Introduction To The Registered Manufacturer & Dealer

Honest Abe Log Homes, a registered manufacturer and dealer of BuildBuyRefi.com, designing and producing custom log cabin and timber frame home packages across the continental United States since 1979.

Log cabin construction is a specialty build many lenders have neither the program depth nor the appraiser familiarity to finance. BuildBuyRefi finances them in-house as a direct, FDIC-insured lender with no third-party handoffs. Honest Abe Log Homes is already registered with us, which means the builder-approval step that drags out most construction timelines is already done. The only approval left is yours, not theirs plus yours. That alone can take 30 days or more off your closing timeline.

Qualified borrowers can access up to 100% construction financing plus up to *$50,000 extra before, at, or after closing. We originate, underwrite, fund, appraise, and draw-manage every construction loan in-house, by a team with real familiarity in how log and timber frame construction is built, permitted, and valued.

A Family-Owned Log Home Manufacturer With 47+ Years Of History

Honest Abe Log Homes was founded in 1979 in Moss, Tennessee, by Doug Smith, an engineer who had spent years working with wood from the time he was eleven years old, helping his father operate a small family sawmill. That early experience left a mark. After earning an engineering degree from Tennessee Technological University and spending time in the professional world, Doug returned to Clay County with one goal: build something that combined his love of wood with what he had learned in school.

What started as a small milling operation became Honest Abe Log Homes the moment Doug, after years of experimentation, developed the tongue-and-groove, dovetail cornering system that still defines the company's Original Chinked log style today. By 1979, he had refined his process enough to incorporate formally and begin designing floor plans and selling log home packages.

The decision to focus on kiln-dried logs rather than green lumber, which competitors at the time were sourcing primarily on price, proved to be a defining one. Kiln drying brings the moisture content of the logs down to 18 percent or less, which dramatically reduces cracking, shrinkage, and checking over time. It also kills pests, stops sap flow, and allows for more accurate grading. As Josh Beasley, current President of Honest Abe Log Homes, recalled: "At that point, in the mid-80s, the other log home companies were focusing more on price, price, price. But the product was inferior. We were, and always will be, committed to quality and value."

That commitment to quality over price competition has carried Honest Abe through 47+ years of industry cycles, and the company has remained standing as many of its early competitors did not.

With more than 7,000 homes produced for customers across the country and beyond, and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, Honest Abe has earned its standing as one of the most respected names in the log and timber frame home industry.

What Honest Abe Log Homes Offers

Honest Abe functions as a true manufacturer, not just a dealer. Every log and timber component is designed and milled at the company's plant in Moss, Tennessee, using Eastern White Pine for wall logs, log sidings, support posts, porch components, and trim, and Douglas Fir for heavy timber rafters, collar ties, ceiling beams, girders, and timber frame components. After more than 47 years of manufacturing, Honest Abe has settled on these two renewable species for their durability, stability, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency.

The company designs custom floor plans in-house, with a design team carrying a combined 80-plus years of drafting experience, then manufactures the complete home package and ships it to the buyer's property for assembly by an approved contractor.

Log Home Packages

Each log home package ships with everything a builder needs to construct the home: the full log wall system with fasteners, caulking, and gaskets; window and door rough opening frames; the subfloor system; porch and deck framing; the full interior trim package including stair treads, stringers, baseboard, and interior doors; and the buyer's choice of roof system. Three roof systems are available: Heavy Timber, Conventional Rafter, and Conventional Truss, each with a distinct structural and aesthetic profile.

Buyers choose from several log profiles, each manufactured to different specifications:

The D-Log (available in 8x8 and 6x8) features smooth interior walls with a milled drip edge and an inserted corner notch. The Dovetail D-Log (8x12 and 6x12) combines the D-shaped exterior profile with the Appalachian-style dovetail corner system favored for tight construction. The Interlocking Round (8x8) uses a proprietary corner design for superior strength and a Western aesthetic. The Genesis Log (6x12 and 8x12) delivers that Appalachian feel with a rough-textured exterior and the option to finish with or without chinking. The Original Chinked Log (6x10) is the classic, the one Doug Smith developed from scratch, with a rough exterior, smooth interior, and traditional chinking on both sides. And the 10-inch Round log system brings the stately lodge aesthetic of the Northwest, available for all standard catalog models.

Timber Frame Packages

Honest Abe's timber frame package uses 8x8 posts, plates, and angle braces for the wall system, with SIP-style wall panels combining OSB, insulation, and drywall. Cedar lap, board and batten, or log siding finishes the exterior. The second floor system uses 8x12 ceiling beam girders and 4x8 ceiling beams with 2x6 tongue-and-groove decking.

Hybrid Homes

Any Honest Abe floor plan can be built as a pure log home, a pure timber frame home, or a hybrid combining both systems. Structural insulated panels can be integrated with logs and timbers to create homes that blend rustic character with modern energy performance.

Floor Plans

Honest Abe offers four size tiers of floor plans, each fully customizable:

• Small cabins run from roughly 600 to under 1,400 square feet and include compact one and two bedroom layouts designed for vacation homes, hunting cabins, starter residences, and downsized living. Plans like the Creekside (960 sq ft), Monticello (624 sq ft), and Shiloh (1,128 sq ft) fit buyers who want the log home experience in an efficient footprint.

• Medium homes span 1,400 to 2,000 square feet and cover the widest range of layouts, from two-bedroom getaways to four-bedroom family homes. Plans in this tier include the Jamestown (1,680 sq ft, 3 bed/2 bath), the Westfield (1,928 sq ft, 3 bed/3 bath), and the Darlington A (1,892 sq ft, 4 bed/2 bath).

• Large homes run 2,000 to 3,000 square feet with full multi-story layouts, garages, mud rooms, walk-out basements, and generous secondary bedrooms. The Grandfield (2,600 sq ft, 4 bed/3 bath), Spiritwood (2,984 sq ft, 4 bed/2 bath), and Bellewood (2,591 sq ft, 3 bed/2.5 bath) all sit in this tier.

• Luxury homes at 3,000 square feet and above include palatial retreats like the Dovecreek (4,050 sq ft) and the Avalon (3,575 sq ft), with finished walkout basements, home theaters, multi-car garages, and master suites designed for full-time luxury living.

Every plan, from the smallest cabin to the largest estate, can be customized. Buyers can work from a standard catalog plan, select a previous custom plan from the archive, bring their own design concept, or ask Honest Abe's in-house design team to modify a plan they like. The design team has produced custom homes for hundreds of buyers, with plans named for the families who commissioned them now available in the catalog for others to adopt and adapt.

Interior Design Services

Honest Abe also offers access to an in-house interior design coordinator, Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co., who works with buyers to select finishes, stains, cabinetry, furniture, fixtures, and lighting. Customers who use Cooper & Co. for furnishings and decor receive discounts scaling from 15% off purchases over $1,500 to 30% off purchases over $5,000, all priced below retail before the discount is applied.

A Note On What BuildBuyRefi Can And Cannot Finance

Our construction loan programs finance completed log homes and timber frame homes built by a licensed, approved contractor on land the borrower owns or is purchasing at closing. For an Honest Abe home, that means a builder from the company's dealer and contractor network assembles the home package on your prepared foundation. Self-build, owner-as-general-contractor, and relative-built projects are not eligible under any of our programs.

Here is the part most lenders cannot match: additional structures and improvements can be funded alongside the primary home through the up to *$50,000 in additional consumer loan funds available before, at, or after closing. A detached garage, a covered porch addition, outdoor living improvements, or interior finish upgrades can all be covered through that facility, so one relationship with BuildBuyRefi can go further than just the home itself.

How The Honest Abe Log Homes Process Works

Honest Abe uses a structured process designed to take buyers from first conversation to finished home with as few surprises as possible.

Design Consultation

The process starts with a conversation, either with a direct sales representative at one of the Honest Abe model homes in Tennessee or with an independent dealer in the region where the home will be built. Buyers review floor plans, discuss customization options, and receive a custom quote based on their specific choices. Honest Abe does not publish set prices because every home is customized, and a published price never reflects what a buyer actually builds. The quote is prepared specifically for the buyer's plan, roof system, windows, doors, and options.

Price Match Guarantee

Honest Abe backs every quote with its Honest Value Guarantee: a commitment to meet or beat any comparable log home package quote from another manufacturer, submitted for direct apples-to-apples comparison.

Plan Finalization And Manufacturing

Once the floor plan is finalized and the order is placed, Honest Abe's design team prepares the detailed construction documents, and the manufacturing team mills the components to specification at the plant in Moss, Tennessee. Every piece of wood is kiln-dried and inspected before it leaves the facility.

Delivery And Package Assembly

The complete home package is delivered to the buyer's property. Unlike conventional site-built construction where materials arrive in phases over months, the Honest Abe package arrives as a complete system. A builder from the dealer network then erects the structure. For buyers located within approximately 300 miles of the Moss, Tennessee plant, Honest Abe also has an affiliated assembly team that may be available to handle dry-in service. Ask your Honest Abe sales representative about availability in your area. The dry-in scope covers the subfloor system, log or timber wall stacking, rough opening frames, roof system installation, window and door installation, gable and dormer framing, porch and deck floors, and rough interior partition framing.

Finishing

Once the structure is dried in, the buyer's builder or general contractor completes the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins, interior finishes, staining, chinking, insulation, flooring, cabinetry, and all remaining finish work.

This is the stage where financing coordination matters most. Connecting with your BuildBuyRefi banker early in the process, ideally before the floor plan is finalized, ensures the construction loan is structured correctly for your land, your program, and your timeline before the package is ordered.

Up To 100% Construction Financing Nationwide With BuildBuyRefi.com

Choosing an Honest Abe Log Homes package is only part of the picture. The financing has to match the build. Log cabin and timber frame construction presents challenges many general lenders are not equipped for: appraiser unfamiliarity with the build method, difficulty establishing comparable sales in rural markets, and program constraints that exclude specialty construction types entirely.

BuildBuyRefi finances log cabin and timber frame construction in-house as a direct lender, with a team that understands how these homes are built, appraised, and valued. Buyers working with Honest Abe Log Homes can access specialized construction loan programs through Matthew DeCesaro, Top Rated® Sr. Vice President and LPO Manager, BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank, NMLS #865043. Matt is the preferred lender for Honest Abe Log Homes and finances nationwide.

Available construction loan structures include:

The Hybrid Construction Loan

This is an in-house construction loan structure developed by the BuildBuyRefi team that prepares both sets of loan documents upfront, so the experience operates like a single close while preserving rate flexibility through completion. The Hybrid is eligible for VA and FHA streamline refinancing on the permanent loan in qualifying scenarios, meaning borrowers can capture rate improvements in the future without a full new loan process. No broker or correspondent lender can replicate this structure because it requires in-house origination, underwriting, and draw management throughout.

One-Time Close Construction Loans

The construction financing and permanent mortgage close in a single event. No re-qualification is required when the home is complete. This structure eliminates the risk of rate movement between the construction phase and the permanent loan and removes the paperwork burden of a second closing.

Two-Time Close Construction Loans

The construction and permanent loans close separately. This gives borrowers the ability to negotiate the permanent rate after the build is finished, which can be advantageous when market rates have moved during the construction period.

For eligible veterans and their spouses, our VA construction programs provide up to 100% financing with no mortgage insurance through the Hybrid and Two-Time Close structures. The VA funding fee is assessed on the permanent end loan, not during the construction phase, and VA IRRRL streamline refinance eligibility applies to qualifying permanent loans.

Our in-house program suite runs deeper than most lenders offer:

• Conventional, FHA, VA, and Portfolio construction loans with a 640 minimum middle credit score for most programs.

• Jumbo construction up to $4.5 million for high-value log and timber frame estates.

• ITIN construction loans for borrowers who file taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, a program very few direct lenders offer at all.

• Second home and investment property construction, programs most lenders do not extend to ground-up builds.

• Renovation loan programs, for small projects or extensive renovation up to $2 million.

• Land you already own can be applied toward your down payment. If the land carries a balance, it can be paid off at closing and rolled into the construction loan.

For log cabin and timber frame builds specifically, our team carries the appraiser and program familiarity these construction types require. That is not something a general mortgage lender develops by accident. It takes volume and experience across this specific build category.

Check Your Eligibility Now Schedule A Call With Matt DeCesaro

What A Direct Lender Means For Your Honest Abe Loan

There is a material difference between a company that advertises construction loans and a federally chartered bank that originates, underwrites, funds, and draw-manages them entirely in-house. BuildBuyRefi is a division of The Federal Savings Bank, an FDIC-insured, veteran-owned direct lender operating in all 50 states, with a registered builder and dealer network approaching 2,000 contractors nationwide.

Many companies advertising construction financing are brokers or correspondent lenders. They place your file with a wholesale investor or sell your loan at closing, and from that point the team you spoke with is no longer managing your draws, inspections, or timeline. Those arrangements frequently carry administrative and processing fee layers on top of the loan, anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 or more depending on loan size. Those fees do not build your home. They inflate the loan amount past what the completed home will appraise for, which creates a cash gap at closing that borrowers did not plan for and cannot always cover.

We charge no administrative fees on our construction programs. The same banker who opens your file stays with your build through every phase, including extensions if your timeline requires one. Construction draws are released only after an inspection confirms the work is complete, so the builder is never paid for work that has not been finished. That structure protects you throughout the build.

Begin Your Log Cabin Or Timber Frame Adventure. Check Your Eligibility Today And Access Up To An Extra *$50,000 Before Or At Close!

Meet Matt DeCesaro, Honest Abe Log Home’s Preferred Lender & Sr. Vice President Of Construction Lending

VETERAN LENDING SPECIALIST | VA RENOVATION SPECIALIST | FHA 203K RENOVATION SPECIALIST | NEW CONSTRUCTION LOAN SPECIALIST | CONSTRUCTION LOAN SPECIALIST | GOVERNMENT LOAN SPECIALIST

Matthew DeCesaro is a Top Rated® Sr. Vice President and LPO Manager with BuildBuyRefi.com. He brings the program depth that log cabin and timber frame construction on owned land requires, and he finances nationwide alongside Honest Abe's dealer and contractor network.

Powering your build with flexible, accommodating financing, Matt and our team guide you through a secure and straightforward process so your experience with Honest Abe Log Homes stays clear from floor plan selection to final inspection.

Check Your Eligibility Today. Once you submit your information, Matthew DeCesaro, our Honest Abe Log Homes preferred banker, will guide you through the steps from start to finish. To be assigned to Matt, complete the eligibility or calendar forms on this page.

Have Matt DeCesaro Call Me

Exclusive BuildBuyRefi.com Benefits For Honest Abe Log Homes Buyers

*Up to $50,000 extra

Qualified borrowers may access up to $50,000 in additional funds before, at, or after closing. Buyers building an Honest Abe Log Home often use it to finish out a kit interior, add a porch or detached structure, fund a non-certified secondary cabin or tiny home on the property, build a driveway or outdoor space, consolidate debt, or strengthen their financial profile heading into the new home.

Up to 30% off real estate commissions

When buying land for your new Honest Abe Log Home build or selling an existing property, qualified borrowers can save up to 30% on listing-side real estate commissions through our participating agent network in all 50 states. The savings are applied as a closing cost credit or toward a rate buy-down.

Low and no down payment options

Depending on your scenario and loan type, you may qualify for low or even no down payment construction financing. VA-eligible borrowers can reach up to 100% financing, and buyers with land equity can often satisfy down payment requirements without bringing additional cash to closing.

In-house decisions

Builder approval, draw management, appraisal coordination, and underwriting are all handled inside the bank, which keeps your file moving without the handoffs that slow other lenders down.

No Administrative Fees

We charge no administrative, processing, or program overlay fees on any construction loan. What you see is what you owe. That is not standard across the industry.

Already Own Your Home? Add A Guest Cabin, ADU, Or Addition With Our 2nd Mortgage Construction Loan

Not every Honest Abe project starts from raw land. Many property owners want to use an Honest Abe package to add a guest cabin on their acreage, place a secondary log structure on land they already own, build an in-law suite or detached office, or add a covered porch addition or deck expansion to an existing log home. And most of them locked in a low first mortgage rate between 2020 and 2021 that they have no interest in giving up.

A traditional cash-out refinance to fund that work forces you to refinance your entire first mortgage at today's rates. For homeowners sitting on a rate in the 2.5 to 4.0 percent range, that tradeoff often costs more in lifetime interest than the entire project itself.

Our 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent loan solves that problem. It finances the new structure or addition during construction and converts to a fixed-rate, closed-end second lien when the approved builder finishes the work. The first mortgage stays in place, the original rate is untouched, and the Honest Abe project is financed entirely as a separate loan in second lien position.

It is a structure most lenders do not offer. For Honest Abe buyers who already have equity in their property, it opens the door to a secondary cabin, a timber frame addition, a guest house, or an ADU without disrupting the financing you have already built.

Schedule A Free Strategy Call With Bobby Atkission

Frequently Asked Questions About Honest Abe Log & Timber Frame Homes And Construction Loans

1. Where does Honest Abe Log Homes design and manufacture?

Honest Abe designs and manufactures all log and timber frame home packages at its plant in Moss, Tennessee, where the company has been operating since 1979. Packages ship to buyer properties across the continental United States. Assembly is handled by a builder from Honest Abe's dealer and contractor network in the region where the home will be built. Buyers within approximately 300 miles of the Moss, Tennessee plant may also have access to assembly service through Honest Abe's affiliated building team. Ask your sales representative about availability in your area.

2. Can BuildBuyRefi finance an Honest Abe log home or timber frame home?

Yes. Log cabin and timber frame construction built by a licensed, approved contractor on land you own or are purchasing at closing is eligible for our construction loan programs. The home must be placed on a qualifying permanent foundation and permitted appropriately for the county where it will be built. Self-build, owner-as-contractor, and family-built projects are not eligible under any of our programs.

3. Does being a registered manufacturer and dealer help my loan close faster?

Yes. Getting a new manufacturer or builder approved with a lender takes time, documentation, and follow-through on the builder's part. Many builders and dealers are reluctant to go through that process for a new banking relationship. Because Honest Abe is already registered with us, that step is done. The only approval left is yours. That alone can reduce your construction loan timeline by 30 days or more compared to starting with a lender that has no relationship with Honest Abe.

4. Can I finance the land and the Honest Abe home package together?

Yes. Land and home financing combines the land purchase and the home construction into one plan. If you already own the land, that equity can reduce or eliminate your cash down payment in eligible programs. If the land carries a loan balance, it can be paid off at closing and rolled into the construction loan.

5. What credit score do I need to qualify?

Conventional and FHA construction programs require a 640 minimum middle FICO score. VA construction also starts at 640. ITIN construction requires a 680 minimum. Jumbo construction requires 720. Higher scores expand your program options and improve your terms.

6. What loan programs are available for an Honest Abe log home?

One-Time Close, Two-Time Close, and the Hybrid Construction Loan are all available across Conventional, FHA, VA, and Portfolio programs. Jumbo construction up to $4.5 million is available for large or high-value log and timber frame estates. ITIN construction is also available for eligible borrowers filing with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. For qualifying veterans and their spouses, VA construction programs offer up to 100% financing with no mortgage insurance.

7. Are log cabins and timber frame homes harder to appraise than conventional builds?

They can be in markets where comparable sales for log or timber frame construction are limited. Our team is familiar with log home appraisal requirements and works proactively to confirm comparable availability in your target area before the loan is structured. Selecting a floor plan and location where appraisal support exists is something Matt DeCesaro can help you think through early in the process.

8. I already own land and have a low first mortgage rate. Can I still build an Honest Abe cabin on that property?

Yes. Our 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent loan finances a guest cabin, secondary log structure, ADU, addition, or detached build on owned property as a separate fixed-rate second lien at completion. Your first mortgage and its rate stay exactly as they are. The new build is financed entirely as a standalone second lien, which means you are not forced to refinance your existing loan to fund the project.

9. How long does an Honest Abe log home take to build?

Timelines vary based on floor plan complexity, site conditions, local permitting, and builder availability. Because the home package arrives as a complete, pre-milled system rather than materials arriving piecemeal over months, the on-site assembly phase is generally more efficient than conventional site-built construction. The dry-in phase with SolidCraft Builders, where available, covers the structural shell from subfloor through dried-in windows and doors. Finish work follows from there.

10. How much can I access beyond the build cost?

Qualified borrowers may access up to *$50,000 extra before, at, or after closing. Many Honest Abe buyers use this for upgraded interior finishes, custom cabinetry, exterior stain and chinking packages, Cooper & Co. furnishings and decor, porches, decks, landscaping, or debt consolidation.

11. Is BuildBuyRefi a direct lender?

Yes. BuildBuyRefi is a division of The Federal Savings Bank, an FDIC-insured, veteran-owned direct lender operating in all 50 states. We originate, underwrite, fund, and draw-manage every construction loan in-house, with no handoffs to third-party servicers, draw managers, or investors at any point during the build.

Why Buyers Choose Honest Abe Log Homes

Buyers who work with Honest Abe tend to want a few specific things: a manufacturer with a proven track record, kiln-dried logs that will not crack and shrink excessively after the home is built, a price match guarantee that holds up under scrutiny, and a design team that can take their vision, whether it starts on a napkin or in a catalog, and turn it into a buildable plan.

Honest Abe answers all of that with over 47 years of manufacturing experience, 7,000-plus homes produced, Eastern White Pine and Douglas Fir milled and inspected on-site, and an in-house design team with more than 80 combined years of drafting experience.

Paired with up to 100% construction financing from BuildBuyRefi and a banker who has been specializing in construction lending since 2003, the path from floor plan selection to move-in day is clearer and more manageable than starting from scratch with a lender who has never financed a log home.

Contact Honest Abe Log Homes

Honest Abe Log Homes

Address: 9995 Clay County Highway Moss, TN 38575

Local Phone: (931) 258-3648

Toll-Free: (800) 231-3695

Email: info@honestabe.com

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Saturday by appointment

Website: honestabe.com

For construction financing and loan structure, connect with:

Matthew DeCesaro, Top Rated® Sr. Vice President and LPO Manager BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank | Bank NMLS #411500

Discover how you can build your dream log home. Check your eligibility today or schedule an appointment with Matt for a one-on-one review of your construction loan options.

Where Honest Abe Log Homes Builds

Honest Abe Log Homes manufactures and ships log cabin and timber frame home packages across the continental United States. Assembly is handled through the company's network of independent dealers and contractors, with direct sales staff and model homes based in Tennessee.

Buyers within approximately 300 miles of the Moss, Tennessee plant may have access to assembly service through Honest Abe's affiliated building team. Ask your sales representative about availability in your area. Buyers beyond that radius are paired with dealers and contractors in their region through the nationwide dealer network.

BuildBuyRefi finances log cabin, timber frame, and custom site-built

View other builders at our Registered Home Builders page. For other log cabin and kit builders, you may also want to explore Amish Built Cabins, Blue Ridge Log Cabins, Gastineau Log Homes, Evolve Kit Homes, Homerun Building Supply, and Zook Cabins.