Menu
Nebraska is a midwestern state that doesn't often get a lot of attention when discussing the best places to live and visit. But don't overlook Nebraska and potentially miss out on the history, the people, and the wide-open spaces.
Let's be upfront about what Nebraska doesn't have. If you're looking for beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, or international cities, Nebraska probably isn't the place. Nebraska is flat, inland, and its largest metro area is just shy of a million people.
Funny enough, Nebraska's Tourism Commission even publicized the slogan "Honestly, it's not for everyone" as a nod to the state's somewhat boring reputation. So then, what's appealing about Nebraska?
A number of major employers and retailers are headquartered in Nebraska including Mutual of Omaha, TD Ameritrade, Kiewit, and Union Pacific. But perhaps the most well-known economic powerhouse in Nebraska is Berkshire Hathaway and its famous CEO, Warren Buffett also known as the "Oracle of Omaha".
And that is perhaps telling because Omaha has developed as the real center of gravity for Nebraska. Despite the fact that the smaller-sized Lincoln is the capital, it's Omaha that has more growth and more attention. In recent years, significant development has transformed Omaha's downtown and riverfront areas into a place where city amenities meet midwestern friendliness and values.
But even if you don't live in Omaha, Nebraska still has something to offer. The vast majority of its cities have less than 10,000 people, so if you're into small-town living and an agricultural way of life, you'll feel at home here. And everyone seems to love following the famous Cornhuskers football team at the University of Nebraska.
The state is also crisscrossed by several rivers, so with the low population, you probably have a better chance of getting some beautiful real estate at a more reasonable price. Or maybe you'd like to be near some historical places like the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express.
And while a scenic building site near a river or overlooking a prairie sounds nice, your Nebraska container home will have to contend with the winters as well. We'll discuss how you'll need to think about that a bit later.
Yes, container homes are allowed in Nebraska. Nothing in the building codes forbids them, but you will have to abide by those building codes to get the necessary approvals.
Similar to some other states, there is a statewide building code in Nebraska. But there's nothing too unexpected there because it just incorporates the ICC model codes you expect to see almost anywhere else with a few small amendments. Additionally, individual municipalities can make or modify their own codes, as long as they are at least as stringent as the state codes.
Nebraska doesn't have a reputation for being unfriendly to unique architecture or container construction. Like most other places, you just have to get the necessary approvals and comply with the regulations and building codes.
If anything, there are two issues that may come up when building in Nebraska. Both have to do with the weather.
First is high winds. Those sweeping plains love to stir up thunderstorms, so it's important to ensure all your container home accessories like porches, shutters, etc. are fastened to your home and foundation securely.
The second is winter. As previously mentioned, as a midwestern state, Nebraska can get the not-so-famous midwestern winters. That means not only ensuring your container home foundation is past the frost depth, but also that your roof can adequately support a potential snow load.
All of these issues should be covered in the building codes of Nebraska and you'll likely find your local building office can offer a helping hand on what's required in the area. So again, nothing to worry about, just a few things to keep in mind.
Other than the weather-related points we mentioned above, there aren't any state-wide issues in Nebraska that should cause a huge difference in container home prices from other places. Instead, just like anywhere, you'll have to really dive into the details to figure out container pricing in Nebraska.
Rather than try to give you a one size fits all answer for the cost of a Nebraska container home, we've created a tool that can help with better information. Our free Container Home Calculator can you give you quick estimated costs with just a few inputs about the specifics of your project.
Below are some of our favorite Nebraska shipping container homes, restaurants, apartments, offices, and other container projects.