiday home they had owned for years to make way for the new house which has been designed and built to their own individual requirements. The house is highly energy efficient as it is built using environmentally friendly manufacturing methods and products. The combination of wood stove, Aga, solar panels and bore-hole providing fresh spring water from beneath the house means that the Nicholls expect that their utility bills will be only a few hundred pounds per year.

This house won 'Best Timber House' in the UK in the national Homebuildnig & Renovating Awards in 2007.

Make a unique statement

People's dreams don't fit neatly into boxes. So we let your vision guide us. Just tell us what you want from your dream home, and we’ll turn it into reality in ways you probably hadn't thought possible.

Every Baufritz home starts with you telling us exactly what you want, exactly how you want it – safe in the knowledge that it’s backed up by unrivalled experience and ongoing, innovative technology development. Baufritz is one of the most modern and innovative timber house construction firms in Europe, combining over 100 years of experience in the traditional craft of timber building with state-of-the-art systems and construction methods. Tried and tested solutions blend with the very latest materials and design options to make your personal dream a reality. And with an ongoing programme of research and more than 40 patents to our name, you can be certain of a home that exceeds even the most exacting standards, where security, retention of value and an unparalleled standard of comfort are assured.

For those who need a little extra help our team of friendly and experienced architects and designers are on hand to help. For added inspiration why not visit our new 'House of Ideas' located at our German HQ in Erkeheim. This building is packed with innovative ideas to stimulate ideas for your new home. Click here for further information about the 'House of Ideas'.

Additional features available to enhance the luxury for your home include:

• Sliding roof windows that can be opened at the push of a button
• Wellbeing area with luxurious finishes, steam room, sauna, heat loungers and whirlpool
• Outdoor living area, secluded private roof gardens and terraces
• State-of-the-art jacuzzis
• Stunning conservatories

House sitting

n return for babysitting empty properties to deter squatters, property firm Camelot Property charges its ‘guardians’ only one-fifth of local rents. This works out at about £200 a month in London, elsewhere £150.

What kind of properties are on offer?

Properties include houses, churches and castles, so you could end up living it up in a sprawling country pile for just £50 a week. Check out the full list of available properties.

How much will it cost?

Weekly rents are about £25 to £60, including all utility bills, with a £300 returnable deposit. Other costs to bear in mind include a £50 placement fee per property and you’re also obliged to purchase a fire safety pack from Camelot for £60.

You need to be flexible

This scheme won’t be suitable for everyone; you’ll need to be flexible, as you could be told to move out at anytime (though many guardians live in the same property for years). Also, while some properties are brand spanking new apartments, others need a bit of work doing, so this is more suited to adventurous types.

As no one in MSE Towers have tried this, we can't vouch for success or not, but would love MoneySavers feedback.

Self-build property: what are the tax advantages?

Though relatively straight-forward, moving into an existing property in today’s market is by no means cheap. It’s one reason for the growing popularity of self-built homes. Sure, the stress and strain of dealing with everything from faulty septic tanks to sinking foundations may be enough to have you rushing for an estate agent’s office. But the fact that the average completed self-build property can be worth between 25-30% more than the cost of building it might be enough to have you taking a step back outside.

Self-build property: what are the tax advantages?

There are also some attractive tax advantages to building your own home. Stamp duty is only due on the land that you buy, and then only if it costs more than £125,000, while VAT is reclaimable on materials and labour. There’s also the added satisfaction that, in bypassing a developer, you’re instantly wiping out his profit. It’s no surprise that the sector is attracting a growing level of interest – mortgage brokers reckon that between 10% and 12% of all new homes in the UK are now being self-built.

Unsurprisingly, Gordon Brown has noticed the hullabaloo, and was this week reported to be looking again at introducing a “planning-gain supplement” – basically a tax on developers great and small. According to a recent report from property consultancy Knight Frank, this new land levy from the chancellor might be enough to discourage smaller developments by making them unviable.

Self-build property: plots, loans and planning permission

However, the levy, if introduced at all, isn’t due until at least April 2008, which means there is still time to find a plot of land on which to build. Lenders such as Norwich and Peterborough, Nationwide and Leeds Building Society typically lend up to 95% of the cost of building a property, and 95% of the cost of purchasing the plot. And it’s the latter that will probably give you the most headaches, as well as taking the biggest chunk from your wallet in a country already heaving at the sides from overdevelopment. “Ask any self-builder the main hurdle to getting the home of their dreams and they will tell you that finding a suitable piece of land is the problem,” says Jason Orme, editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, in the FT.

To make matters worse, lenders will refuse to finance your new home unless at the very least it has “outline planning permission”, although some will require even more advanced planning permission. As a result, plots of land with even the most basic form of planning permission don’t come cheap. The average plot starts from £120,000 in Surrey against just £45,000 in Durham, says the FT, and should typically account for 30% of your overall budget, says The Sunday Times.

So planning your costs is paramount to successfully building a new home if you’re looking for that 25-30% uplift. And, of course, remember to keep your fingers crossed that the property market doesn’t collapse mid-build.

Financing a Self Build Property

Financing a Self Build Property

Investors are becoming increasingly aware of the money that can be made out of building property. This is all well and good; however, the financing of these ventures can be very complicated, putting many investors off an otherwise sound investment. Don’t be one of them!

Buying Land

Buying land in order to develop one or more properties is generally considered a sound financial investment, particularly for those with building experience who can cut the build costs to a minimum. Having said this, the process can be a lot harder, with plenty of hurdles that can easily trip up the inexperienced investor.

Financing is a huge issue for investors looking to self build; not only does the cash have to be raised to purchase the land, but there are also the regular payments that will be due to builders, architects and other professionals, along the way. A traditional mortgage is normally out of the question as companies will be reluctant to offer finance secured on a house that is not yet built. In addition, the cost of building a property often over-runs dramatically and developers could find themselves in a position of running out of funds, before the project is complete.

Many mortgage companies have realised that the issue of finance can prevent otherwise lucrative investments from going ahead. Based on this, there is now a wide range of ‘self build mortgages’ or ‘stage payment mortgages’ as they are often referred to by banks and brokers. Currently, there are approximately 50 self build mortgages available and although traditionally these were provided by specialist lenders, the trend has moved towards more mainstream establishments offering the same facilities, namely HSBC and Halifax.

Every lender has a different set of criteria although, as a general rule, a mortgage provider will not normally provide more than 75 percent of the cost of the building plot itself and not more than around 60 percent of the build cost of the property. Having said this, if cash is particularly tight, there are some specialist lenders such as Buildstore which will lend up to 95 percent of the value of the building plot. If you are looking for a large amount of financing, a specialist lender may be a better bet; alternatively, it may be possible to take out a personal loan, although these rates can be substantially higher and, therefore, have a negative impact on your potential profit. Another often favoured option is to take a larger mortgage on the current family home to make up the shortfall. This, however, has a degree of risk attached, because if you fail to make both payments, you could potentially find yourself homeless and investment-less!

Self build mortgages are normally paid out in five stages. This is a great way of going about the process of self build, as investors are not then paying interest on finance that they do not yet require. This is also very useful for controlling adequate budgeting and for helping new developers ensure that no one stage of the build runs terribly over budget.

The first stage will be the acquisition of the land although, as previously mentioned, it is unusual to receive more than 75 percent of the actual purchase cost. The second stage will be paid out at the completion of the foundations, third at the completion of the roof plate, fourth at the completion of the plastering and the final stage at the completion of the property.

Bear in mind that mortgage lenders are likely to require regular visits by their personnel for valuation purposes and to ensure that the final build is worth the amount of money that is being loaned by the bank.

Do not be put off by the complications of a self build mortgage; for those who battle through the paperwork, there is plenty of profit to be made!

For more information on self build mortgages, take a look at these sites:

www.selfbuild-mortgages.co.uk
www.selfbuildit.co.uk
www.projectmortgages.co.uk

Self build pics - Cambridgeshire

Supplier List

Supplier & Contact List
Posted: July 6, 2006 12:00:00 AM
I'll only put in here contacts that I'm serious about, people that I would put my trust in to do a good job. I'm afraid I can't guarantee anyone else's work though! Preliminaries Peter Farmer (architect) 01462 711306 Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & possibly areas nearby Don Stevenson & Associates (site survey) Don Stevenson 01234 340380 Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Exterior Works Brickability East Anglia (chimneys & cills) Charles Johnson 01480 484666 UK Carey & Fox (windows) Jason Carey 01977 657618 / 01977 608069 UK Cooper Paving & Building Services (groundworks) Ben Cooper 01954 202486 / 07786 313989 Cambridge, Saffron Walden, Newmarket & Huntingdon Hancocks Glazing (triangle window) Paul Hancocks 07710 416301 Cambridgeshire H & P Aerials Gary & Jon 01353 740078 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby John Henry Civil Engineers (sewage works) John Henry Junior 01954 288011 Latta Loo Hire 01487 842333 East Anglia & possibly other areas Profix (scaffolding hire) Steve Hipwell 0796 7599781 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby The Wood Floor Company (engineered flooring) Richard Calder 01993 418899 UK White Roofing Services Neil Barnes 01223 872100 Interior Works Amina Technologies Ltd (plastered "in the wall" speakers) Richard Newlove 01480 354 390 UK Anglia Fireplaces (Bellfire) Richard Rawlings 01223 234713 UK Aquatechnic (wet room) 0845 226 8283 Global BJ Waller (architectural ironmongers) 01353 647111 Shop in Ely, Cambs Brian Mitchell (screeder) 01223 292989 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby EGC Tiles (ceramic tile specialist) 01954 781010 Shop in Cambs Invisible Heating Systems Ltd (under floor heating) Steve 01854 613161 UK Interconnection (audio, lighting & home cinema systems) Paul Walker 01284 768676 East Anglia Fermacell (Xella dry lining system) 0870 6090306 UK Giuseppe Piran (painting & decorating) 01954 201167 / 07748 155475 East Anglia & areas nearby - for other areas please enquire Hafele (furniture fittings & hardware) 01788 542020 Global Lee Mitchell (tiler & Brian's son) 079680 71489 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby P&S Contracts (plumbing & under floor heating systems) Mick Hewitt 01234 782788 / 07767 414141 Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Shape Electrical Lee Gray 07883 068605 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Total Kitchens George Rose 01992 561995 Cambridgeshire, Essex, London & possibly other areas QVS Electrical (electrical wholsalers) 07883 068605 Shop in Cambs & buy online They didn't work for me but I've met them and they seem excellent. Back To Front Exterior Designs (exterior transformations) 01252 820984 UK Design & Materials (project management) Tom Somerville 01909 730605 UK FDS Building Services Franco De Simone 01223 441668 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Fusion Timber Frame Jim Nolan / Neil Plowman 0871 200 2430 UK John Meadows (carpenter) 07969 116998 Cambridgeshire & Essex Hilton Heating Mark Hilton 07836 261749 Cambridgeshire, Suffolk & areas nearby Ian (tiler) 079797 67360 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Lawrence Smith Joinery 01480 462994 East Anglia Martin G Abbs & Sons (plumbing & heating) Martin Abbs 01954 206059 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Network Electrical Graham Barber 07831 526588 Cambridgeshire & areas nearby Snappy Couriers Kevin Fulcher 01223 565141 Cambridgeshire, Suffolk & areas nearby Terry Trundley (carpenter) 07778 954298 Cambridge The Sash Restoration Co. Ltd (sash windows) Ronnie Salisbury 01432 359562 UK
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