Depending on how much of a rush you are in, I'd buy a used mobile home and put it out there to live in while waiting out this mess. Then once things get back to normal have your real house built and sell the trailer.

Don't laugh, but if you have not, check into "Tuff Shed".
I've been wanting one of their custom sheds for awhile now and I follow them on social media and there have been several instances where they custom designed living quarters and the buyer finished the inside themselves or farmed it out.
Might be worth a look?

https://www.tuffshed.com/


https://www.simplemost.com/home-depot-tuff-sheds-make-affordable-tiny-homes/

I purchased a 14x36 Amish built garage in 2018. I live in the township so it was required by code to be a permanent structure. The vinyl siding and shingles must match my house and that was not a problem. The building construction easily complies with the inspectors extra EXTRA stringent frost, heave, snow load and hurricane requirements. I bolted it to my thickened concrete slab with Titan bolts. I electrified it insulated it and installed a 240 volt heater. Its my mancave/ motorcycle workshop car repair- all around hobby shop. Heats up nicely (only on weekends- electric heat is $$) and looks great. Building code inspector was pleased with the construction quality. Built by the Amish in an indoor environment in Fremont Michigan.

I was going to build a tiny house from a kit or from a storage container for my property but at the end of the day it was cheaper to buy a trailer.

The problem isn't with the Modular industry, its with the wood/building materials industry, whether its traditional stick built or modular, lumber prices have skyrocketed...steel has gone up considerably as well. Maybe an old barn move/renovation?? still substantial materials cost associated with that.

Merle Haggard's father was way ahead of the times. Haggard was born in 1937 and the family lived in a converter boxcar. The boxcar was transformed into the family home by Haggard's father, James Haggard, during the Great Depression.

You're welcome, for the irrelevant piece of information

Have you considered a couple of sea cans ??

Pre covid housing prices were out of reality. But now the cost of lumber, materials and contractors lack of hired help its now a terribly expensive scenario.

I don't understand this. You can go to sporting events, car shows, swap meets and presumably just about any other sort of venue or activity. But you can't work ?!?!?

That's correct. You can safely riot too.

No we are paying people more to collect unemployment than they would make working. Stupid.

Nearly ever business in our little town has " Now Hiring" signs hanging on the doors and windows. The government is giving people $600 a week unemployment to stay home without having a requirement to even look for work. Most people just love that idea, free money! You can do whatever you want with your time and have cash in your pockets. On top of that, since its government money, lots of lending companies are willing to loan people money because of those untaxed unemployment checks.

Why would a person want to get a job that pays the same money or less? Even if that pay check is a little more, you still loose all that free time. The fat and lazy are getting even fatter and more lazy.

I've been looking at building a second dwelling (approved) on our parcel properly zoned.
I've considered all options and have pretty much settled on stick built.
While I do not know your location/approval jurisdiction I'd suggest talking with the local manufacturers in your area, and surrounding areas.
Sometimes there is very lax requirements that one may want to avoid.
I guess you are looking for an energy efficient and convenient home.
A couple things to consider. Slab or raised floor, group all the plumbing and mechanical in one portion of home.
2x6 and dual pane vinyl and extra insulation in floors and attic. Properly vent the attic.
Orient the home to obtain as much solar gain, and possible photovoltaic in the future.
Also, if the foot print is fairly modest locate it so that it could be converted to garage use in the future. Install headers over windows that can later be opened up for garage doors.
Lastly I believe the current market is unsustainable. You are likely not able to wait, yet building now may be tough.
Do consider some finishing paint, cabinets and counters, appliances and systems to do, or sub out yourself.

A lot of what you can do is dependent on the zoning, codes, laws and regs of the local and/or state authorities where you are building.

My wife and I bought 2 acres and put up a manufactured home in 2007, just before the bust. Call it a double wide if you like. A nice one. Paid a lot less than we could have - we knew the bubble was about to burst and we had plans for other stuff besides a big mortgage. Lots of bad stuff has happened since, but we still have it. Never regretted the choice, Would do it again today. Had we gone for the McMansion, we'd have been done for.

Find out what the options are. Pole building? A shop building with an attached living quarters? A gently used quality double wide? Small manufactured house?

Housing market is a mess now. Materials are high and scarce. Existing homes are crazy high. With the current situation, I would recommend, first and foremost, do something that you can afford, even if the wheels fall off and things go completely sideways for you.

Sheeting
Framing studs
Just look at the cost of the materials for a simple structure.. Prices are nuts... anyone building or buying now is going to take a bath later ( read as negative equity) this is the only time I have ever advise to rent and see what happens rather than buy or build. My house market value has almost doubled in less than two years. It had only risen 20% in the last 30 yrs, nothing in my area has changed... just more ignorant people.

Stanton wrote: "I don't understand this. You can go to sporting events, car shows, swap meets and presumably just about any other sort of venue or activity. But you can't work ?!?!?"
Even before Covid existed there was a lack of people (Young people) entering skilled trades. Contractors, trucking, auto repair you name the career there is no one applying and giving a serious effort. Now bring in covid and its lockdowns, increased costs of materials and $$ incentives for healthy people to NOT work and its the knock out blow.