Opinions on this place, please?

[ChristyACB]

Hi all,

Real Estate forum isn't exactly hopping so I thought I'd try to get you alls' opinion here. Hope I'm not breaking rules!

I own a couple of lots in a town near this place that has lots of amenities and good schools..blah blah. But there is no land nearby that allows farm animals of any kind and I'm going to have difficulty doing much on the single acre my lots are in total, even if they let me have chickens.

Sooo...

I've widened my search some because I really like this climate and found this place. The house is a nightmare but the land is a) mostly cleared and b) in use so not covered in trash dumpings

In negative, the house is a nightmare and it has a LOT of road frontage, which I'm not big on since I like my privacy to walk around in my PJs. Price is right too.

I can just rent the house till I get there to someone to keep it occupied and away from vandals and then build a new one and turn that into something else. (I can retire from military now, but want to wait 2 more years in hopes of selling house in slightly better market, so I would be in Virginia while this is in Arkansas).

I know there are some folks here who live in that area, so their input on anything I should know would be fabulastic. All homesteaders, what are your thoughts. I would prefer more out of the way, but I just can't see myself clearing 30 acres of tangled underbrush and trashwood trees.

Thanks!

http://www.landsofarkansas.com/arkan...&INV_ID=159233

[Sawmill Jim]

What happens if house prices go the other way ?? Just me but i like to do what i like to do an not punch a clock If i could afford it i would go for my dream place now I looked for my warranty an couldn't find it meaning i may not wake up in the morning Sounds like you have earned your retirement me i'd start enjoying it if you can make ends meet .I don't believe he that dies with the most toys is the winner

[salmonslayer]

I am retiring from the military next year and moving close to that area too and have done a lot of research on the southern Missouri/Northern Arkansas area (was staioned in MO before). It looks like a great place for the money (I noted that the virtual tour now shows the price as $56,900) though I see what you mean about the road frontage. It looks like the front of the house faces a more rural dirt road and the side faces the pavement correct? The house will probably need lots of repair (termites, rot, electrical, plumbing, etc.) but for 9 acres with a place to live (it mentioned a small barn as well) it looks promising.

Are you going to go down and check it out? I wouldnt buy without seeing it and walking every inch. Good luck and keep us posted.

[o&itw]

The house apparently fronts on the street of a small town, so it is not going to be terriibly private. However the price is great...and the house certainly looks livable....has hardwood floors. I didn't see any inside pictures, but I can't imagine not being able too live there for a while until you get situated.
If the house needs considerable repair, you would need to live there a bit nd get everything that needs done figured out before you rent it out.


The average annual income in many of these areas is about 18,000 a year which is why the land and houses are this cheap in the first place. If you have the money to build there is lots of undeveloped, or partial developed land off the main roads where you could get what you wanted for less.

[farmergirl]

Remember that you can never change the location of a property you buy, but that you can always change the house!
If you aren't happy with the road frontage and that is a big issue for you, I would pass on it. If the type of land is most important-- cleared and in use versus heavily wooded or trash strewn, etc--then focus on the land itself, not the house. I couldn't care less if the house is a funky lean to, so long as the land is usable for raising veggies and livestock.
Road frontage in a small rural town can be a good thing, especially if you will be living alone. It's nice to have neighbors who can check on your place without alot of trouble in getting to it.

[ChristyACB]

To clarify a bit. I'm not retiring yet because I'm trying to adopt so I have to stay in this state and keep my good income until I get the child legally.

My total retirement income is about twice what the average there is as of this date, but I don't intend of living extravagently, but do want to save for child's college, etc. So price is important.

I won't live in that house long, only so long as it takes to build the new house. I do want to rent it to keep the place occupied until I get there though.

I was thinking of driving out to do a bunch of property tours in June.

The virtual tour tab on that page will let you see the inside...it ain't fab but it ain't incredibly bad except the bathroom which is a nightmare.

[MariaAZ]

What about planting a hedge to muffle the traffic noise? Road frontage could have an advantage if you decide to start a home-based business that depends on passing traffic.

[ronbre]

we are in the country but we do have a road frontage that was noisy..a lot of semi trucks..and was dirt up until a couple of years ago..the first thing i did was planted white and red pine and spruce and hemlock and cedar in a hedge along the road..in about 20' for driveway visibility in pulling out..they are now a solid hedge about 50 to 100 ' high..it was worth it..i barely hear a car go by any more..and they can barely see into the property in summer or winter.

we bought our old farmhouse and 8 aces for $8,000 but that was a long time ago now..38 years.. now we have a lovely place.

give yourself time..don't feel pressured or rush into anything..this is a good time to buy but don't settle for less than you want, as you won't find a better time to buy..get what you want now.

are you restricting yourself to these states? some states have a very vey high repo rate.

[ChuckinVA]

Originally Posted by ChristyACB

To clarify a bit. I'm not retiring yet because I'm trying to adopt so I have to stay in this state and keep my good income until I get the child legally.

My total retirement income is about twice what the average there is as of this date, but I don't intend of living extravagently, but do want to save for child's college, etc. So price is important.

I won't live in that house long, only so long as it takes to build the new house. I do want to rent it to keep the place occupied until I get there though.

I was thinking of driving out to do a bunch of property tours in June.

The virtual tour tab on that page will let you see the inside...it ain't fab but it ain't incredibly bad except the bathroom which is a nightmare.

This may not matter where you are looking but I would check into whether you can build a second home on the same property. In our area there are sometimes restrictions about having 2 dwellings with out subdividing etc.

[Callieslamb]

I think you would be better off financially to find a property with a better house to begin with. Building new, from what I have seen, seems to costs more than something already built the same size. If you buy this one then have to build another house, you might be spending more in the long run.

[ChristyACB]

Callie, I don't think I'm going to find anyplace anywhere that has what I want in a house. I intend to build a concrete, multi-generational dwelling that uses passive solar (solar mass, appropriate shading, all that jazz). So I have to start with either no house or a house I don't mind turning into a chicken house or barn.

[sheepish]

There is one problem I see with your plan. A house for rent usually gets the renters it deserves. The best quality renters will go to the best quality houses. people no one else will rent to will gravitate to houses no one else wants to live in.

Also, will you have a local agent to keep the house rented and manage problems such as leaky plumbing, etc.?