We've only got so much money which has to fund the setting up of a business and a home. At 50, we don't want a mortgage and I don't trust banks anymore so remembering that I built my first home (living on site in a static caravan) when I was 20 (and loved every moment), we are returning to the UK with the intention of buying a plot of land, living on site and building our dream home over the next few years working abd running the business to fund the work.

I am so looking forward to this new challenge. Just wondering if anyone has done the same in the last few years? Planning applications are much more flexible than they used to be which is good. Not as much red tape. The last time I built a house was 6 years ago so things may have got even easier.
The first thing we are going to do is build an outside brick oven because the house will have a walled garden and vegetable plot.
We'll also have to install a portacabin for a laundry and shower, etc. I'm starting the new year with this new vision of having to do it tough for a few years but I'm sure it will be worth it. No debt, no mortgage and a great super fund that will only go up instead of down.

you don't really hear of many people in the UK doing that anymore, one of the things that has changed over the years .
In general most people, don't have the spare cash, or the spare time and mostly no energy and enthusiasm, no-one knows why, it just a sign of the times
Most are working hard, but enjoying there precious spare time ,with their family and friends.
From a money point of view, its not that cheap to do, land ifor sale is rare and expensive as is Labour and materials.

I admire your enthusiasm, but don't forget your not 20 anymore the mind may be willing but the body isn't always in agreement, and trying to re-live an event, mostly doesn't work, a bit like when you try to repeat a great holiday or even a good night out.

When not just rent a house and look for your ideal house, its a great time to buy in the Uk, and just enjoy your new business, less stress and better quality of life .

Sorry I don't have any practical advise for you , its just my opinion, and was just chatting.

Have you built your own home?
There is plenty of land for sale in the UK, it's only a case of finding a suitable plot. A plot costs from 45,000 upward and a self build costs from 90,000 upward. Planning costs are not unreasonable and we'd own our house outright within 5 years. This way we don't have to work until we're 75 just to pay the bank.
I might not be 20, but neither am I dead yet so this new challenge is as much about following a passion and life dream as it is about making the most with the capital we've got. Plus it's a sensible route back to the Uk considering we won't be employed or have a credit rating so won't be able to borrow any money.

No I haven't , not confident I could, you have obviously thought it through , best wishes with it

It is the best, cheapest and quickest way to own your own home. But it's not for beginners. I have done it several times, vowed never to do it again every time but I love the work so it's a passion.

Just watched Grand Designs and a couple in their 70's built a German designed glass house, (he was an artist). They lived in a static caravan on site while it was being built.

My plan is to do the same but probably make it a 5 year project funding it as we go.

Sounds great, but you can get land a lot cheaper than 45000 pounds. Check www.propertyfinder.co.uk, there's blocks from 10000 pounds.

Granted, I have not done a self build.....but I have rehabbed several houses both in the States and the UK for a living........and I too vowed NEVER to do it again....and yes I loved the work.....but it's hard.......even harder now than it was when I was in my early 40's. After a flood we had in our house here this year.........the entire downstairs had to be re-done........and I am SOOOOOOOOO glad we contracted it out. I just dont have the energy anymore to DIY it.

What I am saying is..... think on it long and hard and then think on it some more. Programs like Grand Designs and Under the Hammer, etc. glamorize self builds and rehabs. It's lovely to watch a program for an hour or half an hour and see the wonderful results..............but I am realisitc enough to know that it takes months and months of hard work, sore muscles, frustrations regarding suppliers, camping out in a hovel for months on end, etc. until the job is done. Do you really want to do that? And from your description....you want to take 5 years doing it.....Do you want to wait weeks or months in the pouring rain or snow so you can do outside work? .........and when you finally do get a break in the weather your roofers don't show? Or when you are ready to do the electrical your electrician has other work stacked up and can't get to you for another ten days? It can and will happen. You know it will.

You've been there before. You know what it's like. There was a reason you vowed never to do it again.

Sorry to inject this downer post into this thread........but honestly. 5 YEARS??? I'd rather eat dirt for the next 5 years than live like that.

Yes I do. Next year is going to be the year from hell for so many people who are over committed financially. Call it coming out of retirement if you like but I am an interior designer with 25 years of property renovation behind me. I want to go home but I know that at nearly 50 with no credit rating and no chance of a mortgage or loan, I will be wasting my money on renting if I don't find an alternative way to fund a home.

I have the money to fund the development of my business and buy a building plot in an area where I want to live. I have the skills and passion to say sod the recession, the banks and the gloom, I know I can build a home as long as I'm prepared to live without all the frills for a while and go through the crap of relying on workmen (bet they're a lot easier to find now that they need work). I've done it before and I'll do it again because my objective is to ownb my own home in 5 years not carry on working till I'm 75 to pay the bank.
I'm happy to live on site in a static home buying brick by brick until it's finished and no, I don't watch Grand Designs for inspiration. I remember my grandad building his own home so that he didn't work for the bank. That's where my inspiration comes from.

Good luck to you then. I envy you the end result...........but not the extremely hard work it takes to get there.

That was a Huf Haus & the Germans delivered and built it in a very short time.

It may be essentially a pre-fab but it costs more than the house would be worth at the end, well, depending on where it is located. The exchange rate would mean it is now even more expensive to buy one.

http://www.huf-haus.com/gb/intro.html

I know this isn't what you were doing but thought I would just comment on the HH anyway!

It sounds like you know what you are doing and have the enthusiasm and pre-knowledge to do it all again. We built a house in 2002 in Surrey. It was the most stimulating, steep learning curve, exciting, knackering and stressful 9 months of my life. The house at the end was well worth it. (So we sold it and buggered off to Canada ) Not entirely sure I would have the impetus to do it again though ! Sounds like you do have.

I would imagine the hardest part of the whole project would be finding the best plot for you - that you would want to live in for a long time. I presume it's still going, but consider subscribing or finding an on-line version of Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine. That would get you up to date with current planning laws, application procedures, etc - but to be honest, I found that the best advice came from walking up to the Planning Desk in the local council, and bouncing a few ideas off them at a time. Pick your location, find a plot and very, very good luck. It'll be one heck of a ride, that's for sure

Hi cricket1, we last self built 2 years ago about our 5th to date ! Good luck for finding a suitable plot absolutely depends on where you are looking to settle ! One of the reasons we are moving back to Oz is complete lack of plots (decent)available in our area and having been turned down 3 times on different projects by the council and the cost of the plots.
Any plots for £10k will probably have no pp,facilities or something - if you can find at that price bite their hand off because having looked at plots there is something wrong with them at that price.
Good luck - we have done the caravan living too great to look back on and you really appreciate moving into a house

Their enthusiasm and vision was infectious but I didn't like the house. All those expanses of glass right upto the roof would make me feel cold and I wouldn't like the lack of privacy. Enjoyed watching them build it though.

When I'm on a mission, I'm like a dog with a bone. I love my security and don't fancy being at the mercy of banks after all that's happened. I also have this dilemma now of not being able to find the house I want. I'm hoping to build the cosy cottage style but with touches of the open plan Australian modernisation. Not a big house but a home with spacious rooms, good storage, all on one level and a home that reflects how we like to live.

I think what we are going to end up doing is finishing the house we're in, renting it out for 6 months, jetting off to the UK, rent for a while, kick business off then research building plots, the latest planning restrictions and new regulations, find out as much as possible and probably wait until the end of 2009 before we buy anything. I think that will be the right time to buy.

A complete new build is much easier and less expensive than many renovations because you don't have to spend time and money undoing previous work before you can get started. Plus if you live on site in a static, you're not having to live in a mess. My last house project in the UK cost 126,000 pounds in 1996. Six years later, it sold for 450,000 pounds.
The best time to buy is when the market is totally flat and I'm guessing this will be late 2009, early 2010.
Just been told that one of our friends friends owes $32,000 on his credit card. Apparantly, this is normal so I reckon next year is going to be an eye opener with a lot of disaster and opportunity befalling a lot of people in equal measures.