Building a Cabin in the Ozarks... Need some Advice

Hey Permies! I am currently purchasing land in MO Ozarks on the northern side. I am running into some issues as I am in a different state currently. I figured I would use the hive mind of this wonderful community. Ok, on to my issue. My hubs and I are wanting to build a cabin from a kit on our land. If we go a construction loan we HAVE to drill a well. We wanted to do a water tank system and a water catch for rain. This method would not approve us for the loan. Now, what are some other options for water that won't break the bank? I've looked all over but I don't know what I don't know... HELP! We can/are hooked up to electricity. We just didn't want to mess with a whole well plumbing system.

I don't think any other water system other than a traditional well is going to secure you a build loan. Same with a septic system, they are usually required if the bank is going to fund you money, they want to have an investment in case your property becomes a foreclosure and septic and wells are the easiest way to do that.

Your rainfall is above the national average so the depth of the well probably won't be too deep, at $40 a foot you wont be looking at adding too much onto your loan. Using a well and pump isnt much more difficult to setup than collecting rainfall. I think a tank, filter system, and pump if you aren't doing gravity fed, is going to require an extra bit on your loan as is.

Sorry for not having a better answer.

Welcome.

A few thoughts:  First, just because you have to have a well does not mean you have to plumb or use it.  You can still build to your plans and have a water tank system.  Just tell the driller to cap the well.  Although it is really advisable to have a water source if you plan to keep animals.

Second, talk to your lender and ask them if the well needs to be 'active' (pump down hole, wired to electricity, plumbed to the house.)  Explain your desire.  Mostly the lender does not care what you use for water.  They just want to ensure their investment has re-sale value if the loan is not collected.  It is hard to re-sell a property without a water source and the bank is not in the land development/project business.  However, if a well is on site and can be hooked up, that may be all that matters to them to qualify.  

Lastly, look at "green building" lenders.  There are precious few whom work with non traditional loans, but they are out there.  I think Green Mountain out of Colorado is still around, but it has been years since I looked at that area of finance.  

Good luck with your project!