Is this realistic?

MaryE · #1 01/29/14, 06:50 PM

I need some input on an idea of mine. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but this is what I'd like to do.

Currently, I'm living in CA b/c of DH's job, but neither of us want to be here permanently. We've visited SW VA any number of times, and that's where we'd like to end up. If we bought some land now, I'd like to start slowly developing it. I could fly out a few times a year and stay for a while. Go ahead and start with fencing, orchard, and the like. Maybe put up a little cabin. Prep things for the time we're ready to make a permanent move.

What would you say the pros and cons are of this plan? Things we should be aware of? Thank you!

**Terri** · #2 01/29/14, 07:32 PM

Why don't you send out your resumes and see if you get a job offer in a lovely area?

Move to the job, rent for a year while you look around, and then decide what to do. This is how we moved from California to Iowa.

MaryE · #3 01/29/14, 07:50 PM

This would be a good idea, but DH just started his job in CA 6 months ago. He's a founding member of a tech start-up, and wants to get it up and running. (And hopefully see it do really well!) I could send out resumes to the area and work there, perhaps, but that would mean maintaining separate households for a while. Not an impossibility, just different.

Callieslamb · #4 01/29/14, 08:17 PM

Yes, you can do it. I'd hesitate to put up a cabin by MY self....but, you might have more skills in building that I do. You could also just buckle down where you are and save like there's no tomorrow and then buy a place with a house and fences already.

Conhntr · #5 01/29/14, 08:29 PM

Mary alot of tech/computer stuff around northern va (loudoun, fairfax). Not sw va but if your ok with making him commute an hour there is alot of reasonable properties in the bordering wv counties as well as fauquier, and clarke in virginia

kentuckyhippie · #6 01/29/14, 10:10 PM

putting up a cabin when you aren't there very often would stand a good chance of being vandalized.

Maura · #7 01/29/14, 11:38 PM

California is really expensive. Your money will go much farther east of the Rockies. Have you looked at the costs of buying land and building a house in W VA?

If you want an orchard, that may be the first thing you could do because it will be a few years before they produce.

geo in mi · #8 01/30/14, 06:30 AM

From what I'm seeing on TV, somebody would "appropriate" your cabin and use it for a moonshine still site.

And, come to think of it, I'd be leery of going about my business in the woods alone, for that reason....

I might buy the land and hold it, though, but not make any improvements until after I moved there. Just rent a camper or RV for visits.

geo

wy_white_wolf · #9 01/30/14, 08:23 AM

That's about what we are doing but the distance isn't as far, about 310miles. I'm about 5 years away from retiring and that's were we plan to move to then.

Things do take alot longer then expected. Started the cabin back in 2006 and it's still not finished but far enough along that we can camp in it. Had a camp trailer that we stayed in while putting up the cabin.

Hopefully get a well and septic in this summer and can start the orchard next year. We'll start the main house when I retire and use the cabin as a guest/art/hobby house then.

WWW

Jokarva · #10 01/30/14, 08:38 AM

We lived in the DC metro area but knew we wanted to retire here near family, so in 2005 we bought this house on 9 acres and turned it into a rental. Tenants paid the mortgage, kept the place up, we visited when we came to see family (tax deductible trip) and made improvements to house and property over time. In 2011 DH and I retired, gave the tenants notice and moved in.

We were only 7 hrs away by car, so it would be harder doing it from cross country. But not as hard as trying to start from scratch IMHO.