lost in az

I am looking for A fairly inexpensive green home building technique that will provide maximum energy efficiancy.

To be built in A moderate climate ( less than 30 in. snow per year summer highs around 80's )

I have looked at strawbale ,cob, adobe, earthbag, & rammed earth, But sorting out actual info is difficult.

Any one out there that has actualy build one of these ?

Can you share some thoughts ? costs,permits,insurance,etc.?

It seems that most people are more than happy to let the government control their lives ,as is evedinced by all the new

laws and regulations that keep getting passed.

What ever happened to personal accountability ?

Are we no longer smart enough to make our own decicions ?

Is it really nessesary for the government to tell us how to live our lives?

Cases in point -(obviously these are not laws worldwide)

When I grew up in the 1960's we did not even have seatbelts in cars,now we do ,yes they save lives , but do we need laws to tell us that ?

generations of families grew up around second hand and direct smoke from cigarettes and cigars , we know it is not healthy now ,but do we really need laws to stop people from doing what they will do anyway (did we not learn from prohibition?)

laws to force us to put fences around our pools so our kids do not drown ? What happened to parents watching thier kids?

We all grew up without fences on pools .How did we ever survive?

It is too far from me to travel there to look at right now -(won't buy untill I see in person anyway) but I just need to know if anyone knows anything about the area to see if I should make the time to go up there to see it right away or just scrap the idea altogether It is in S.W. CO. and the pictures look great

It is not remote and has all that is needed ie. water,electric.phone.

My plan is to build on it and move there

I am planning an extended trip (6 months + ) with my 2 kids (2 dogs & 2 cats too ) starting this sept. 1st from AZ to ? I am looking for advice and ideas on safe family friendly places to stay overnight and also educational places to visit ( I am also homeschooling this year)

Also need to keep the costs down so we can go for this long

I want it to be an adventure the kids will cherish forever.

Anyone out there who has done this before or even any full time RVers that can offer some tips on places to stay or stay away from?

We are concidering opening A business to service people intrested in building Eco-friendly/energy efficient self sustaining homes/homesteads.

We would be able to help prospective clients through all the stages required to build an Eco-home from contracting with an architect ,obtaining favorable financing,choosing appropriate building materials for their area,hiring sub-contractors,etc. helping them to build thier Eco-home in the city or country using planet friendly resources, and ultimately saving alot of money when they "manage" the project themselves (with our guidance)and long term energy savings as well.

our charge to the customer would run at about 5% of the project cost, but the savings on the project over all can run as high as 25% to 30% off of what A comparable standard site-build home.

polling to see if there would be enough intrest out there to pursue this idea

I know a bankruptcy stays on for 10 years how long does a forclosure stay on? I do plan to buy another house soon,(downsizing as my income has changed) I do not have A bk or forclosure right now but may have soon if my house does not sell in the next 2 months. ANY advice would be very welcome.

The home I am trying to sell is in phoenix AZ and the market here is flooded with homes for sale right now, I cannot afford to wait for the market to turn around so I need to do something NOW, I would even sign the house over to someone-just take over payments! so I can save my good credit.

We are currently in Phx. ,but would like to relocate somewhere where we can have some land ,build self sufficient house/homestead (but not isolated from others). Have found plenty of places up north (cooler is better)that fit this but the people do not seem open to spiritual people (we do ghost hunting for fun, believe in after life,etc).

I even looked into starting our own intentional community ,but don't know where to start really.

Any free spirited people out there living like this in northern arizona? does anyone have any suggestions on where A good place to live might be?

This is not A joke I am looking for A good place to raise my kids in peace & freedom with like minded folks.

ps I do need to stay in AZ (family here)

Thank you for any help