The nature lover will cherish this ultra quiet and private 5 acres upon which the 400 sq.ft net zero solar powered cottage was built using the latest that building science offers for efficiency and durability. This tranquil refuge may as well be 1000 acres because it is surrounded on 3 sides by sizable tracts of undisturbed forest that have seldom seen human footprints for 50 years. Also, you are an easy 30 mile drive from the most beautiful beaches and all the resort amenities found on the gulf coast on 30A. You can enjoy the beach anytime you want without living in the tourist hustle, noise and traffic. The quiet 5 acre Shangri-La has two ponds full of fish, over 100 pine trees and mixed hardwoods that shelter unimaginable wildlife that gives the feeling of being in a remote woodland hide-away yet within the city limits of DeFuniak Springs. Actually you are walking distance to Walmart or Lowes or to the amazing DeFuniak Springs Lakeyard which is an expansive and beautiful city park where you can take walks, run or feed the ducks on the pier. The main suite is ICF (insulated concrete form) construction and is highly insulated and wind and fire resistant with 12 inch thick walls that have a center core with 6 1/2 inches of poured concrete interlaced with steel rebar. Nothing is going to knock this house down and the very low homeowner's insurance reflects the strength of this home. The main structure is designed and situated on the lot to allow for the addition of your dream home of any size and type imagined to accommodate a larger family or other needs. The empty space on the lot is a major advantage for those who wish to build to their own tastes and needs, or for the minimalist the current arrangement is the most low maintenance and durable and affordable of its kind anywhere. There are also two other seperate buildings, the Zen Garden cottage,(192 sq.ft.) and the more distant woodland hobby shed (250 sq.ft.) serving as guest room, tea room, home office or hobby shed that have full kitchen facilities and appliances and a toilet. Another feature of the property is that the newly built hobby shed is situated slightly behind the site of the original house on the property which has a natural separation from the other parts of the land. An acre around this site could be divided into a separate property and another home built on the old site some day essentially providing potentially two lots and home sites on the current property with the approval of the city and appropriate permits and upgrades. Essentially, the main value in this property is not in the current square feet of the home, but in the unique location of the forested environment and the many years of hard work and landscaping design to create a classic zen garden, a one of a kind nature path with huge pond, the beautiful lawns and raised beds. The address in a low crime neighborhood is quiet, full of friendly, helpful neighbors and patrolled regularly by the city police. The solar PV system consists of 26 solar panels and a 3000 watt inverter. The system has consistently produced an annual surplus of energy that is sold back to FPL for distribution to help ease the load in the neighborhood to supply other customers. The utility bill is always on average the minimum of about $30 a month. The low energy cost is not only because of the solar energy production but also the inherent energy efficiency of the award winning building methods and materials used such as ICF, well built insulated windows, exterior insulation, and open or closed cell foam for the roof and walls in some parts. All the buildings are low maintenance with metal roofing and tough, durable stucco finishes on the exterior walls.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
