The following comment comes from Earth-Sheltered Houses by Rob Roy (who also expands on this subject in his brilliant book Mortgage Free).
More than a third of the average American’s after-tax income is devoted to shelter, usually rent or mortgage payments. If a person works from age 20 to age 65, it can be fairly argued that he or she has put in 15 years (20 in California) just to keep a roof over their head. With a piece of land, six months’ work, and — say — $35,000, he (or she) and his family could have built his own home.
To save 14½ years of work, you cannot afford not to build, even if it means losing a job while you do it. Granted, the land (and the $35,000) has to come from somewhere, but this amount is no more (and probably no less) than the down payment on a mortgaged contractor-built home, and about half the cost of a new double-wide mobile home (figuring either option as being about the same square footage as an earth-sheltered home).
And what do you get for your time and money? You get a comfortable, long-lasting, energy-efficient, environmentally compatible, low-maintenance home. You get the design features that suit you, so that the house fits like an old slipper. You get built-in fire, earthquake, and tornado insurance. You get intimite knowledge of the home so that when maintenance or repairs are required, you’re the one best placed to make them. You get tremendous personal satisfaction. And you get freedom from a lifetime of economic servitude.
Rob Roy actually sits on the “expensive” side of DIY underground construction — earthships and various other super-cheap underground homes are well below his $35k estimate and certainly well below the cost of, say, a new car. Couple that with inexpensive land from a company like Dignam Land (in Canada), or various other companies around the world selling rural land from tax sales, logging properties, and so on, and the whole project can be done for less than the down payment on any home would be…
So… why don’t more people do it? Is it really worth giving up 15+ years of your life (and I’d say for many people, more) to pay off the house you live in just to save yourself the effort of having to do it yourself?
Surely it can’t be that a life of 9-to-5 indentured servitude is so wonderful that one can’t give up a summer or three building a house like the one above, which I believe came in at about $20,000… And with an increasing percentage of people defaulting on their mortgages and losing all of those years, even on a risk management level it seems completely nonsensical.
33 Comments
I love these posts. I think the ones you post with different dwellings and food are my favorites.
I always eat up (no pun intended!) the articles you post about underground homes. It makes me think.. stirs up my world a little bit. I’m sure that’s your intention. :)
While I am myself supportive alternative living, this argument is sophistic. It does not follow from the fact that I put 15 years’ wages toward living expenses that I would be, to use your expression, ‘giving up 15+ years of [my] life… just to save [myself] the effort of having to [construct a home myself]?’ Here are some reasons to think so.
1. I could, say, be one of those people who finds their employment not only tolerable, but enjoyable.
2. I could, say, be one of those people involved in the arts, and be attracted to the resources of the city, not wanting to give it up to sequester myself, even if that saves me ’15 years’ of work.
3. I could, say, be tied to the diversity of a city.
4. I could, say, value being a member of a community, and see it my civic duty that I help improve it for the better.
5. I could, say, have friends.
To think it is a matter money is to miss the point. Choosing to live a life like this is clearly is not. It is a choice of a lifestyle, a lifestyle so bold, so isolating, so hermetic that I doubt it would gain widespread appeal.
For those who dislike the ills of the city, and dislike their jobs, and dislike the people surrounding them, and can tolerate estrangement, this might be a feasible lifestyle. Otherwise, I cannot see for whom it would do. Count me out.
Hmmmm…..if a person wanted to do this, they might be able to keep a job – if they had a “work at home” job.
I have to agree with NK’s points. Also, here in the US there is no socilaized medicine, so if you don’t work, no health insurance. 6 months working without insurance is a huge finanical risk here. For example, about 10 years ago my husband crashed his mountain bike and smashed his face into the ground, it cost over $10,000 for one night in the ER and ICU for observation. We ended up paying $2,000. Then there is birthing, my kids cost about $15,000 each in hospital fees, normal healthy deliveries. We paid about $200 in co-pays, the rest covered by insurance. It sounds really nice on paper, and maybe someone somewhere is building a home for $35,000 (canadian?). But people I know are spending that much on their new paver patio or a kitchen remodel.
Audrey – Check out the “super cheap” link… you really can build those homes for a few thousand, buy the land for the same, and cost of living can be very low as well. It’s definitely a DIFFERENT lifestyle, and there are HUGE limitations that come from it, but it has blessings as well. It all depends on your priorities.
I definitely understand the healthcare worry… but as I understand it the US will solve that in the next ten years with any luck.
Marc and I own a few books on this subject.
I think the main problem, for us at least, is solely based on motivation and worrying it may not be the “best time”, tho there never really is. In the past while it’s become much more of a priority to find the initiative to achieve more of the things we’re wanting to, on many levels.
I’m currently looking at aquiring a fairly large piece of lakefront property near the Parry Sound area through inheritance. You definitely have my wheels turning as to whether something like building summer cottages in this manner would be a feasible investment.
Interesting. Definitely something worth concidering.
nk:
“It is a choice of a lifestyle, a lifestyle so bold, so isolating, so hermetic that I doubt it would gain widespread appeal.”
THIS is precisely the reason I am drawn to living this way and love Shannon’s posts on the matter.
If anything, my prefered choice would be on a boat, alternate housing -like the example here or a beach house of sorts. On stilts preferably ;)
Unlike Shannon, and because unfortunatly, I’m not as earth friendly “green” as some, I’m glad more people don’t live this way… Where would I ever find my solace?
thank you for posts like this shannon…im going to be showing these to my wife for sure. this would be more than do-able for us, and very practical seeing as im a “stay at home dad”…and that we have about $45,000 in home equity.
Nicole:
I once met a man in the Caribbean who had traded in his retirement fund and home for a yacht. He fished for his subsistence, and bartered transportation for vegetables. He was very, very happy, and, at the time, I thought it would be a wonderful thing to emulate him in the future.
But not now. Not when I am just getting started with life. And maybe this is what I wonder about this whole homesteading thing. You rightfully say that you are not sure what the ‘best time’ would be because ‘there never really is’. And so when do you do it? That is the puzzle.
Depending on where you live, you could build a house such as this and not be a hermit or recluse. Compared to much of the country, I live in a pretty rural area. Charleston, West Virginia to be exact. That’s the capital city of our state but has a population of approx. 55,000 people. I can drive 10 minutes from downtown in virtually any direction and be in land that looks similar to that picture.
Building an Earth-Sheltered home in this area would allow you the best of both worlds – the awesome house and the close proximity to the city.
Granted, Charleston probably doesn’t even qualify as a city to those of you from NY, Chicago, LA, etc but it’s still a viable option.
I’m sure there are lots of other smaller cities that are bordered by rural landscapes which would make a house such as this feasible for “normal” everyday living.
The only downside would be giving up your job for 6 months while you build it, but there’s always ways around that. A slightly larger investment would allow you to hire some help and complete the project a lot sooner… you could spend considerably more if you had the money and pay someone to do all the labor while you still worked, etc.
I’m getting off track but my point is a home such as this does not automatically require you to be a hermit.
It’s exciting to find that you’ve devoted an entire blog to homesteading! This subject has been close to my heart for quite a while, and now the time is finally here when I can put some long-term plans into motion.
This book has been very helpful for comparing the pros and cons of different building methods (ability for the owner to do the work, compliance with building codes, appropriateness for certain climates, etc.).
nk – Definitely… But I can say that having lived in the city for most of my adult life, the year I spent back in the country a few years ago was by far my favorite. And because my “recreation” is things like painting and music, the seclusion of the country is wonderful for me.
Also, I wanted to say — don’t underestimate the arts community in small towns. It’s often extremely vibrant with a far higher rate of involvement than you get per capita in the city.
In my experience, the biggest thing you lose in the country is multiculturalism and good restaurants.
I am really interested in this idea. I live in a nice sized college town and enjoy the tight community, the great music and art scene, and all of the awesome local business…but I HATE the students. I don’t like living in town because there are just so many people everywhere..and parties constantly. It’s too expensive to live in the “family” areas and even more expensive to live directly down town so pretty much everyone is forced to live in the “student” neighborhoods that are pretty much awful. Anyway…living in a place like this for so long has really made me consider the idea of living just outside of town. Property is dirt cheap, the scenery is gorgeous, and I could still be within minutes of down town. A place like this would allow me to buy land and build a home on my modest income…something much nicer than I would ever be able to afford in town for sure. A run down 2 bedroom home is 80k in the “bad” parts of town.
Shannon, are there any good websites for information on building this type of home? Or websites/books you suggest picking up for good information on construction in general?
very cool post.
a do it yourself lifestyle is extremely apealing.
tho living on a boat……ahhhhhh.
Shannon and Marc/Nicole (hi guys)…..
I’m in school right now (in Winnipeg), on my way to becoming an architect. I’ve just started the journey, but if by next summer, or any summer after that, you decide to build something on some property in Canada, let me know…. I would love to help out, whether it’s design services or even just manual labour. Keep me in mind…. all three of you know me, just in case you’re wondering if it’s THAT Dustin.
And that goes for anybody else I know who’s reading these comments. It would be the experience of a lifetime.
I live 45min outside Philly in a rather rural area with plenty of land. Yes the land is expensive here, but I could definitely see myself living in this area in a house like that once I graduate college. The career I’ve chosen doesn’t pay a lot, so inexpensive housing would help me. I personally think the house pictured above is stunning. So why wouldn’t I want to live in a beautiful house, in a fantastic area, and less then an hour away from a fairly major city?!
This is where I want to live.
Great post!
I’ve been looking at what to do with my life, I’m 19 without any savings.
I need to:
Go $200,000 in dept to go to college to get the job to work from home to pay for my college to save for the land to build my earthen home to be rent and energy free to live in a healthy way.
It’s insane, and almost seems impossible to do in my lifetime – many people have tried to tell me it is.
I love the idea. Along the same lines…anyone else think that “the village” had the right idea? I would so love to live off the grid in the middle of nowhere.
^^sorry, posting under old s.n.
I have an acre and no desire to hang out with the Jones’. I’ll keep rock gathering, landscaping and eventually might be able to do this. It’s perfect
hey shannon do you know of any web sites and/or publications of designs of these types of homes..
Dustin:
Can you contact me, miss_alienation@hotmail.com ?
It’s very likely we’ll take you up on this offer. I’m going to view the property on Saturday and can send you some photos if interested.
:D
Here’s a site where some reasonable (IMO) folk are discussing sustainability and such:
https://www.wtdwtshtf.com/
Hi Shannon- I think I would actually prefer to live in a solar powered house like the one pictured, it is awesome. Where I live now I would have to get approval from the “association” in the development to even consider solar panels. I live in suburbia outside Philly and here you can’t even change the exterior without approval from the board. Lots of red tape. I am an antisocial hermit by nature but my kids love playing with our neighbors. So I think I will be here for a while for them. Every dwelling situation has its pros and cons.
And as for US healthcare, I hope you are right. We just need to get the republicans out of the white house…
Shannon (or anyone else with an answer) if you know of a company such as Dignam selling US properties I’d love the info. Thanks!
crystal -
I just read this, and thought the same thing. There are actually some affordable properties on Ebay, mostly in the AZ/CO area though.
This is something that I have thought about several times in my life, and this post just got me stirred up again. Thanks!
Shannon, your blog posts about housing and earthly home structures really has been very inspiring to me. Back in the early 90′s my parents acquired 25 acres of land in Florida. We visited it every summer and it has always been their dream to build their dream home and farm on it. Unfortunately they never had the funds to do so and now that they are nearing retirement age I fear they might sell the land just so they can have some money to fall back on. (Not that it will matter, all of Florida will be underwater in a decade or two anyhow!) My parents have many health problems and do not go to the doctor because they do not have insurance. As much as I really hate to leave my childhood home, I am becoming more and more tempted as the months go by to leave the United States for good. 1/8 of my monthly pay goes to health insurance that wont even cover half the things I need attention for and there isn’t a single one bedroom apartment in a 20 mile radius that I could afford without giving up my passion for art and acquiring two roommates. If I could live frugally for a few years and save up some money to escape I am definitely fleeing to Canada. Its always been a dream of mine to find friends interested in the same goals and pitching together on one or several nearby plots of land to build a small sustaining community of earthly homes with a small farm. Anyway this turned into somewhat of a rant but I just wanted to thank you for your blogging about homes and land. Thanks a lot! I think my dream is still attainable. :)
Thanks for the Dignam link Shannon. I’ve been looking up land on mls.ca but it mostly lists slices with houses allready on them. Dignam seems much cheaper.. Buying land seems in reach for a poor carpenter like myself!
Those cordwood houses sure are beautiful! They would be a good solution to all the pine beetle infested trees here in BC.
We presume some building skills and the health to be able to complete the project – I am still looking at using 40′ used sea-containers – they sell here in the UK at about US$2,000 delivered on site. They can be adapted in so many ways including underground or partially buried, or even stacked . They are 40′X8′X8′ (also 20′ and specialist cylinderical and insulated units are available) and very susceptible to the ministrations of a plasma cutter and a welder. You simply add new units as you can afford them or as your needs increase. The shell is weather, quake & fire proof and easily and cheaply protected against corrosion. If you ever need to move house – it could not be simpler.
I used to build grain silos on the the family farm and dream about what they could be turned into… skateboard halfpipe: yes. House? perhaps. Just take four grain silos and connect them with large hallways built from those sea containers and you’d have yourself a modern day castle!
Big Daddy says
Hi, the stack wall home in the picture is in upstate NY, and its just outside a small town. Learn from experience you don’t want total isolation but you do want to be removed from the higher cost of the cities that demand the higher wage jobs to help pay for the conveniences and the lifestyle that goes with it.
The number one challenge is not the land purchase or the building of the desired home of your dreams its what comes next, and finding the finances to fund the journey. This was the down fall of the original back to the landers.
With the internet and the advent of on line businesses being available today there is no reason for a reasonably healthy person should not to be able to make this lifestyle work. I have been doing it for years, nature wins over the throw away society trapped in the unsustainable over priced rat race. You can have your cake and eat it too.
With corporations and globalization, template business models and systems designed on how we should interact between job and community as well as being run red line for their disposal when a recession hits. Then if this isn’t its own form of isolation then I don’t know what is? The reality is the winner is the one that calls their own shots and becomes independent of the lifestyle best served by shareholders and big business creation. On the land you will at least be able to feed your family and see your dream made by your own hands
and this is the real freedom you want.
I think Stackwall homes are great, but who will insure them? This seems to be a problem here in Northwestern Ontario in Canada. Can anyone help me find an insurance company? Also, insurance companies here don’t like it if you say you heat your home exclusively with wood. Are there any insurance companies out there who can live with that, and will insure a Stackwall house with a wood burning woodstove?
Fay
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