We're moving...build vs. buy, what say you?

[shawn]

And, if your glasses are somewhat wet when putting away on MDF, eventually the shelving will start to swell and break down.

A hot, dry glass straight out of the dishwasher will take the foil facing right-the-fuck-off.

 

[SHINTON]

Man I love these threads and man I wish some of these guys lived / worked closer to the Triad so I could hire them to build MY forever home!! Been looking 100% in the "Kernersville" area and right now buying is waaaaaay cheaper than building based on what I have seen so far. We bought a home 1 street over for $115k, 1968 ranch as a "flip/rent" house and will end up at $180k or so in it. 1600sf, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and full basement (that leaks, cinder block walls, fixed a lot but not everything.)

Buying quick is probably the biggest mistake, but is also the 'easiest' solution. Not sure there is a better one, I can tell you there have been LOTS of tears over last few months / weeks and now days as we are selling our home next week and the rent/flip house is not ready to move in yet. But, it is still the right decision for us, we already own our land, and by doing this in between home I can take my time, find the RIGHT contractor that will use the RIGHT (NC4x4 approved) materials etc. If you can stand it, buying a "good buy" to fix up, rent / flip is a decent way to not lose your 'rent' money but of course then when the time comes to buy this will be part of the final equation on loan approvals on the new place. Having to then sell the rent/flip place before you can buy / build is a second PITA, but in theory this will save you money or even make a few bucks on your "between" home.

Final out of the box thought... if you find land you love and can buy it, you might be able to get away with a "tiny house" concept for a short while during construction. (Aka, buy a camper for 6-10k, live in it, sell it for 4-8k after?) I say this as I am moving into our camper this week, just 2 of us though so not as hard as a family of 4. Expecting in our case to live in our camper 2-6 weeks.

 

[Fabrik8]

I have no issue with MDF cabinet doors, although I prefer plywood carcasses/boxes for the reasons of moisture and holding a screw well. MDF is a really good substrate for veneer, and a lot of people prefer it because it won't twist/warp like a plywood substrate can (even Baltic), so the doors always stay flat. So if the cabinets are a modern blank door with something like walnut veneer or will be painted, edgebanded MDF is about the most stable thing you can get. You can buy veneered sheets of MDF specifically for that reason. I'm thinking about building our cabinets when we do the kitchen in this house, and they'll be veneered MDF doors on plywood boxes probably. Maybe Baltic or Appleply doors though, with exposed ply edges because I like the look...

I really don't care for any kind of rustic or Shaker-style stuff in our house, so my opinions are limited to what works well for the styles I like (flush/blank doors).

 

[CasterTroy]

Been looking 100% in the "Kernersville" area

FWIW....the same size house that I live in.....but in Kernersville, was 4x more in taxes.

Forsyth county PLUS Kernerville taxes are horrendous compared to Davidson county

 

[UTfball68]

I'm with you, or at least what I think the spirit of your conversation is here.

I dont want hassles and aggravation. I dont want cold drafts around cheap ass windows. I dont want to feel like the floor is spongy. Etc. But I'm not real picky on the quality of my granite countertops. My wife like the color and when I set food on them it doesnt hit the floor. Purpose served. I'm not very pretentious when it comes to housing. Actually pretentious isnt the right word because that ahs a negative connotation and I dont mean it that way.
Let me say this, I care much more about the comfort of my boots than the quality of my kitchen cabinets.

I dont plan to live here forever and they will be someone else's headache whenever they fall apart.

I've been in @shawn 's redid kitchen a few times. (we dont usually make it past the kitchen..) Its awesome. Great place to hang out. Really cool layout and design they did a great job. And he and @trailhugger are passionate about it. That's what matter. Its theirs and they like it. I still remember a long conversation we had about how he had to reinforce where a joist was, and how he designed this neat solution. Obviously I dont remember the details, but I remember the passion in his voice and the pride he had in the outcome. Awesome. I know it brings happiness on some level to have that ownership. But for me...it wouldnt bring that same pride. Different strokes and such.
Id rather take than $XXK and have a dingy kitchen and another toy, or more honestly, another cheap property to put a roof over someone's head and put some cash in my pocket.

We bought a mid sized tract of land a year or so back and eventually plan to build a house there, maybe. This is one of the reasons I say maybe. I'm cheaper than a broke jew. I know left to my own devices I will cut every corner possible and brag about my low $/sqft and probably end up with something I dont love....

So for me...I fall on the buy side of the equation

You're 100% right on the spirit/direction of where I was going with my comments. The only person that gets to spend my money without defending themselves, is my wife. Otherwise, you're going to have to prove to me why X is better than Y. I'm not an expert, don't claim to be, but I need answers, not 'just because'. Will the added cost yield quick ROI and what's the IRR look like. Will that fancy window save me more over the life time of me living there, if the answer is no...forget it. Will springing for $6k extra in cabinets yield a $6k or more higher selling price, if not...forget it. Will this insulation last longer/be more efficient, if not...forget it. But like you said, different strokes...for me, if it's not making more money than I have in it, or making my life significantly easier, I certainly don't care. But that's where I'd hire a Shawn/Cyd so they could say 'listen up dipshit, you need this, it's not option, stay in your lane' and challenge me and tell me why I'm wrong.

 

[Cribb]

Act dr. I may know a guy there . There’s a 2.7 acre lot for sale about 1/4 mile north on friendship leadford but like Troy said, you’ll pay a lot per acre on the smaller tracts. It’s about $70k if I remember right and you’ll have to cross a creek (ditch) to get to the buildable part of the lot in the back. I imagine that would get expensive with utilities.

On 109, there’s ~16 acres where it crosses Abbott’s creek. It was an old house on it that’s a rental.

Y’all probably already know about these since you’ve been looking.

Everything Troy said is right on. My wife is a realtor and could help you get on listing book or with whatever questions you may have. Longbottom is the most connected in the area for sure. Being in the Oak Grove district is definitely a plus. I have one at the middle school now and we’re pleased with it.

I think there’s still a house for sale on Act. Not sure to be honest. I don’t get to the end of the road much.

If I can help with any questions, hollar!

Oh, and my house is ALWAYS for sale . I want to go the route Troy is one of these days. I have to stay in the area due to the kids.

 

[CasterTroy]

Act dr. I may know a guy there . There’s a 2.7 acre lot for sale about 1/4 mile north on friendship leadford

Next to the new foundation that's next to that gawd awful white brick monstrosity?

 

[Cribb]

Next to the new foundation that's next to that gawd awful white brick monstrosity?

Lol. Nope, but close. Just down the rd on the right going north before crossing Soakus creek (ditch). Next to the cow pasture.

 

[kaiser715]

As to cabinets: On my build, I spent where I should, and saved where I could. I didn't put in the best cabs available, and didn't put in the cheapest ether. I picked around the middle of the range, maybe a little short. Face frames and doors are painted maple. Drawers are wood. Carcasses are sawdust and glue. Cabinets in our old house where nice but cheap, and held up just fine for 16 years we were there. BUT we have no kids, and are not rough on our own stuff. I figured if they held up fine for us, similar would be just fine. Quote for full 3/4 plywood cases was about 20k more than the mid range stuff. (Lots of cabinets in the house)

So...it depends on how you treat your stuff.

We only had two problems with the old. First was when we found out that the back door was leaking. Rotted the door frame, and a couple of feet of subfloor, and seeped up to the cabinet, and ruined the end base cab. I rebuilt that carcass from plywood, reused the face frame and door, and you can't tell it ever happened. New house I put water leak sensors at the dishwasher/sink, fridge, laundry, hooked to my alarm system. I am going to tie the alarm system to a water shutoff solenoid, so if ever have a leak near the cabs, I'll know asap, and water spill should be limited to just a few gallons.

Second, had one standalone upper cabinet that was way overloaded. Noticed one day it was pulled from the wall about 1/8". A bunch of pocket screws and some scrap, and it was good as new. As much crap that was in the one cab, and the fact that it wasn't tied to any other cabs for support, even a plywood cab wold have failed sooner or later.

Would I rather have the best possible cabs out there? YES. Are the worth it? Not to me.

 

[rcalexander105]

My daughter calls North Davidson the home of the "Yee-Yee boys" No idea what that means, other than super redneck from what I understand.

I think this is what she's referring to (3:37 for reference).

 

[CasterTroy]

I think I lost a few IQ watching that

I'll never understand country music

 

[rcalexander105]

I think I lost a few IQ watching that

I'll never understand country music

Oh it's pretty bad for sure. My wife saw this video (as I was searching to post it here) after I read her part of what you had to say and she said "if you start listening to that we're definitely not moving back to Davidson county". I tried telling her she just needs to let her hair down a bit, but she can be a bit of a little princess at times...

 

[sam(slim)]

I grew up in the Wallburg/midway area and went to school at North. I now live in Welcome and my kids go to North. All the schools in Northern Davidson County are well above what you will find across the line in Forsyth or Guilford. Most the houses in the area are selling fast (last two in our neighborhood where under contract in days of going on market) if priced reasonably and in good condition. We built our last house in Wallburg and bought the one we have now as a bank short sell. I would like to build our next in the area but would probably buy again dues to costs and time frame.

 

[Cribb]

Oh, and about the particleboard and mdf. I work in this industry. Nothing wrong with either panel in the correct application. Wet environments are not that correct application. Lol. Even with moisture resistant resins, you may as well leave these panels to drawer parts, cabinet parts, and things ABOVE the water line.

Like it or not, these panels are everywhere and perform well in the correct applications. Some of the thermally fused laminated panels they’re putting out these days are great.

Off soap box. Over and out!

 

[sam(slim)]

Forgot to add check on the proposed 109 project to see how it affects the area you are looking at.

 

[CasterTroy]

Forgot to add check on the proposed 109 project to see how it affects the area you are looking at.

My house and entire street is in the direct path. We recieved notice back in April the project is permanently scrapped. We dont even have to list it as a disclosure now

 

[YotaOnRocks]

I loved that home, and renovated it completely to my desire. Unfortunately the state wanted that property to build the new 52 bypass .

My house and entire street is in the direct path. We recieved notice back in April the project is permanently scrapped. We dont even have to list it as a disclosure now

You are like a state roadwork magnet

 

[rcalexander105]

Forgot to add check on the proposed 109 project to see how it affects the area you are looking at.

That's a great point...I had heard about that and forgot all about it, but...

My house and entire street is in the direct path. We recieved notice back in April the project is permanently scrapped. We dont even have to list it as a disclosure now

I guess it's irrelevant now...great to hear.

 

[Cribb]

That's a great point...I had heard about that and forgot all about it, but...


I guess it's irrelevant now...great to hear.

Yep property owners are no longer being held hostage.

 

[sam(slim)]

Our old house was just off one of the proposed routes. Guess the state would not finalize a route because the laws changed on how long they could wait to buy the property after setting a route.

 

[CasterTroy]

They selected route 6. And we were slated for purchase in 2020. But things changed after Leah started a class action law suit. He had a whole FB group too involving those effected

After the 52 bypass law suits the state had to shit or get off the pot.

I've been thru this rodeo before with my last house (that the state bought for the 52 bypass)

 

[Caver Dave]

My $.02...
We looked for a year for a house and some land (larger than postage stamp & less than the Ponderosa) in NC... avg. was around $10K/acre (including swamps). Fawk that!
On the advice of a co-worker (he lives in Ararat VA), started looking in VA... and found a place in Stuart that suits us great (1900sf house 1965c., 2 spring fed ponds, & 30 acres... *NO* neighbors within ear/eye shot) for pennies compared to NC
My wife works from home 100% and I do about 60-75%... I commute to W-S <2 days a week about 65 miles/1.3 hours each way. Pass the time making calls (family, many projects/irons), thinking, listening to podcasts/audio books/etc.

Congrats @rcalexander105 ! Since W-S is where PIKE's admin/clerical office it at... any chance you're IT?

 

[rcalexander105]

My $.02...
We looked for a year for a house and some land (larger than postage stamp & less than the Ponderosa) in NC... avg. was around $10K/acre (including swamps). Fawk that!
On the advice of a co-worker (he lives in Ararat VA), started looking in VA... and found a place in Stuart that suits us great (1900sf house 1965c., 2 spring fed ponds, & 30 acres... *NO* neighbors within ear/eye shot) for pennies compared to NC
My wife works from home 100% and I do about 60-75%... I commute to W-S <2 days a week about 65 miles/1.3 hours each way. Pass the time making calls (family, many projects/irons), thinking, listening to podcasts/audio books/etc.

Congrats @rcalexander105 ! Since W-S is where PIKE's admin/clerical office it at... any chance you're IT?

I actually work in finance, @Caver Dave . I'm a CPA (not at all the tax kind) and have been with Ernst & Young for the past 6 years primarily doing merger and acquisition consulting (specifically, buy and sell-side diligence).

 

[UTfball68]

I actually work in finance, @Caver Dave . I'm a CPA (not at all the tax kind) and have been with Ernst & Young for the past 6 years primarily doing merger and acquisition consulting (specifically, buy and sell-side diligence).

Nothing to add but a tip of the cap from one finance guy to another. For a year or so I was FP&A manager for a division that was highly acquisitional domestically and internationally. Did about $3 Billion in buys that year...absolutely hated M&A and purchase accounting work...more power to you.

 

[rcalexander105]

Nothing to add but a tip of the cap from one finance guy to another. For a year or so I was FP&A manager for a division that was highly acquisitional domestically and internationally. Did about $3 Billion in buys that year...absolutely hated M&A and purchase accounting work...more power to you.

Thank you sir. I don't mind the deal work per se. It's the unpredictability and crazy hours that have ultimately gotten the best of me. The experience has been good, but I've been pretty "career driven" over the past 10ish years and somewhat lost sight (or at least haven't done a better job in other areas) of some of the things that are ultimately more important. I grew up fairly poor and from a divorced household (probably a lot more in the majority here vs. the minority if I had to guess). I got to see my ole man a little (few times a year) but not nearly as much as I would have liked. The driving forces in my life to date have been (i) provide the financial stability to my family I've never had and (ii) be the father I never really had. Up until now I think I've done a decent job on the former but would like to do much better on the latter. At this point, I'm hoping to pull back the reigns a little and be the dad to my two little boys that I never really had in my life.