For those who live in Missouri

steadfree · #21 03/28/11, 09:49 PM

I am very interested in learning about the Lake of Ozark area to homestead. In between Jeff city for work, the lake for fishing and low prices in buying a hobby farm. How is the homesteading community in that area. Don't want to be near the tourists.

big rockpile · #22 03/28/11, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidds327

I am very interested in learning about the Lake of Ozark area to homestead. In between Jeff city for work, the lake for fishing and low prices in buying a hobby farm. How is the homesteading community in that area. Don't want to be near the tourists.

Go South of LOZ for resonable priced Land.Get away from Tourist go to the West end of LOZ.

As far as fishing I wouldn't fish LOZ,might fish Osage below it.But as far as the Lake No Way!

big rockpile

MO_cows · #23 03/28/11, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidds327

I am very interested in learning about the Lake of Ozark area to homestead. In between Jeff city for work, the lake for fishing and low prices in buying a hobby farm. How is the homesteading community in that area. Don't want to be near the tourists.

In my opinion, Lake of the Ozarks has been over developed and ruined. They keep getting unsafe e coli readings in Party Cove. The shore line is almost a strip mall. There are so many huge and fast boats on that lake, I wouldn't venture out there in a fishing boat. A few years back, a 26 footer got swamped by the wake of a bigger boat and a lady who was in the cabin below drowned. Table Rock Lake is the best lake in Missouri, IMHO. Followed by Pomme de Terre. And the area around both of those isn't nearly as developed, with the exception of the Branson side of Table Rock.

Mark Twain · #24 03/29/11, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidds327

I am very interested in learning about the Lake of Ozark area to homestead. In between Jeff city for work, the lake for fishing and low prices in buying a hobby farm. How is the homesteading community in that area. Don't want to be near the tourists.

I had the same concern about tourists when we bought our farm which is about 40 miles from both Springfield and Branson. The reasonable distance to a hospital was the main factor for our decision but now we realize a unexpected side benefit - free labor.
Since we are close to Branson all our family from Colorado, Illinois and Iowa are happy to come down and help out during the day on the farm but head to Branson at night for the shows.
Branson is a bit too crowded for my taste but it sure draws the relatives from all over and they are the only tourists we ever see.

thestartupman · #25 03/31/11, 06:12 AM

I have seen mentioned by people in MO, that there are some counties that have no zoning laws, and some that you can build without any building permits. Does anyone have any information on the different counties, and what the rules are? Any info, or thoughts about the Texas Co, or Oregon Co areas?

chrisntiff · #26 03/31/11, 07:10 AM

Here in Barry County there are no zoning laws or building permits required. You do have to have an approved septic plan, but you can put it in yourself after approved.

big rockpile · #27 03/31/11, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestartupman

I have seen mentioned by people in MO, that there are some counties that have no zoning laws, and some that you can build without any building permits. Does anyone have any information on the different counties, and what the rules are? Any info, or thoughts about the Texas Co, or Oregon Co areas?

Most counties I've seen are very easy on any building,septic is one to watch I know where I'm close to COE Land they are very strick.

big rockpile

crookedoak · #28 03/31/11, 10:57 AM

Check out the website www.landwatch.com. You can find good looking farms and land from all of the states and then some.

silverbackMP · #29 03/31/11, 11:58 PM

South Missouri is a little strict on the septic only because they sit on porous rock and it can leach into the ground water fairly easy. It not to build revenue or more gov jobs unlike most of the Left and Right coasts.

Northern Missouri has very few restrictions--if you own a certain amount of acerage (6 or 7? I forget), you don't have to have any Septic--none, nada. Let it run into the tree line (a one family home will get filtered via the undergrowth). This may have changed but I haven't heard about it if it has.

whiskeylivewire · #30 04/01/11, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarbe

Well, here is another vote for the Ozarks!

My wife and I both grew up in Wisconsin, so we understand the torment you are going through. Wisconsin is a great place....but owning land there is very expensive!

We purchased 80 acres in northern Ozark county (near Rockbridge Mill) last summer, and hope to retire on it in the next 4-5 years. Annual taxes are $30 for the unimproved land. Will be several hundred after we put a modest retirement home on it.

Our neighbor to the east has an 800 ac cow operation. The 40 directly south is a Missouri Foxtrotter ranch. All other near neighbors have kept their land more or less as unimproved woods for recreation.

The night skies are great for star gazing. We were camping out there two weeks ago and all you hear around the campfire are coyotes and cows.

We have been looking at land for 20 years, in AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR and MO. We kept coming back to MO as the best compromise of low initial cost, low taxes, good rain, good trees (we are lousy with oak), low population density and folks who generally share our values.

Best of luck to you in your search! Here are the folks we bought our land through: http://ozarkmountainsrealestate.com/

Tim

Love that area! DH and I got married at the Rockbridge Mill. Caught the trout in my picture there...a 5 lber

thestartupman · #31 04/03/11, 10:25 AM

Anyone familiar with the Texas county area, or surrounding areas?

EasyDay · #32 04/03/11, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Twain

Branson is a bit too crowded for my taste but it sure draws the relatives from all over and they are the only tourists we ever see.

Spot on!
I'm a comfortable 2 hours from Branson, but my childhood friends from AZ and MO meet in Branson every year and rent a large cabin on the lake. They always invite me. I go spend a couple days, and we have SUCH fun! It's the only time I spend a night or two away. Thank God for good neighbors that feed/lock up my critters for me!

Super place to visit, but... living 2 hours away is better!

big rockpile · #33 04/03/11, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestartupman

Anyone familiar with the Texas county area, or surrounding areas?

Stayed there years ago with friends seems it was very Hilly and Rocky,they were Wood Cutters.They cut Firewood and Wood for Charcoal.

I thought it strange they had a Dog raising Kittens.

big rockpile

kara_leigh · #34 04/06/11, 01:33 PM

We just purchased 5 acres in the very northern part of Taney county (southern), about 7 miles south of Bradleyville. We've been here for 3 weeks. Everything around us is cattle fields. We are definitely in the middle of nowhere. We are about evenly spaced between Springfield and Branson, and it is about 40-45 min to both b/c we have to go around the Mark Twain National Forest (we actually live in it). The closest town to us that has decent amenities is Ozark, and that is about a 35-40 min drive, then Springfield is another 10 min or so further. We rarely go to Branson as the roads are too confusing to us. Springfield is much more manageable.

Our neighbor, who used to own our land, owns a really big cattle farm which completely surrounds us. Coming from Omaha, which is a fairly large city, we both love it down here. We began our search in northern Missouri, but we liked the terrain down here much more (and as someone said, the summer heat isn't really much different).

Good luck with your search!