Countless calls from estate agents for properties that don't tick the boxes; house viewings packed into Saturday mornings and mortgages that are difficult to grasp - this is what house hunting looks like in 2014. First-time buyers must now pay 10.5% more for a property (in the UK) than they would have 12 months ago and the process is hardly a walk in the park.
However it's a common problem around the world and there are a few remarkable people who have decided to opt out of the property rat race and build their very own house. At a fraction of the cost and with no less charm, we take a look at an alternative route to getting your home.

Countless calls from estate agents for properties that don't tick the boxes; house viewings packed into Saturday mornings and mortgages that are difficult to grasp - this is what house hunting looks like in 2014. First-time buyers must now pay 10.5% more for a property (in the UK) than they would have 12 months ago and the process is hardly a walk in the park.nHowever it's a common problem around the world and there are a few remarkable people who have decided to opt out of the property rat race and build their very own house. At a fraction of the cost and with no less charm, we take a look at an alternative route to getting your home.

Buyers who opted out of the property rat race by building their own am

Buyers who opted out of the property rat race by building their own amazing homes