I have experience building our own home, but no experience getting a loan to do it. We paid cash as we sent along building ours. It took us about 3 years to build it working mainly on the weekends. I would be surprised if you could get a loan if you were building it yourself. Not saying it would be impossible, just saying I would be surprised.

We had trouble getting construction insurance, until I formed my own company and gave State Farm that company's name as the builder. Then they gave me construction insurance. Then once we got it built they wouldn't insure it, because we were too far out in the sticks. Thank goodness for Brandon at Meyer insurance.

The only permits we had to get was for the septic tank installation and that was no issue.

Regarding the sub contractors, we used a few local yokel type guys and had some trouble with some of those guys showing up. Some of those guys wanted to be paid everyday. Whatever you do don't pay anyone in advance. We have some people up here that are very educated, but don't have a lot of common sense and they paid guys in advance and never got the stuff finished that they paid for. So Caveat Emptor.

"When I say ever thing I mean ever thing." - Frankie