possible expenses....

[rwh64]

I have an opportunity to purchase some raw land in the near future,(Eastern Colorado). My question to the group is, outside of the cost and movement of a mobile home, whats a ballpark financial figure on the cost of getting electric to the place, and setting up plumbing? And what other hidden costs, may await me? I can buy the place soon, but wont move for about 3 yrs, for reasons of employment. Any input is appreciated, Thanks

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by rwh64

I have an opportunity to purchase some raw land in the near future,(Eastern Colorado). My question to the group is, outside of the cost and movement of a mobile home, whats a ballpark financial figure on the cost of getting electric to the place, and setting up plumbing? And what other hidden costs, may await me? I can buy the place soon, but wont move for about 3 yrs, for reasons of employment. Any input is appreciated, Thanks

Too many variables to give you even ballpark figures.

If you have the location then you can call the utility provider in the area and ask them what it would cost. They can give you a very good quote.

As for plumbing, I simply don't know what you mean by that. The cost to hook up to the city's water pipe? The cost for a septic tank or rural sewage? The cost of an outhouse? The cost to get a well?

Here's a list of all the costs I think you would incur ... perhaps others might could add to it.

1. Building permit, which I believe you have to have even if you haul a mobile home out there.
2. Cost to run electrical lines to the property from wherever they are now.
3. Cost to get water, from raincatchment tanks to a well or to hook up to rural water supplies.
4. Cost to dispose of sewage, from a humanure bucket to a septic tank
5. Cost to have a driveway put in, either just clearing some trees and moving some rocks or actually paving the thing

[Brighton]

Originally Posted by rwh64

I have an opportunity to purchase some raw land in the near future,(Eastern Colorado). My question to the group is, outside of the cost and movement of a mobile home, whats a ballpark financial figure on the cost of getting electric to the place, and setting up plumbing? And what other hidden costs, may await me? I can buy the place soon, but wont move for about 3 yrs, for reasons of employment. Any input is appreciated, Thanks

How far is the closest electric/power line to where you want the mobile to be? If it is 2 miles, well you might want to look into solar, if it is 100', it would be totally feasible.

As far as septic, what does the county say you have to have to have a residence on the property? If you can get away with a sawdust toilet for the first couple of years, do that and keep putting money in the bank.

Do the property have a well already dug and is it near where you want the mobile? If not, that is going to be one big expense!

[Alice In TX/MO]

If it doesn't have water and electricity already, you don't want it. Yes, it's THAT expensive.

[ksfarmer]

Like others say, the variables are too wide to make a guess. There are areas in east Colorado that could be miles and miles from any utilities development. You could call the local utilities company to get some idea of electricity, poles, line, meter, mile after mile could be prohibitive. Water, well? Need details to make estimates.

[Chuck R.]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

If it doesn't have water and electricity already, you don't want it. Yes, it's THAT expensive.

Depending on your location/circumstances, that’s pretty much spot on.

We just had our new house completed, so some of the costs are fresh in my mind:

1. Building Permit: Only $500, buuuuut the road improvement fee was $6000
2. Septic permit: $400
3. Septic System: $8500 (actually came in under budget!)
4. Electric: free hookup as the house is 100% electric using Geothermal, but we paid earlier to have our barn hooked up $2700
5. Rural water: water meter (they don’t like this term, you pay for their promise of water, not the meter) $4500 (IF you’re lucky enough to be able to get one, sometimes they stop granting due to water pressure, upgrades etc.)
6. Water line: $7500, in our case we had to have the line run close to 1/2mile.

Then there’s the “other” stuff like phone, satellite TV and DSL. Phone/DSL lines have to be run from the mainline, in our case quite a distance, then they had to bore under a road. Trust me, living in town was cheaper!

Chuck

[lonelytree]

Find an old farmers house. Built better, time tested. Bigger machines means fewer people needed to farm. Lots of homes out there.

[where I want to]

Originally Posted by rwh64

I have an opportunity to purchase some raw land in the near future,(Eastern Colorado). My question to the group is, outside of the cost and movement of a mobile home, whats a ballpark financial figure on the cost of getting electric to the place, and setting up plumbing? And what other hidden costs, may await me? I can buy the place soon, but wont move for about 3 yrs, for reasons of employment. Any input is appreciated, Thanks

Do you have a water source at all? Does the land perk or is it close enough to current service that you can do a hook up?
You may have to do lots of tests just to see if you can get a permit. Then lots of money to met the permit requirements.

[rambler]

Typically you pay by the foot to hook up to public utilities.

Are you able to dig a well, put in a septic, or are you hooking up to county lines for plumbing?

Permits and taxes keep growing, a few hundred for this, a thousand for that....

Around here it sure is a lot cheaper to buy an old farm site, 90% you need to upgrade the septic, but at least electric and well and driveway and house and probably a few useable out buildings there, much cheaper.

Paul

[Alice In TX/MO]

Does Colorado have the same water rights issues that New Mexico has?

[BlueRose]

What part of CO? I lived in Fort Morgan/Sterling area. When my friends bought their place out side of Brush, it cost them the price of the land again just to get water and electric.

Good Luck!

[ralph perrello]

It is against the law to catch and use rain water in CO.

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by ralph perrello

It is against the law to catch and use rain water in CO.

That is the most hilarious thing I've heard all day. Really? They not only lay claim to the water that flows on the land, but the water that falls out of the sky too?

[Alice In TX/MO]

Colorado Rainwater law changes - article from 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/us/29rain.html?_r=0

Rainwater laws overview, by state

http://www.enlight-inc.com/blog/?p=1036

[Ernie]

Texas actually REQUIRES new state and municipal buildings to implement rainwater harvesting and encourages private citizens to do the same!

Texas
Texas HB 3391 of 2011 is one of the most far-reaching and comprehensive pieces of legislation regarding rainwater harvesting in recent years. Among its provisions:

• Allows financial institutions to consider making loans for developments that will use harvested rainwater as the sole source of water supply.
• Requires rainwater harvesting system technology for potable and nonpotable indoor use and landscape watering be incorporated into the design and construction of each new state building with a roof measuring at least 50,000 square feet that is located in an area of the state in which the average annual rainfall is at least 20 inches.
• Requires the development of rules regarding the installation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems that are used for indoor potable purposes and connected to a public water supply system, prior to this bill it could only be used for nonpotable purposes. The rules must include criteria to ensure that safe drinking water standards are met and the water does not come in contact with the public water supply at a location off of the property.
• Requires a person who intends to connect a rainwater harvesting system to a public water supply system for potable purposes to give written notice to the municipality or the owner or operator of the public water supply system. A municipality or public water supply system may not be held liable for any adverse health effects allegedly caused by the consumption of water collected by a rainwater harvesting system that is connected to a public water supply system and is used for potable purposes if the municipality or the public water supply system is in compliance with the sanitary standards for drinking water.
• Encourages each municipality and county to promote rainwater harvesting at residential, commercial, and industrial facilities through incentives such as the provision at a discount of rain barrels or rebates for water storage facilities. Requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to ensure that training on rainwater harvesting is available for the members of the permitting staffs of municipalities and counties at least quarterly. School districts are strongly encouraged to implement rainwater harvesting systems.
• Prohibits a municipality or county from denying a building permit solely because the facility will implement rainwater harvesting.

[blooba]

Originally Posted by Ernie

That is the most hilarious thing I've heard all day. Really? They not only lay claim to the water that flows on the land, but the water that falls out of the sky too?

Yep, they restrict water very badly in CO. My cousin is a member of the "Water Police" or whatever they call themselves. She goes around making sure no one is drilling/using private well water for "unauthorized uses" and they are staying below their limits. You have to buy the rights to be able to drill a well on your own land and it depends on how much your gonna be using, could cost thousands just for the rights.

She also makes sure no one is diverting or removing water from creeks and streams. Water is big business in CO due to CA buying it all from them.

[GaryS61]

In my part of the country it costs $450 for each post they set for electricity.
Wells are 35 a foot not counting casing.
Septic tanks are 2500 drain fields are that much more.
Back Hoe is 95/ hour
this can double your land price in a big hurry.

[Billie in MO]

If you don't have water rights to the land, forget it, unless you are in town hooked up to city water.

My hubby is from CO and until almost 5 years ago we lived on the Western Slope of Colorado. Water rights are a huge deal in the state. Do your research before you buy and please, listen to those of us who have lived there. You need the water rights to your land!! Otherwise, look elsewhere.

[Ernie]

Originally Posted by blooba

Yep, they restrict water very badly in CO. My cousin is a member of the "Water Police" or whatever they call themselves. She goes around making sure no one is drilling/using private well water for "unauthorized uses" and they are staying below their limits. You have to buy the rights to be able to drill a well on your own land and it depends on how much your gonna be using, could cost thousands just for the rights.

She also makes sure no one is diverting or removing water from creeks and streams. Water is big business in CO due to CA buying it all from them.

Colorado sounds like probably the least best place to start a new homestead.

[simi-steading]

Just amazing... dirt and water are all over this world, yet if you need any, it's going to cost you a fortune to get it..

I'm sure glad I don't live in Colorado hearing about the water... Sounds like gooberment in your face... Me and Blooba's sister wouldn't get along well at all if she showed up to my property checking on my water usage...