Another thing to keep in mind when looking for land

[FourDeuce]

We've had around 9-10" of rain in the last couple of days, and that's reminded me of something I had in mind when I bought this property. I like land on top of fairly high terrain. A lot of people with lower-lying land have found out in the last couple of days why that can be a problem.

[Old Vet]

Yep!!! That is the first thing on the list. The cabin that is just beside me had about 3 feet of the roof sticking out of the water this morning.

[uyk7]

Don't forget easements. The US F&WS will purchase easements, which mean they "own" the land but you pay the taxes.

[marvella]

it's a bit different here. those that built on mountainsides are finding their roads have slid off the side of the mountain. houses may be right behind them...

[RosewoodfarmVA]

We have both hilltop and lowground on our farm. I think both have their advantages. With the heavy rain we've been having washing out fences and leaving debris all over the fields, I like the hilltop more! But last summer in drought I wish all we had were the fertile and wet lowgrounds! With a good balance of both, we can make it through both dry and wet years with less trouble.

[highlands]

This was one of our criteria. I remember from childhood watching the annual floods down in the valley towns and being glad my parents chose to live up on the hills. I repeat their choice.

[Jack T.]

On the other hand. . .I'd much rather have too much water than not enough.

[Freeholder]

Originally Posted by Jack T.

On the other hand. . .I'd much rather have too much water than not enough.

Balance in all things is best, IMO.

I don't want to live too high because then it's often harder to get water (deeper wells), and driveways can be steep and wash out. But on the other hand, I don't want to live in a flood-plain, either. Look for a happy medium. And as someone already said, some low ground is good so you have a place to grow things in a dry year. But don't put your house on it (unless it's up on stilts, and I don't think you'd be allowed to do that most places).

Kathleen

[mary,tx]

Our farm sits in a low spot. Fortunately, previous owners did a good job of channeling the water to go to a run-off pound. I wouldn't be building down by the creek, though.

If I had my druthers, I'd rather the house not be sitting quite so low, but it is not in a flood plain. Honestly, houses on hills look like tornado/lightning targets to me.

Our main problem with being so low is that we get frost when others around us do not.

mary

[texican]

All the good dirt washes down the hillsides, and settles in the flood plains. Bottomland is the best for farming... Hillsides are the best for homes. I built my home 13' above the highest known flood (from the 1930's). Three times in 20 years, I've had floods... once water got up to the -13' level. At that time, realized if my place got under water, all of the towns around me would be under water too...