I build low-cost single-family homes on the Mt. Snow valley of southern Vermont. Since 1977, I have been involved in the construction of about 60 homes, both as a sole proprietor and as a founder and partner in a workers' cooperative. I presently work with one other carpenter to erect the equivalent of four homes in a nine-month building season each year. In 90 percent of these cases, we use some amount of owner labor to help keep costs down. These homes are custom designed and stickbuilt, and they are all contracted by clients, before start, in a $55,000 to $65,000 price range (not including land). Almost all projects are funded by the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) or
