By Debbie Lamb

HYDE PARK -- Everyone has a vision of the perfect home. A Hyde Park woman is helping people who have a desire for an uncustomary floor plan to achieve that goal.

"Log homes have a down-home, unique feeling," said Nancy Lamb owner of Bear River Country Log Homes. "People walk in the door and they can leave their worries outside."

Lamb's idea of selling log homes began in the 1970s. At the time there was a trend of underground homes, and Lamb wanted a self-sufficient lifestyle. The dream of having an office in her own log home became a reality when she and her husband built their log home in Hyde Park.

"We moved into Hyde Park in February in 1981," Lamb said. "We actually started the business in Bountiful Utah, before we moved to Hyde Park. I sold a couple of homes while living with my husbands parents. At the time we did not even own a log home we just started talking to people about it.

"I taught marketing in school so I thought I would market these homes along the western United States," Lamb said. "I really started selling homes before the conventional home businesses did."

Log homes are usually more expensive than a conventional home, Lamb said. If you do decide to build your own log home, then it is possible to save anywhere from $35,000 to $40.000, Lamb said.

"The range is $25,000 to $1 million and everywhere in between," Lamb said. "The median is probably $100,000 to $150,000."

The average log home buyers usually are buying their second home and want the home customized to fit their needs.

Usually people will come to Lamb with property to build upon. Lamb has a posting of available lots.

"Most of them have a little land but I have some lots that are put on a lot in the valley in older neighborhoods," Lamb said. "I don't really get into the real estate I sell building materials.

"I am a service-oriented business," Lamb said. "I help people from the beginning to end if they need help. I help with financing and my husband will go out and instruct them on how to build the home."

Lamb is the only employee in her business.

"Basically it's me," Lamb said "Then I will contract people like my husband or kids [if the buyer needs construction help]. I will pay them contracting fees."

On the average Lamb will sell anywhere from one to 12 log homes a year. Lamb can be contacted at 435-752-5203, via e-mail at logs@mtwest.net or on the web at www.mtwest.net/logs.

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