After Hurricane Katrina, Andres Duany developed a plan for small, permanent homes designed to be an alternative to the FEMA trailers. The first “Katrina Cottage” was designed by Marianne Cusato, and is being considered as affordable housing in resorts, camps, vacation communities, the military and in other situations worldwide. The Katrina Cottages are unique in that they’re designed to stay on a site even after a larger and more permanent home has been built. The Cottages can be either added onto or used as an outbuilding for a permanent dwelling.

By building the cottage at the front of a building lot, additions can be made to the back of the home as time progresses. Or, as an alternative, you could build the cottage at the back of your building lot, and then when you build your more permanent second home, you can turn the Cottage into a guest house or studio. The cottages could provide a wonderful retreat while building your larger second home, so that you’re not wasting precious weekends at the lake, the beach, or wherever your second home may be.

The Cottages could also be used to set up a family compound where every member of your family could have their own second home that they can come to whenever they want, but in a setting where the whole family can also get together.

The Katrina Cottages are available through Lowe’s, either as plans or as a materials package that includes everything but the foundation, furniture, and HVAC system. The package will cost approximately $55 a square foot and will require a contractor or builder for assembly.

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LendingTree has a great checklist for finding a buyer’s agent for your next real estate purchase. Key points are to make sure that your agent has a thorough understanding of your needs, and that they’re willing to work with you until those needs are fulfilled. Make sure to also get strong references from anyone that you work with.

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents also has some information on their site, including a form you can fill out to be put in touch with an exclusive buyer agent.

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Where else can you get ocean views and deeded access to the water for only $44,000 (Canadian)? While this house could use some TLC, it’s in a great spot on a full acre, with original wood floors and mouldings, 4-5 bedrooms, and two bathrooms (the one downstairs is a two-piece, the upstairs bath has a tub and sink but no toilet!) See more about this property at mls.ca

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To paraphrase Ben Franklin: No person’s life or property is safe while the legislature is in session.

As a result of the unprecedented losses in the Gulf Coast States, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) needs a complete overhaul. For the past two legislative sessions, both houses of Congress have debated major modifications to the NFIP, with little result. In 2006, both houses passed and President Bush signed an emergency bailout for the program. The damages for the ’05 storms left the old program in tatters and 23 Billion dollars in the hole.

A major part of the problem was the outdated and wildly inaccurate flood plain maps on which the NFIP is based. Using the new technology called Global Information Systems (GIS), spot checks of some of the old maps of the Gulf Coast area shows that the elevations are off in some areas by as much as 16 feet!. That’s the height above the second story of most homes! Obviously, this needs to be fixed.

The problem with anyone in Washington “fixing” a problem is how Congress goes about doing it. The 19th century German statesman Bismarck said “there are two things you should never watch being made: laws and sausages.”

Instead of a multi-stage process where the serious underlying problems of the NFIP get fixed, both the House and the Senate decided in 2006 to try and craft a solution to the whole problem, with predictable results. The Democrats disagree with the Republicans and the House disagrees with the Senate. Meanwhile, the already difficult problems facing the NFIP put it one flood or storm away from insolvency…again. The House has legislation pending sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank (D. MA). The Senate has neglected to discuss or debate this subject thus far in 2007.

Here’s where your vacation home comes in. If your property is located in what is now or will be later considered a flood plain, the House bill currently under consideration would remove existing subsidies on the NFIP insurance premiums. This would guarantee a significant increase in your insurance premiums. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) strongly supports second homeowners retaining their rights as embodied in the current NFIP. For more information on the proposed changes visit the NAR Legislative arm.

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Parts One and Two discussed what to look for when purchasing an antique timber frame building. Here are some resources to help you find one:

The Barn People. Located in Windsor, Vermont, The Barn People have been restoring and moving antique barns since 1975. They serve the entire U.S. Their inventory isn’t available online, but they do have a photo gallery with examples of their work.

Great Northern Barns. Great Northern Barns is located in Canaan, NH. Their inventory is available online, and in addition to offering antique barns, the also have some antique timber framed homes.

Vintage Log and Lumber. In addition to carrying antique barns, Vintage Log and Lumber also carries antique log cabins and other antique building materials. They have many larger barns available, in excess of 5,000 square feet, as well as small barns and other outbuildings.

Heritage Restorations. Heritage Restorations has two locations, in Waco, Texas and Windham, New York. They have a large inventory of primarily smaller antique barns available.

Renovators Resource. Renovators Resource in Halifax, Nova Scotia, often has antique post and beam churches or meeting halls available. They also carry a variety of other architectural salvage.

Historic Properties. Historic Properties has listings nationwide for many buildings that need to be moved (as well as other historic structures that are sold in excellent condition).

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