What a privilege it is to live in the United States of America. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those personally affected by the recent tragedies in New York and Washington.

Even though our U.S. economy has been having it's share of struggles lately, the new housing industry is still growing. Analysts confirm that a home is still one of the most stable places to place an investment. I recently heard a conversation on WJR (AM 760 - Detroit) about the Michigan housing industry. According to them, they have never seen a Michigan home depreciate. Michigan is a great place to live. Michigan is a great place to invest. Michigan is a great place to build a log home.

It looks like we are in for a busy Spring in 2002. In order to get things rolling out of the plant before the big push, Jim Barna Log Systems is offering a very big promotion. If you can take delivery of the materials package before March 2002, you can receive up to 10% off the entire package. This can mean as much as $5,000 - $12,000 off an average package! If you need a little more time to prepare, there is still a 5% discount (if you deliver within 12 months of placing the order). Call our office for more details 888-663-7750.

Barna Log Homes, Inc.
1530 E. Blackmore Road Mayville, MI 48744

989-843-4936
greensloghomes@msn.com

Our website is packed with log home floorplans, photographs, and other free log home information: www.barnagreatlakes.com

1. Determine when you are planning to build. This will help you develop a time line for the entire planning process. If you plan to start this year or early next year, you may be eligible for the promotion mentioned above. If you are looking at building between 1 and 2 years from now you may want to consider the Jim Barna Layaway Plan. There is more information about the layaway plan on our website (www.barnagreatlakes.com) at the "Why Barna" page.

2. Choose your lender and determine your budget. It is often helpful for you, the homeowner, to work with a lending institution that has experience in dealing with log homes. We carry information from a number of lending institutions. Feel free to call us (888-663-7750) if you are interested in receiving any of this information.

3. Choose your floorplan. Assuming that you already own land or are looking for a place to build, it is time to consider what size and style of house you are planning to build. We offer a variety of standard plans ranging from small cabins to large homes. You can view the standard plans at our website on the "See Our Homes" page. All of the standard plans can be customized to meet your needs. In addition to the standard plans, we can also custom design. If you already have a floorplan in mind, we should be able to work with it.

4. Obtain a quote. Contact our office or your salesperson for more information on one of our standard plans or a custom design. They will be able to provide an accurate price quote for the design. We can also assist in forecasting a complete project cost.

5. Determine whether you plan to general contract or hire a professional general contractor. There are pros and cons to both. The general contractor plays the most important role in a construction project. He/she is responsible for all aspects of the project from the initial site preparation all the way through the finishing touches. Two of the biggest reasons you would choose to do it on your own are (1.) to save money and (2.) to have a hands-on role in constructing your own home. Two good reasons to consider hiring a professional are (1.) to have an expert handling each detail and (2.) to have someone knowledgeable overseeing each subcontractor.

6. Visit our model and the manufacturing facilities. This is a good step to take at any point during the process. Our model in Columbus, MI is open Monday through Saturday 9am - 5pm (except around certain holidays). Our manufacturing facilities are located in Oneida, TN. There is usually a plant tour and mini-seminar each month. Check our calendar of events for exact dates.

7. Attend any local seminars, open houses, or shows available to you. We currently have a log raising planned for Saturday, Oct 13 (Yale, MI) and a workshop planned for Tuesday, Oct 23 (Columbus, MI). Call us at 888-663-7750 or check our website for updated information on upcoming log home events.

These steps should be helpful in getting your project rolling. Your salesperson will be able to help you with these steps as well as many other details pertaining to your log home. We can help you achieve your goal of building a log home!