Pole Barn House

Anyone living in one, or no someone who is living in one?

Saw this company and thought it was pretty sweet, but I wanted to see if there was first hand experience on here with these types of homes.

http://mortonbuildings.com/

 

i'd be so down to live in that!

 

That's what I'm saying!!!

 

Anybody?!

 

I've been around Morton buildings, usually stables and work shops, many have offices built in that could easily be living quarters. Go for it. At least your garage would be bigger than your living quarters.

 

Appreciate the feedback, everything I've read about the Morton building homes has been good, couldn't find any comments. I was hoping someone on here is living or knows someone living in a 'pole-barn' or 'post-frame' construction type house. My buddy swears by them, but i know little.

 

Put one up on 40 acres I own a few years ago...

Questions?

 

You put up a Morton Building home specifically or a Pole-Barn/Post-Frame home? I have tons of questions!

 

I put up a different brand that was manufactured locally. It's on a slab, with R15 insulation for the building itself. I then did a build out on the interior for a living quarter...

In the living area, it seems like a typical house, from the outside, it looks like a metal barn.

Sure man, ask away.

 

Pole barn or steel building they are all very much the same between manufacturer. Cost per square foot might be slightly lower than a normal stick framed house. Only real difference other than price for a steel framed building vs pole barn is that I can build a larger steel building with out supports in the center.

Your cost to live in one would be based on how you outfit it.

 

Gotch ya, I've heard of a different heating and cooling systems in these types of homes. Supposed to be more expensive than central HVAC system but way more efficient.

What drew you towards building pole barn house? Was the cost a huge difference versus conventional?

 

@Joe D...... Just saying

 

^this would be awesome!

 

I guess I should say it's an all steel building...no polls.

It was cost and the intended planned use. My plan has been to build a stick built house on the same property.

So you already own the land you plan to build on?

 

I C, I know with these types of homes insuring them can be difficult as well as getting a loan to build, did you have any difficulty insuring or getting financing for your build (if you even needed to).

Not yet, but here in SE Michigan there are a lot of lots for sale within a 40min driving distance from where I currently live and work. Our house has gone up in value tremendously so if we sold, we would have a decent amount of cash to put towards building or buying something else with space. Our house right now is great, however:
1) My daughter is getting older and the school district that we are in now is not the best (unless we pay for charter school)
2) I'm in a subdivision with an HOA, which I hate (didnt think it would be bad, but want my own space to do whatever).
3) Also, my house backs up to a busy street, we are used to it, but I want peace and quiet lol!

 

Interesting! They look pretty nice in the photos when you finish them out well

 

Definitely, its almost too good to be true if it is cheaper than building a conventional house.

 

What a beautiful and charming home. We are in the process of buying our first home !

 

Congrats! It is a great feeling knowing your mortgage payments and everything is going towards equity, instead of renting where it gets you nothing haha!

 

As long as you jump through the hoops finance and insuring isn't an issue.

In general and depending on how your building is viewed most banks (I'd guess a very high percentage...maybe ~90%), that meaning all those banks that get the funding from the likes of Freedie Mac & Fannie Mae (the quasi federal bank lender) will not finance property with "excess" acreage or without a traditional home unless it happens to be a defined (smaller) lot in a sub.

I do have a mortgage but, it's not a mortgage in normal terms, I went private bank funding. It required a larger equity stake (30% or greater...that's really 1 of 2 hoops and doesn't sound like it's an issue for you) from the owner (me) and an interest rate higher than current market (hoop #2). Depending on your acreage, if you need funding, you might want to check out the so called Land Banks or Farm Credit Service type lenders after you attempt traditional banks...then go the private bank/funding.

The plus side is, property tax. It's already low in Mississippi but, being viewed as other than a primary residence and agriculture keeps my taxes and insurance <$800 annually (total combined). Of course that will change once and if I build a more traditional home.

I'm happy with mine man, the entire shell or outter building is insulated at R15 with the inner structure at R11 in the walls and R38 in the ceiling...as such my utility bills are ultra cheap. Cheap enough that I typically write one check a year for my gas and electric so I'm not writing or paying a bill every month.