MoreShelter!

Build Your Dream House For A Song (Or For Pretty Darn Cheap)

Something inside David Cook has driven him to build homes- he didn't want to be a slave to a thirty-year mortgage!  In the 1970s, he fixed up many homes in the East Bay and even built one from scratch in El Cerrito with the help of a general contractor.

Then, a few years later, he found raw land property in the Sleepy Hollow section of San Anselmo to develop.  David, a Marin resident, has written the book entitled "Build Your Dream House For a Song" (And Own It Free And Clear In Five Years). 

Most homes are built using 2 by 4's, but this was too easy for David who was looking for a challenge- hence, steel. 

David started attending auctions for building materials.  He first found a very large truck for $900 which enabled him to carry the goods and materials he found.  Next, David found a backhoe for $5,000 so he could off-load the truck (after he finished the house, he was able to re-sell the backhoe for the $5,000 purchase price!) After that, he got working on his steel building. 

David put a sign at the UC  Berkeley School of Architecture to find an architectural student to design his steel structure.  Most young students were overwhelmed by the scope of the project, but not Guillermo Marin, a native of Mexico, who was applying for a professor position and knew exactly what to do with the steel structure.  David apologized to Guillermo for only being able to pay him $1,000 for the project, but Guillermo was not disappointed because it provided an opportunity for him to learn our building codes.  As an FYI, David pointed out that the building codes were designed for health and safety.

Plan approval and design review took several months.  A structural engineer was also hired because of the steel.

The Sleepy Hollow home was located 270 feet from the street and David decided to place all utilities underground; not a problem because he had the backhoe.  He brought utilities (electrical, water and telephone) onto the property prior to building, so that he and his family could live comfortably and rent free in a temporary dwelling (a mobile home which David bought for $3,000).  It then took him two years to build his dream house on the property.  A key point David makes, is to get financing from the seller on the property while working on the project.

David used primarily salvaged materials and free stuff, recycled windows and solid core commercial quality doors purchased at auction for $10 each.  The best is the flooring that came from Rincon Annex Post Office on Mission Street in the Financial District-  one-inch thick by two-and-a-quarter-inch wide maple.   The good old US government got the one-inch stuff while he was thrilled with 5/8"!  The HVAC (heating and air conditioning) came from an old building in SF that was being demolished.

David built the structure for $40 per square foot, including labor and materials, but not including the land.  These are 1988 prices, but David feels there has been a very minor increase (5%) in materials; however labor costs have increased significantly.  In the end, you can save a minimum of 30% when taking charge of building your own home.

CNN recently reported that builders are getting back to basics by building smaller homes, but David would like us to consider getting truly back to basics and actually build our own homes.

The net-net?  The American dream is still within reach...you just need to put some sweat equity into your design!

Details-

To reach David Cook, or buy a copy of his book, go to his website.

Old Is New Again- Trending Away From Tear Downs

Meet Anna Minton and Mark Kaufman- one eco-friendly family that has saved their home from the bulldozer.  Anna and Mark have restored Anna's family home on a beautiful piece of property in Kent Woodlands, saving it from the typical tear-down and replacement with yet another McMansion.  This would have been a very likely occurrence given the current trend in Marin. 

Anna's father, architect John Minton, designed the home in 1953.  He designed the steel-framed home originally with a passive solar design.  The floor to ceiling windows face south, which allow the sun to shine into the home from October to March, but not during the summer months.  The roof is cantilevered, which also limits the sun exposure.  The foundation is cement slab with a built-in copper radiant heating system that still works five decades after installment.  This classic home, far from being outdated in 2008, is still very modern, and livable.  Anna and Mark reside in the home with their two teenage children and their black lab, Kimmy, who breeds for Guide Dogs For The Blind.      

1953 sustainable materials are still working for them today.  All they had to do was fix some immediate problems, and complete deferred maintenance. They hope to keep the home in the family through the next generation.

Inside, the furnishings are also sustainable and quite stylish.  The Spanish dining table is a family heirloom dating back to the 1800s.  The living room sofa is one my personal all-time favorites.  It is an extraordinarily long (12 feet!)silk custom couch designed specifically for the Minton's living room by Gumps in the 50s, and it's still going strong!  In the kitchen they retained the original marble countertops and wood cabinets.  They still even use the original electric cooktop from Thermador.

Original cork flooring remains installed on the stairs and in the second story bedrooms.  Unfortunately, due to weather and mild earthquakes, the cork did not last downstairs and has been replaced with tile.

Landscape designer Michelle Derviss, and her partner, Miguel Chavez of Derviss Design, were hired to help with the outdoor planning.  Michelle loved the original classic modern design.  The yard's layout is essentially the same as John Minton's design in the 1950s, with the addition of a blue stone fountain pointing to Mt. Tam.  The hardscape had water, soil erosion and earthquake damage and needed replacement.  Much of the original aggregate was used to bolster paths on the hillside property.

The garden has a functional beauty, filled with goodies to feed the family.  My favorite story is the one about Mark trading 240 lemons for fresh fish, from a local fish store this year.  The very prolific lemon tree, planted in the 70s has even allowed for a batch of Limoncello!  Mark is a long-time gardener and has developed a sustainable fruit and vegetable garden.  The garden includes tomatoes, peppers, basil, garlic, shallots, carrots, beets, asparagus, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, two varieties of plum, four types of pears, figs, lemons, apples, peaches, apricots, cherries, tangerines and oranges.  Mark has to constantly remove the oak acorns so that they do not take over the place,  but he's also nurturing a couple of dozen coastal oak seedlings.

This is one of my all-time favorite Marin stories about a family who has really stepped up to the plate for sustainable preservation.  If you are looking to preserve a property , or wish to locate one for preservation, please contact me at The Madison Company.

For more information and sources on preservation-

**Landscape Architects: DervissDesign.com

**Native landscape blog website: Gardenrant.com

Click here for the complete index of photos of the Minton-Kaufman home.

 

The 101 On Short Sales On The 101 In Marin

Everyone expects a deal these days in the real estate market.  We have all been bombarded with the news on these steals and deals in the Bay Area.  Fortunately for Marin homeowners, the trend has not hit this county in the same way as our neighbors in the East Bay, otherwise known as "Vacantville."  If you watch late, late night TV you will be teased by these steals and deals with homes selling in the hundreds of dollars.  These shows were made for people who believe you can get something for nothing, and as the saying goes, "there's a sucker born every minute."

Distressed Properties 101

What is a Short Sale?  The loan balance exceeds the market value of the home.
A Foreclosure?  A notice of default on the loan is sent to the Owner of the property by the Lender and the payments are in arrears.  The Owner has 122 days from the Notice of Default to sell the property prior to the Lender taking it back.
An REO?  Real Estate Owned property is owned by the bank rather than the Owner, and the agreed upon listing price and conditions have been approved by the Lender in advance.

"The best scenario for buyers is the REO.  You do not want to buy a foreclosure until they become an REO; bank-owned property.  The only advantage to the short sale is for the seller to work out a deal with the bank in advance and protect their credit."

That's what my colleague John Skinner, of the Madison Company Realtors has to say.  And according to my broker, Nancie Bottmeyer-

"Short sales create the lower end of the market, and bring false expectations from the buyer, in that they are expecting a bargain."

On a more positive note, last week a Central Marin appraiser had several appraisals that involved multiple offers, some over listing price.  Nancie's quotable quote: Prime properties properly priced, are promptly purchased in any market!

Introducing RiDesign and RiShelter!

Rita is our MoreShelter columnist, and she'll bring you the latest in housing news, but with a twist.  She's going to focus on the 'green' side of real estate.  She'll be writing about preservation, 'green' construction, recycled designs and much more under two new categories: RiShelter and RiDesign. 

Rita has been with the Madison Company Realtors since 2004 as a licensed California real estate agent.  She is a native Alaskan, and has lived in Marin since the 1960's.  Proud to be an alumnus of St. Hilary's School, Marin Catholic High School and St Mary's College, Rita lives in her home-town of Tiburon.  Rita's  start in the business of 'green' began early, in 1986, when she and her father formed Renew Computers, a computer recycling company here in Marin.

Whether you're looking for that unique property to refurbish, or a boomer looking to downsize, Rita's real estate know-how and Marin-market savvy will help you find exactly what you're looking for.  Check out her website here, and keep an eye on MoreShelter for her two new columns, RiShelter and RiDesign.  Keep it green with Rita!