Tag: tiny log cabins for sale

The tiny house revolution has taken the U.S. by storm in the last few years, allowing people to lead a simplistic lifestyle and, more importantly, reduce their living costs to a great extent. If you are looking for high-end tiny log cabins for sale ,tiny homes on wheels, houses built on a foundation, or structures of a similar kind, then sign up at TinyHouseMe to connect with multiple certified builders under one platform. However, if you stay in Florida and own a tiny home, we have listed a few places where you can legally park the structure.

We all know that Florida is one of the best tiny-house-friendly states in the U.S. However, just like any other U.S. state, this sunshine state has its own rules and regulations governing where to erect or station a tiny home. 

Well, now coming to the point, you have two primary parking options for legally parking tiny houses in Florida, namely: 

• Tiny house communities
• Resorts or RV parks 

Park in Tiny House Communities Spread All Over Florida 

Tiny house communities are intentionally set up for people eager to embrace the minimalist lifestyle by residing in tiny homes. 

These communities are a boon to the never-ending battle that’s going on concerning tiny home parking in several quarters around Florida. They offer the perfect place to land your tiny abode legally. 

Here is a list of the most sought-after tiny home communities in Florida where you can legally park your THOW: 

❖ Luxurious Outpost Park and Community 

❖ Braveheart Properties 

❖ Circle Pond Tiny Community 

❖ Orlando Lakefront Park 

❖ Gracious Tiny House Park 

The Outpost Park and Community 

Situated on Lake Mariana, The Outpost Park and Community is a luxurious space worth staying in. If camping and outdoor fun fascinate you the most, you cannot overlook this mind-boggling place. Not just that, this place has a lot to offer, like float boat adventures, boating, freshwater fishing, and the list continues. 

One segment of this community is specifically designed for tiny homes on wheels and is popularly known as the Preserve Community. It has everything necessary for tiny living, and the intuitive park-like setting is also something to die for. 

Braveheart Properties 

This small cottage and tiny home community is located in Cocoa, Florida. This is one of the 1st tiny house communities in this place. 

Here, you will find numerous lots ideal for accommodating tiny living spaces, be they traditional-sized cottages or tiny homes on wheels. These lots are sewage-ready while providing facilities for water and electricity as well. 

Circle Pond Tiny Community 

This community is in South Hillsborough County in Florida. If you seek an astounding natural setting, things can’t get better than this community. Here, there is enough space for parking tiny houses circumscribing the Circle Pond, with every angle ensuring a fascinating view of the pond. 

This community has access to a community garden, enough space between tiny houses, walking paths all over the community, and access to all the primary tiny home living requirements. 

Orlando Lakefront 

A renewed 1950 RV park, this community is located near College Park. This community has all the answers to Florida’s tiny house parking problem. 

There are 40 land spaces open for lease. You can place your tiny home on wheels without legal trouble. The best thing about this community is that you can enjoy complete hook-ups to the park utilities. On top of that, you also get to enjoy some refreshing amenities like a community garden, fishing docks, a park for pets, and a Laundromat. 

Station Your Tiny Home in a Florida Resort and RV Park 

If you are a vacationing recreational vehicle owner looking for a place to temporarily station your tiny home in Florida, a resort or a recreational vehicle park is what you should look for. 

Fortunately, all the resorts and RV parks in Florida accommodate tiny homes. Unlike tiny house communities where permanent living is permitted, you should note that these resorts and RV parks permit only temporary stays. 

Here we have mentioned the two most popular resorts and RV parks in Florida which legally allow parking tiny homes on wheels:

• Lost Lake RV Park 
• Christmas RV Park 

Lost Lake RV Park 

Located in Apopka (Florida), this is one of the most sought-after resorts for tourists. This park has as many as 82 lots to hook up your tiny home to an RV easily. Station your tiny abode in this intuitive environment for a single night, two to three days, months, or even years, and feel the difference. 

This park has a lot to offer, from spending quality time with your close ones under the trees to diving deep into the swimming pool.

Christmas RV Park 

This occupies an area of about 8 acres and is situated in Christmas (Orange County). This exquisite park welcomes tiny homes on wheels and an RV and is surrounded by tall pine trees. 

You get access to all the necessary hook-ups for tiny living, including a TV reception, campfire, a heated swimming pool, and a BBQ area. 

The main reason why people prefer parking their tiny houses here is that almost all the major attractions in Florida, like bird and wildlife sanctuaries, state parks, fishing piers, hiking trails, and more, are situated quite close to this park. 

Final Take: 

Now that you have a fairly good idea of where to park a tiny house in Florida, it’s time to get yourself a tiny living space. We at TinyHouseMe, have an online directory where you will find a comprehensive list of established tiny home builders all across the U.S. offering tiny log cabins for sale, tiny homes on a foundation, houses on wheels, ADUs, and structures of a similar kind. Reach out to the builders via TinyHouseMe, and we will connect you directly with them while ensuring you get a faster response and priority service. Sign up on our website and get premium-quality tiny homes on wheels at highly competitive rates. Request a quote now. 

Choosing to invest in a tiny log cabin is an exciting proposition. However, when exploring the world of wooden modular houses, you need more than a quick online search. You need to connect with trusted and established builders to find high-end tiny log cabins for sale. Instead of spending hours trying to connect with the builders on the web, sign up at TinyHouseMe. We connect you with 100s of tiny home builders and help you choose and compare the best homes that fit your lifestyle and needs. Tiny home cabins are affordable and part of contemporary culture and lifestyle trends. Therefore, if you want a new cabin home or want a vacation spot in the mountains or use a tiny log home as a short-term investment opportunity – then this is the place to start finding a builder!

How much does a tiny log cabin cost?

Several factors affect the cost of a log cabin. Starting from the size of the log cabin to whether the cabin is built on a foundation or a trailer with wheels, the style, the amenities inside the log homes, the location, every cost is counted. HomeAdvisor says, the average cost of a 1,500 sq. ft log cabin is around $225,000, but most homeowners pay between $187,500 and $262,500. 

Homeowners who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of city life often consider purchasing a tiny log cabin for living in the quiet country lane or staying in a rural area surrounded by wildlife and trees. Log cabins are built with conventional construction methods, which are durable like modern homes and high-quality ones are manufactured with insulation panels and sheetrock walls. But unfortunately, the log cabin price can go up when there are custom features like greenhouses and porches.

Log cabins and building codes

Before constructing a tiny log cabin, you must know the local codes to get a permit and pass all the inspections. This is true, especially if there are zoning requirements or you plan to have walls made from wood logs. Your log cabin needs to adhere to the building codes and zoning laws of the state, city, or county. Contact the local planning and zoning authority when you need clarification on the local laws. However, even a good log cabin builder can help you acquire permits. Many log cabins also require planning permits before the built. Connecting with a local builder isn’t a hassle when you sign up at TinyHouseMe. We connect you with 100s of tiny home builders across the US and Canada to simplify the search.

Is it cheap to buy or build a log home?

The upfront cost to build a tiny home cabin or install a kit is significantly lower than the additional cost of a DIY job. When you buy a tiny home kit from a trusted builder, you get a contract with floor planning, blueprints, and a correct estimate on the price. However, a DIY build initially might seem a cheaper choice, but over time the cost exceeds your estimate, and you end up paying more for a less professional work. 

Tiny log cabin plans

You can use a tiny log cabin as a studio, office, or guesthouse. However, when planning to design a tiny home log cabin, you must consider how much space is required to live comfortably. Cabins are typically within 400 square feet, but these small dwellings need more storage space, which you can add later down the line. One can choose any number of styles based on what kind of final product one wants and the materials required for the construction, like cedar or pine logs, to deliver a rustic appeal to the log home. You can also choose concrete walls to give the cabin an industrial feel, which is why the most important question to ask the builder is how they plan to build the tiny cabin home. 

Financing and insurance

Your budget does affect the tiny home cabin you choose. Of course, you can cut expenses by choosing tiny log cabins for sale, but since log homes are a huge investment, you need to know about cabin financing before taking the first step. 

Similarly, when you have plans to buy a log cabin, knowing about the insurance part is also crucial. Again, TinyHouseMe can help you with financing and planning the project. We connect you with the builder and provide expert assistance to get the structure insured.

Conclusion 

People usually prefer log cabins over tiny houses because they look gorgeous. Moreover, a good builder can make the tiny cabin more spacious and a living room large enough to accommodate two sofas with chairs, a coffee table, and a TV stand. We have showcased the most popular tiny log cabins for sale on our platform and recommend you contact the builders via us. Although there are plenty of log home builders all over US and Canada, we filter the established and trusted ones and ensure you get priority service, faster response, and competitive pricing without hassles. Sign up and allow us to make the search easier for you.

Your wait is finally over! You have chosen a location, the log cabin is thoroughly planned, and the raw materials are on the way. After months of planning and designing, your dream of a log cabin is turning into a reality. However, you must ensure an insurance policy covers your dream home. Many homeowners complain that they cannot find insurance companies for their log homes. The minute they say ‘log,’ the insurance companies say ‘no.’ Most insurance agents decline to insure a log home as they do not want to deal with additional work as it is problematic to determine the replacement costs. However, if you get tiny log cabins for sale that are professionally built or manufactured by an established builder – then the going gets easy. Even contacting an independent agent to insure a log home is easier than asking an insurance company to get your home insured. Independent agents can work harder and find a policy that works perfectly for the log home. 

Types of Insurance 

There are numerous kinds of cabin insurance that you should consider. Here is the breakdown:

Land or property insurance 

Land insurance is optional, as little can go wrong with the property. However, if you are buying property in a high-risk area that’s prone to fire outbreaks or where people go on a hike and do not keep off your land, then liability insurance is necessary. 

Builders Risk Insurance 

This one is standard for all construction projects. It covers the log cabins and all the other contents. This insurance will cover everything on the job site, such as building materials and partially built structures. In addition, this insurance covers the structure and materials from damage, theft, fire, weather, and vandalism. The insurance premiums are reasonable as the companies do not cover the full cost of the finished cabin. 

The log home construction loans need you to have Builders Risk Insurance. Insurance providers insure a log home kit and provide the materials from the point of delivery till the log cabin project is fully accomplished. At that junction, they will provide you with a homeowners policy after you have obtained the certificate for occupancy from the local building department. 

Mortgage Insurance 

Your cabin with a mortgage needs to be covered with an insurance policy to protect the investment. The insurance by a mortgage company offers elementary coverage for log home protection. 

Worker’s compensation, liability, and disability benefits 

The contractor of the project carries on this type of coverage, and you must check the copies before starting the work. If you are functioning as your general contractor (to save money), you will need to obtain these coverages to decrease the risk. These coverages are different and separate from Builder’s Risk, as discussed above. 

Log Homeowners Insurance 

Once the home is built, a homeowner’s insurance is essential to cover the cost of the log home and the contents. You can save money by not counting land in home valuation, as land doesn’t carry a similar risk of damage like theft and fire. Moreover, liability insurance is necessary for protecting someone from injury inside the log home. 

Flood Insurance 

It is a must if you live in a flood zone, but most homeowners’ policies don’t cover flood damage. Instead, you will be required to purchase flood insurance via an agent or get the insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). To get more information, you can visit www.fema.gov/nfip/. 

Where to buy the log home insurance? 

People report that they have trouble finding insurance for the log cabins. Many people claim that they have been denied coverage by insurance companies and need to find an independent agent to get the insurance from the original company that otherwise didn’t want to cover them. Log cabin insurances are available, and you need to check different coverage carriers to compare rates and your experience level. A knowledgeable agent or a trusted insurance company should be writing the insurance policy of the log home. TinyHouseMe can help you get insurance and connect you with builders offering tiny log cabins for sale.  

Factors that affect log cabin insurance 

Here are a few things that can increase or decrease the insurance premiums of a log cabin. 

• Distance from a fire hydrant and fire department – The insurance is inexpensive when you are nearby a fire department. The further away you are, getting the emergency services to respond is more challenging than ever. However, the insurance cost is quite debatable depending on the log thickness used for building the cabins. A few insurance companies will require your home to be located within a certain distance from the nearby fire hydrant. 
• Roofing materials – Wood shingle roofs increase the insurance premium as they aren’t fire resistant. 
• Log Thickness – Insurance companies will offer a good discount when you build homes with thicker logs. Many agencies offer discounts when the log thickness is over 8 inches in diameter as they are more resistant to fires, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Cabins made with larger logs are more fire-resistant. The handcrafted ones from raw lumber have higher replacement costs, affecting insurance. 
• Foundation – If the log cabins don’t sit on a solid foundation, then insurers will refuse claims involving subsidence and landslide. Again, the higher the value of the log cabin, the more you need to spend on insurance, but this may vary from state to state. 

Things that are not covered by the insurance

• Damage due to lack of maintenance
• Damage from domestic animals 
• Wood rot 
• Rat, mice, bats, insects, bees, termites, and vermin infestation 
• Damages by sewer backup inside a finished basement 
• Loss of home due to nuclear warfare 

Final Words 

To learn more about insurance, you can connect with builders offering tiny log cabins for sale. Now connect with multiple home builders under one platform. TinyHouseMe offers you the privilege of connecting with several log home builders across US and Canada. Come to TinyHouseMe to book an appointment with your matched builder. Then, join the platform to get helpful resources in planning, financing, and insurance for the tiny home project. 

Your budget affects each and every aspect of your home, starting from the size to the amenities and also the location. With a dollar figure in mind, you should start planning and designing the log cabins. Building a log cabin from scratch is much different from buying an existing home. You can cut down on costs by checking out the tiny log cabins for sale online. Builders offer high-quality tiny cabins for sale, but many don’t offer to finance. At TinyHouseMe, you connect with established builders offering affordable, premium-quality log cabins.

Moreover, TinyHouseMe offers expert assistance to plan and finance your log cabin. We know that log homes are a significant investment, and you will want to consider financing solutions to find out what works best for you. This write-up focuses on financing for a customized log home and how to make things easier for you to get the loan required to build the home. 

You will need two loans 

If you are eyeing the tiny log cabins for sale but need financial help, apply for two loans before your dream becomes a reality. The 1st loan is the construction loan that provides you the money for paying the bills during the log cabin construction process. The 2nd loan is the standard 15-to-30-year mortgage loan. Both loans are necessary for financing the log home that you build yourself or getting the structure built on your land, as they have different collateral needs than financing an existing home. 

Financing an existing home is easy as the bank determines the valuation of the home and agrees to lend a percentage of the value as a mortgage. The home serves as collateral for the mortgage and secures the loan if you fail to meet the terms of the mortgage. 

However, financing a log cabin built from scratch is complex as you have no existing home that can serve as collateral. At that time, the loan officers need your other assets for collateral. You need to provide more details about your personal finances and home construction. The other assets that can serve as collateral are your personal property like bonds, stocks, cash in a savings account, or a bank agreement to grant a mortgage loan once the log cabin is completed. 

Mortgage Loan

This loan is quite common for most families. However, you need to know the personal and financial information required and how to pre-qualify yourself before you apply for the loan. 

Lenders insist that you make some down payment for the log home before they grant the long-term mortgage. As per NAHB, lenders prefer at least a 20% down payment from the owner and will offer better terms and conditions for inducing you to do so! If you can only offer a small percentage of the down payment on the home, then the loans require mortgage insurance to reduce the risk to the bank. 

Other factors, like the ratio between your income and the mortgage payment and between your income and total longstanding debt, are considered before making a mortgage loan. As per Log & Timber Home Living Magazine, these ratios vary from person to person, but banks require your expected monthly mortgage payment not to be more than 28% of your monthly gross family income. However, this percentage depends on your down payment and financial situation. 

The second ratio lenders consider the ratio of your installment debt payment per month which includes the mortgage payment and the monthly gross income of your family. According to Log & Timber Home Living Magazine, this ratio cannot exceed 36%. 

There are other factors banks consider before making a mortgage loan, and the above information is just a basic guide that the banks follow for determining your borrowing capacity. After you have qualified for the mortgage loan, the bank will issue a letter to indicate that the construction loan should be paid off with the proceeds of the mortgage loan. With the take-out letter, you can now apply for the construction loan. 

Construction Loan 

This is a short-term loan and is separate from a mortgage loan. The purpose of this loan is to pay for the labor and materials required to build the log home. As per, The Weatherall Company, these loans are for 6 to 18 months and have higher interest rates as they are riskier than other secured loans. These loans are for both professional and DIY builders. However, before approving the loan, bankers study the project, and a decision is made after proper evaluation. The take-out letter assures the bank that you have qualified for the mortgage loan, which will be repaid from the proceeds of the mortgage loan after the construction has been completed. 

The construction loan funds are not credited to your account but are released in exchange for proof of labor and materials used to build the log cabin. In addition, on-site inspections are conducted, and the loans are released at specific points of the building process. 

Package Financing 

Log home producers need a sustainable amount of the loan in advance to purchase the package for cutting and delivery. Some lending institutions release the funds after you and the manufacturer place a request. However, some banks refuse until the package is present on the lot. At this point, ask the bank to issue a promissory note or a ‘letter of credit’ to the log home producer guaranteeing payment upon delivery. Often the bank transfers the money directly to the producer’s account the same day the log package is delivered. Your builder-dealer will help you arrange with the bank and the log home producer to make the financing of the log packages easier and more convenient. 

How to choose a log-friendly lender?

• Look for lenders with experience with log homes
• A local builder can help you connect with the lenders they have worked with before
• The local builder can help you prepare the building documents the lender will need

What do you need to qualify for a loan? 

• 700+ credit score (as per NAHB)
• Pension award letter or your social security 
• Two months of complete bank statements on every page 
• An estimated contract of the log home plan for justifying the amount being borrowed 
• Mortgage statement of your home and other additional properties owned by you
• Explanatory letter for negative credit (if applicable)

Besides your financial status, lenders also need to know things like:

• Sales contract for the log home package – Complete set of bills
• Building permits – Construction documents that comply with building codes
• Plans and specifications – Construction drawings
• Cost estimates – Copies of written bids
• Builder Contract – Agreement showing costs and specifications 
• Survey or plot plan – Location and legal description of your property
• Land deed – Title and mortgage details of the property you intend to build

Final Words

As per Log & Timber Home Living Magazine, tiny log homes account for over 6% of all custom-built family homes in the USA. However, financing a log home is challenging, and this write-up focuses on making things easier for you. TinyHouseMe connects you with builders offering tiny log cabins for sale and assists with expert help to plan and finance your home. Enroll now! Book an appointment with the right builder today to get started at the earliest.