Build your own dream house in Canada

Ever wanted your own dream house in Canada? Why not build your own?

That's what friends of George Betemps did in British Columbia. Their log house in Takysie Lake, made from the trees surrounding the site, stood on a 140 acre plot of land with beautiful mountain scenery to accompany the small expanse of water.

"The view is spectacular, isn't it?" he tells me. I agree. And quiet to boot. Private. Peaceful. Pretty. It's the perfect reclusive spot for a new home, even if it is hard to imagine where the electricity comes from.

"Oh, the electricity is at the site," George explains, "although the land is mostly all southern exposure, so you get lots of sunshine. It's just high enough to avoid being fogged in during the autumn season. It's a great place to install solar systems for lights and hot water."

I look around. With a bit of DIY and creativity, it could be an idyllic remote getaway.

"You could live off the grid!" George adds. I nod. But where would the water come from?

"The water line to the lake needs to be redone," he admits, "but I used rain water from the roof which led to a cistern in the basement..."

Even while talking about cisterns and basements, it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer loveliness of The Lakes District. If you wanted to get away from it all, this is surely where you would go. There are no roads going through the land; it sits at the end of a single gravel road, which is maintained by the government. And with no farm animals on the land, the air is still and relaxing.

"I have not farmed it so there have not been any domestic animals on it for about seven years or so.  Only moose, deer, bears, coyotes, a wolf or two and lots of rabbits and grouse! If you were to farm it you would have to do a little work to the fields."

But just because it's quiet and remote, that doesn't mean we're in the middle of nowhere. We're less than 30 minutes from the Francois Lake Ferry and close to the cities of Smithers and Prince George, both of which have their own airports.

"There are loads of interesting things you could do on or from the property too," says George. "It's a very scenic area with hunting, fishing and plenty of other summer and winter outdoor activities all in your backyard."

No wonder he fell in love with the log house. His friends lived there for 50 years, he explains. Eventually, he bought it from them. Why would he want to sell it now? George frowns.

"The house burned down in 2011," he reveals. "It's been cleaned up since then, the basement is ready for levelling and foundations. The land is just waiting for someone else with a vision for their own dream home."

"There are some good contractors in the area that would gladly build it for you," he continues.

"Or," he says, looking at the woods around him, you could always do what they did and build it yourself!"

Ready to build your own dream house in Canada?

Buy a plot of land for just £205,172.

For more information, view the full listing:

Are you looking to buy property in Canada ? Saint-donat-de-montcalm , Charlo , Bc , Calgary , New Brunswick

Are you looking to rent property in Canada ? Whistler , Montréal , Toronto , Calgary , Victoria