ok so here we are....we looked into steel buildings, we looked into traditional builds - we looked into mobile homes, we looked into kit house and we can to our decision - we don't want to be in debt and we have plenty of space and some time - (2years) - so what are we going to do?
go back to our original deal of a shipping container home. modular and we able to pay as we go.
we bought and paid off our land last year and with what we have left we are gonna be able to get the site works done with the Power, Water and septic.
We found a contractor and we thought we had an architect but this turned into one of those life experiences. not a waste of time but we were on different pages even after a detailed description to start.
we then found someone who understood what we wanted - he calls it the best hunting camping he's ever seen - we are gonna call it the simplest single story home and shop we can build. we have purchased some onetrip "opensiders" that have side opening doors as well as 1 set of end doors. This means you dont have to cut holes in anything - just configure the side in glass and wall and when you are ready to leave - lock it all up...(until we are ready to move in of course.
Then after finding the contractor to do the drive and gate and groundwork and pads - HE recommended a draughtsman and local engineer who agreed to help design and get the plans thru local planning. The planning dept are very helpful as long as YOU TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
the local contractor works alongside (already recommended) Septic field designers, well drillers and stone suppliers and plumbing and electrical specialists.
As an example of taking to local people is that they appreciate the fact you want to employ local people and the electrician we talked to told us exactly what we needed to supply him with for the house and the shop. So we will buy the cable from the supplier he recommended ($1000 cheaper than "national homestores") and lay the pipe and pull the cable before he gets there - that way its all ready..and (we save probably another $1500 in labour).great fun...and then you know exactly what is supplying your own house.
As i said before i am looking forward to the project and i have found everyone will give you the correct advice AS LONG AS YOU ARE PREPARED TO LISTEN.

so where are we?

we have a driveway over a new culvert from our "paper street" and 200 ft of limestone driveway, the start of a septic field and the easement cleared for the power company to install our poles 200 ft into the property where they will go underground. Our local Power Supplier AEP were remarkably helpful at the local office and understood that we weren't trying to build the empire state building - so were helpful in telling us what our options were.

so as of the end of FEB 2015

we have a drive
we have a cleared electrical supply easement
we nearly have a septic field, container pads, engineered plan, plumbing and electrical plan and floor plan.
We have secured our containers and will pay for them over the new few months

we are researching

window and door installation
opening skylights
decking options
electrical costings
plumbing
septic field installation (quoted - Q)
Well drilling (Q)
Concrete Pad costs (Q)

and are we happy?

yep