Building a house from scratch...a beginning

This is approximately 2 years into ownership. We placed a gate, cleared space, and excavated a road in.

12 Mar, 2019

I have bought and sold several houses and condos in my lifetime and have always found what I liked in each one that makes it unique and valuable to me. Building a house from scratch is a daunting endeavor, but exciting! I am excited to be able to dream up all the things I want in my new house. Some things I thought I had always wanted, but after much thought changed my mind. 

A good friend of mine lost her house in a fire last year in February 2018. It is now March 2019 and she is just barely getting the plumbing and foundation down. It is not a quick process. I am hoping to learn from her experience as well. 

HISTORY:

I have traveled to 29 states in my RV with family to vacation and casually look around to find a great place to call my forever home. I grew up in New York and New Jersey and loved my childhood and the houses I lived in, but when I have went back for my class reunion, I couldn't see myself returning there. Summers are hot and muggy, Winters are brutal, but I remember loving spring and fall. I would like to live in a place with 4 seasons. 

Next, I lived on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. I went near the end of my high school years and as many teenagers are, I was selfish and a bit angry that I had to leave my hometown and start anew. I finished out high school and worked my way through college. I was a cake decorator, travel and tour coordinator, restaurant greeter and (Japanese)translator, hotel front desk and concierge, and finally a registered nurse. I left the comfort of my home with my parents to become independent. I had jobs, several at a time, to make ends meet. I attended college and got my degrees (yes, more than one!) and met my future husband through a co-worker and friend. I was from NJ, he had grown up on the islands. We had 3 kids. He never wanted to leave...I never planned on staying in Hawaii forever. We traveled to show our kids what the rest of the USA was like and to visit his family in California. We enjoyed Disneyland, the Bay area, Los Angeles area, the Westcoast beaches, and Yosemite National Park. Driving through the Sierra foothills, we discussed what it would like to live here. The people were nice, the land was vast, and the houses were cheap (compared to Hawaii). 

We moved to Coarsegold, CA in 2006. This was one of the best decisions of our lives. Our kids thrived here in a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house on 5 country acres. We joined 4-H and the rest is history. This house was at a fraction of the cost of our 800 s.f. single wall construction house in Mililani, HI. This is Heaven. 

PRESENT: 

We have lived in California for going on 13 years now and my oldest son is now 22 years old with his own daughter, my next child is now 17 and going to graduate high school and go off to college somewhere this year, and I will just have my youngest at 15 years old at home for a couple more years. I have pondered and researched best places to retire and have visited and considered a few. We took the leap and purchased 20 acres in North Idaho at a small fraction of what it would cost in California. Now...to build....a house...from SCRATCH!