A Homebuilt Low-Cost Home Makes Retirement Easier

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Dee and Duane wanted to be off - but not too far off - the beaten path, and this land west of Kingman, Ariz., fit the bill.
Dee and Duane wanted to be off - but not too far off - the beaten path, and this land west of Kingman, Ariz., fit the bill.
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Energy self-sufficiency, low-cost maintenance and do-it-yourself home building form the core of Arizona residents Dee and Duane Mark's retirement strategy.
Energy self-sufficiency, low-cost maintenance and do-it-yourself home building form the core of Arizona residents Dee and Duane Mark's retirement strategy.
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All the insulation for the mini-house cost Dee and Duane a mere $50.
All the insulation for the mini-house cost Dee and Duane a mere $50.
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By scrounging, trading and salvaging materials, Dee and Duane saved a bundle. This temporary house, where they'll live while building their straw-bale home, cost $675.
By scrounging, trading and salvaging materials, Dee and Duane saved a bundle. This temporary house, where they'll live while building their straw-bale home, cost $675.

Saving money in retirement with a homebuilt low-cost home.

My wife Dee and I realized a few years ago that if we wanted to live the way we were accustomed after we retired, we’d need a lot more money or a lot fewer living expenses.

We have both been self-employed most of our lives and, contrary to popular belief, not all business people are wealthy. Our retirement income will be very low. With the realization that we would be trapped by our monetary situation if we didn’t do something prior to our retirement, we began to develop a plan to construct a homebuilt, low-cost home to save money.

Since the late 1970s, I have followed the evolution of solar energy and straw-bale construction, as well as other energy-efficient methods, so our plan centered around building a home that would be low-cost to build and maintain.

We wanted a place away from the beaten path, but not so far away that a trip to town would be a major undertaking. We selected 2 1/2 acres 20 miles west of Kingman, Arizona, on the eastern slope of the Black Mountains. The view is spectacular in all directions, with wonderful sunrises and the mountains to the west for early afternoon shade. The 2 1/2 acres will allow plenty of room for a straw-bale home, a large workshop and a garden.

  • Published on Dec 1, 2001
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