Iowa/Indiana

LagoVistaFarm · #1 05/22/06, 11:32 PM

I posted a question about Indiana recently, and received some very good information. The deal we were looking at is an Amish poultry operation with a USDA licensed facility. I think it may be a very good deal for someone with a larger family than ours, so feel free to PM me for the info.

It did get us thinking about moving. We live in a beautiful area, but the restrictions and costs are overwhelming. We have family in Iowa and Minnesota so we are thinking of Iowa now. We do like the rolling hills and we should be able to get something we like.

Iowa has more counties than California, with quite a bit less space, so we’d appreciate some guidance on areas that are pretty. We don't want a flat farm, we want some rolling terrain and forested area as well as tillable cropland.

GoldenMom · #2 05/23/06, 08:00 AM

Two counties that I've been to in the last couple of days with nice rolling hills, timber and farmland are Boone County and Tama County. Most of Boone County is drivable distance to a lot of different cities if you need a "real" job; Tama County is kind of near Marshalltown but I don't think there are quite as many job opportunities there as there are in Boone County.Both of these counties are in central Iowa. I know there are other parts of the state with the rolling hills, etc but mostly all I know is central Iowa.

milkstoolcowboy · #3 05/23/06, 09:05 AM

NE Iowa has some good farmland and plenty of rolling hills in the Eastern counties (Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Clayton, Winneshiek and Allamakee). A good chunk of this area is in the Driftless, so it is rugged. NW Iowa has rolling hills and excellent farmland as well. Down in the south-central part of the state, along the Missouri border, you'll find rough land that is cheapest land in the state (Decatur, Davis, Ringgold, Wayne and Appanoose). Just like other places, you'll get what you pay for, and some of the smaller wooded parcels bring big bucks as "hunting land."

Here are some links you might want to check:

Soil map of state (with links to CSR maps and county soil surveys):
http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/s...Soil_assoc.pdf
2003 Land values from ISU:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/new...3/dec0319.html
Topo maps and drainages:
http://cairo.gis.iastate.edu/map.html

Best thing to do is come out and drive the areas you are interested in. Happy Hunting

Terre d'Esprit · #4 05/23/06, 09:37 AM

I live in Madison County. I'm a transplant, and I've lived many places in the US and in the world. I LOVE it here. You can see some of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/terredesprit/

It's very hilly and picturesque.

Good luck in your decision!

T

dunroven · #5 05/23/06, 09:52 AM

I live in northwest Iowa, Sac County. Here and on further west are what they call the Loess hills. We are nearing the Nebraska/South Dakota border. We are within 1 hour or so of Sioux City. Its very pretty here and we love living here in the country just outside of a little town called Odebolt.

I used to live in Central Iowa, born and raised there for 32 years. I always thought Iowa was pretty boring until I moved to Arkansas and then through several other moves, ended up here. That's why we call this place "Dunroven Farms" We are dun roven. But it truly is beautiful here. I am a medical transcriptionist from home, so I can live anywhere I want, cause my job is completely mobile and my husband is a pastor and his job is completely mobile, and we choose to live here because of the beauty of it all.

Good luck in your decision. There are many, many nice places in Iowa, and our prices ain't bad either! We only pay $380 for a house payment on a 4 bedroom home with 6 acres, a full sized barn, a new hog confinement building, 2 garages in separate places on the land, a HUGE corn crib and a silo. Our electric runs about $90 a month year round (and that includes the furnace and air conditioner, dryer and washer, water heater, and 2 freezers going all the time, plus my 2 computers, the stove, refrigerator, and a well pump). We have the well, so we don't have to pay for water. Only high cost we have is the propane for the furnace in the winter, and that is tremendous but with everything else so low, we can usually afford it quite well. So it's not bad here. We love it!

Snakeoil · #6 05/23/06, 10:40 AM

Well, you have heard of nearly every section of the state except the South East section and thats where I live. I think you can find rolling hills type of ground just about anywhere in the state. All of my ground is farm land which is flat as a pancake, but within two miles of my farm there is alot of acrage with hills. Housing is cheap in Iowa if you stay clear of the larger cities, Des Moines, Iowa City, etc. The tax base is about as fair as any. Jobs, the company I work for has had a sign out frount that says "Hiring" for about two years now, so there is work available. I was born in the South, but have been here for 16 years now and absolutely love it.

LagoVistaFarm · #7 05/23/06, 10:49 PM

Thanks for all the info! We won’t be looking for jobs and being away from a city suits us just fine. We just need to be able to ship via UPS 2-3 times a week. I was wondering about the plus and minuses of living on a gravel road during the winter. We will get a plow if necessary.

Caitedid · #8 05/23/06, 11:46 PM

Delaware and Jones County in eastern Iowa are real pretty, and fairly close to some larger cities (Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City). this is where Grant Wood painted, if that gives you any idea what the land is like. Caite

Thoughthound · #9 05/24/06, 08:21 AM

I live in Mount Vernon, which is East Central Iowa near the heart of Grant Wood country.

It is beautiful here, but land is very pricey right now (5-6k per acre).

I have traveled pretty much everywhere in Iowa, and as others said, it has its beauty everywhere. Most of the state has better than adequate farmland.

For my money, the most scenic area is north of Dubuque to the MN border, along the river, with the scenery diminishing as you go west toward Highway 63.

It suggests New England foothills spotted with dairy cattle with deciduous forests in pockets.

That being said, Benton County also has some nice hills, prices are lower and the county has significantly fewer building and zoning restrictions compared to the rest of the state.

Terre d'Esprit · #10 05/24/06, 12:23 PM

I live on a gravel road, and I have no problems with it in the winter. My husband drives a small car, and I have a SUV. We do fine in the winter even when the plow (a road grater) has not yet gone by.

On the other hand, it can be treacherous in the rain. It's actually worse than when it snows. But we do fine.

If you like a clean car, living on a gravel road is not for you!!

Also, UPS delivers to my house as often as I order from Valley Vet.

Good luck in your move!

T

Little Farmer · #11 05/24/06, 09:03 PM

I live in northern Iowa (Floyd,Mitchell,Howard county area) land prices are reasonable, plenty of hills, timber, farm land, very beautiful landscapes. Many mennoite, and amish living in the area. Hope this helps.

MoonShine · #12 05/24/06, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terre d'Esprit

I live in Madison County. I'm a transplant, and I've lived many places in the US and in the world. I LOVE it here. You can see some of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/terredesprit/

It's very hilly and picturesque.

Good luck in your decision!

T

Wow,your pictures are great! Those are beautifully done.

TerriA · #13 05/25/06, 05:55 AM

I grew up in western IA and have friends and family still there (now in Nebraska but only an hour away from the border).

One of my best friends live in Madison Co... she just bought a few acres last year of "bare land" and hopes to build a cabin there within a few years. She is basically a single mom who works her tail off for 6 months a year on different construction sites (is gone all week and home on weekends) and the rest of the year picks up odd jobs. Works for her since her youngest is almost 18 now. I love that area and would LOVE to move there! Gorgeous area. Lots of trees and hills...

My extended family lives in the "Great Lakes" region.. Spirit Lake, Milford, Arnold's Park area. I spent my childhood summers there. Very few "good paying" jobs now and the land/home prices have skyrocketed due to investors, millionaires, etc. But there is still farmland around the area that might be worth taking a look at... IF you have enough money to live off of or a sizeable savings account. Mostly flat land but areas of small hills- trees along rivers/lakes/farm areas. Gets a lot of wind and snow in the winter... and a LOT of tourists in the summer. <G>

I also lived in the SW part of the state as a child.. Shanendoah to be exact. I have noticed that in the last few years it seems to be either drought or floods... and there are a LOT of creeks and rivers in that area so if you look there, be sure to find something not in the flood zone if possible. Clay type soil but easily farmed.

I have a couple of my grown children and some other family living in the Sioux City area. My aunt found a great place... but the prices! Whoa! 10 acres with a 3 acre pond, nice 70's style house and a morton bldg for @234K. WAY too much money for my blood!!! There are a lot of McMansions being built and many farms are being snatched up by developers for such a purpose. I think if you look an hour away from Sioux City, you may find places that are nice and still affordable.

IA has some of the best schools in the country. If you homeschool, I think you have to work with the local schools to be sure your kids are "on track". It has been about 15 years since I actually lived in IA so there has been many changes in taxes, etc that I am not privy to. I know that the healthcare system seems to be better than here in NE too (unless one drives to Omaha where the big hospitals are).

IA has 4 seasons. COLD winters... and some areas get lots of wind, some more snow. Summers are hot and humid (not as humid as the SE USA but still can get miserable). I love spring and fall.

That all being said, the Loess Hills area (western IA bordering NE) is hilly, lots of trees (for the most part) and with the soil composition, would make gardening a snap. The prices are going UP due to the McMansion issue but I bet you could find something reasonable if you look hard enough.

I get homesick for IA a lot... miss the people (much friendlier and less "clannish" than this area of NE - I've been here since 1990 and am still considered an outsider by the small towns around here even though I married into an "established family".) I miss the hills and trees. I watch the weather reports (one of my quirks LOL) and have noticed I actually have nicer weather "right here" - either we are getting rain and IA is dry or we are having a dry spell when IA is getting soaked.. more moderate temps right here, too compared with most parts of W. IA.

Good luck in your search!!

Terri

Rockin'B · #14 05/25/06, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terre d'Esprit

I live in Madison County. I'm a transplant, and I've lived many places in the US and in the world. I LOVE it here. You can see some of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/terredesprit/

It's very hilly and picturesque.

Good luck in your decision!

T

Those are some very fine photo's. Thanks for sharing them.

bob clark · #15 05/25/06, 10:20 AM

Im here in Appanoose Co. thats in south centeral Iowa. it is a border county with Mo.

up untill the world record buck was killed within 30 mi. of us you could buy land at halfway reasonable amounts of money. now rolling land that is 1/2 timber and 1/2 pasture / crop ground is between 1800 and 2000 / Ac.

Rockin'B · #16 05/25/06, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob clark

Im here in Appanoose Co. thats in south centeral Iowa. it is a border county with Mo.

up untill the world record buck was killed within 30 mi. of us you could buy land at halfway reasonable amounts of money. now rolling land that is 1/2 timber and 1/2 pasture / crop ground is between 1800 and 2000 / Ac.

I live in very rural North Illinois. Land starts a 6k per acre and goes up from there. I'd kill to buy land for 2 grand per...

LagoVistaFarm · #17 05/25/06, 05:26 PM

For starters we've identified 4 properties that fit the budget and seem reasonably well suited for our needs. They are in: Union,Keokuk, Cass & Clayton counties. We don't want jobs since we have a business.

Lilandra · #18 05/25/06, 09:03 PM

HI just my 2 cents worth -- I'm here in Iowa too -- north of cedar rapids, east of waterloo somewhere inbetween two small towns on a gravel road... its nice

Have you tried looking into farm management companies? They sell farms as well as find families to take care of them. I work for a newspaper in advertising and one of my clients is Hertz Farm Management http://www.hfmgt.com/... look them up - they are nice folks

Good luck with things future neighbor!!

evermoor · #19 05/25/06, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LagoVistaFarm

For starters we've identified 4 properties that fit the budget and seem reasonably well suited for our needs. They are in: Union,Keokuk, Cass & Clayton counties. We don't want jobs since we have a business.

I'd go for clayton county if you do not need a job. It is very pretty with the Mississipi right there for many attractions. It also brings in a fair amount of tourism, buut land is not as expensive since it is generally steep rugged and rocky. Granted I do not visit my friend up there much in the winter. Oh and there are no straight roads in Clayton county other than a mile strtch of 18. I live in the flat section of Tama county and love those wooded hills as long as I do not have to drive a tractor or stack hay on them!