MIGHT be coming back!!!

therunbunch · #1 06/10/10, 06:35 PM

I don't know if anyone remembers me or not but DH and I moved the family out to the country out in TX and we had started dabbling in homesteading. Then, DH's job decided to send him overseas and since we have 3 small children and one due in the next 2 weeks, we decided to move to MA where DH's family is.

Since he's going to be gone and making decent money, we've been trying to figure out our options for buying a home or land or something. My husband found some land (only 5 and half acres) in Maine that we are thinking of going to look at. If it looks suitable we might consider buying it and building our house over the next year so that it is move-in ready when he's done over there.

We're excited about the prospect of getting our dreams of homesteading back on track. Are there any homesteaders here on the board that could tell me anything about homesteading in Maine? I'm interested in your struggles or triumphs with the area. I've lived in TX my whole life with the exception of military moves overseas and out of state for a few years at a time... but if we buy this parcel of land it will be the last time we move (God willing)!

sssarawolf · #2 06/10/10, 08:47 PM

Good luck with finding a new place and the new baby.

Backfourty,MI. · #3 06/10/10, 10:33 PM

I remember you, Glad to hear things are going so well for you & the family. Congratulations on the new baby coming too. Hope things work out for you & you get the land & can start your new dream all together!

therunbunch · #4 06/11/10, 10:50 AM

Thanks guys! I think we're going to go check out the parcel of land this week and we can get an idea if it's something that we could build on and homestead on. We were looking at buying a short-sale or foreclosure, but the budget we have for that is going to get us a house that needs a LOT of work.. so building might be a better option and we'd DEFINITELY be getting LAND, not a puny lot. I'm a DIY kinda girl so I think as long as we had a good 'shell' built that I could do quite a lot with installing bathrooms/kitchens etc etc painting and what-not to save us some money.

I'm just excited to have some options. We left our 22 acres and chickens and dogs and horse for this skimpy little apartment while DH is overseas... it will be a LITERAL breath of fresh air to get back to nature!

wy_white_wolf · #5 06/11/10, 12:02 PM

Land in Maine, Be sure and have that place perc tested for a septic before doing anything else. I wouldn't even buy it without having one done.

Welcome back.

stef · #6 06/11/10, 03:59 PM

I wish you well, but having uprooted family to a new area and purchased a home there is one thing I would NEVER do again.

Absolutely...I would NOT buy a house right away. If you have the option of living with family or renting something, this is much, much better. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the area. This will give you a chance to explore and get to know who lives next to what you're interested in.
This lets you learn about property values and trends and taxes.

I really believe the old axiom stands true, "marry in haste...repent at leasure" applies to home-buying.

We ended up moving again less than two years later and had to carry two mortgages for quite a while. Unpleasant and very expensive!

stef