So, I just found out my property is allotted by county code to have a "guest house" up to 1,000sqf. I'm thinking about putting on a rental unit for extra income. I have a good potential build site about 250ft from electricity and water. Most importantly, out of view of my house.

I was thinking about putting in a prefabbed log cabin. I was wondering if anyone here had advice, thoughts or warnings.

Thanks

I'd think long and hard about having renters that close to me.

Have you managed renters before?

Not that it's a better scenario, but I interpreted his post as something like a weekend rental kind of deal. Not a long term rental.

If nothing else, it's a place to put the in-laws that isn't your house.

harge57 said:

---

I'd think long and hard about having renters that close to me.

Have you managed renters before?

---

Yes, I have managed renters before. I screen extensively and the property in question isn't my year around residence.

I currently do both long term and short term renters, but I've never built/had built a house before.

I'm interested in kit log cabin homes but honestly, don't think I have the time was looking at a manufactured home.

Eventually, I will retire on the property and yes will have a place to bury take care of the in-laws

i know someone with one. it looks charming and all that but the maintenance sucks.

Is there some kind of deed restriction in place that prohibits an owner from putting up a rental unit on their property, unless it meets certain requirements? I'm trying to understand why you need the county to tell you what you can build on your own gdamn place.

Yes, the county in question does strictly limit building and how those buildings might be used. Additionally, none of the land in our part of the county is allowed to be subdivided. Normally, I'm not a fan of these type of zoning laws but here it works.

I see. Sort of an HOA but run by the county.

La Fours said:

---

I see. Sort of an HOA but run by the county.

---

Exactly. We have a lot of sensitive habitat and large game migration corridors. The county wants to maintain a certain ratio of houses/fences per acre in our part of the county. Thus, why they are so restrictive.

I know nothing....but I have a friend that had a log house built above Taylor Park. Probably a 1200ft2 foot print with an upstairs and much more $ wise than you are thinking.

The company he used was out of Canada and the home was built from large round logs rather than the D logs you see so many built from.

He had the foundation built etc and the logs showed up with cranes etc and it was rebuilt onsite in "one" day. From memory the only thing the local contractors had to do was tie in the generator & water well.

It is a beautiful place...might be a process to investigate.

If you build a log cabin n Texas, I suggest and full wrap around porch. My parents learned the hard way about log rot here the covered porch areas hold up well.

Check out Ulrich Cabins out of Cleburne TX.
Bought one from them 4 years ago, very well built and great folks to work with.
http://www.ulrichlogcabins.com/

https://www.satterwhiteloghomes.com/floorplans.html

Longview log cabin outfit. Looks interesting.

I have thought about building a log cabin on my dads land up in Colorado and so have done some research and talking to others that have already done so. The biggest issue they have told me is to be sure you get your logs from the same area as where you are building. One of them had theirs delivered from another state and once they got into the dry Colorado air the logs dried up and it caused huge gaps between the logs.

Isn't that more a matter of making sure they are properly treated before they are set?

Built my log house over 30 yrs ago with logs from Satterwhite. Very pleased.

EskimoJoe said:

---

i know someone with one. it looks charming and all that but the maintenance sucks.

---

Specifics?

How do these compare, to say a metal-type building (Mueller, for example) for a ranch house? My biggest concern would be how well they seal up when not in use. That, and standing up to the Texas weather. We have a cabin that's getting long in the tooth.