I should have read this post before replying to the other one, so I’ll add it here too:

” I’ll accept Melanie’s comment as evidence that people do this although I’m not sure about the “doing it without putting in much of their own money” part. They need to buy the land, pay taxes, buy materials etc.

I guess if they take long enough to do the building then the costs get spread out.”

In response to the money part, they usually use family land (which is still abundant) and we don’t have property taxes here so almost all the money goes into materials.

As for where I disappeared to, I’ve been busy waging a war against an ever-growing pile of junior high tests and assignments to correct before report card time.

@mr cheap, congrats

Good Game! BTW, I know mr cheap will win from the beginning. coz’ I have read ECHO, BOOM, BUST book, a study of Demographics. In fact, 3 years from now, I’ll even bet on Home Depot stocks and Lowes sock

Congrats!