Red oak as we know it in New Hampshire is extremely expensive, and perhaps better put to other uses than timbers. Makes a frame eat up the budget pretty fast.

Okay to work with while green, but takes literally years to season. Owners report hearing the frame crack and pop, waking them in the night months after moving in.

My experience is that careful and precise joinery can be somewhat wasted as the timbers move a LOT while seasoning, making large checks and opening joints.

Timbers rarely remain straight, and tend to warp and bend as they dry, especially if not center-heart.

An "oak frame" seems to be a status symbol, but I feel white pine is more stable and lovable.

Just my personal bias. Many oak frames have been built by better framers than I.

Good Luck.

Pete