Buying First Homestead

bluebird2o2 · #21 10/02/13, 11:31 AM

I think it sounds great.seems really cheap but I live in PA no idea what prices are like in your state.I suggest rabbits if you want too grow your own meat.I would also plant grapes and berries.blueberries ,black berries or whatever grows well in your area.

ronbre · #22 10/02/13, 11:53 AM

looks fine to me, make sure there are no chemicals on the property (a soil test might be a good idea for that) and also check the flood possibilities..otherwise it seems like a nice set up with a couple small buildings already on the property one might be usable for chickens and one for goats??

depending on the trees that are there (i see lots) if some are diseased or whatever, take those out and replace them with baby fruit trees and make sure the goats can't get to them or deer (can circle them with wire fence)..it is small but you don't seem to be interested in horses or cattle..should be fine. you'll need some fencing

ronbre · #23 10/02/13, 11:59 AM

if they make you put it on city water, be sly and keep your well somehow so you will have it available for yourself..also. My sister did that at her place.

let us know what you do

toasterburn · #24 10/02/13, 04:18 PM

I'll take the advice given into consideration. And as it turns out, there is another property we are more interested in. We looked at it before and dismissed it for being out of our price range, but an hour ago we heard back from the seller and it looks like they are open to a lower offer, so it might be an option after all.

This one is also 3 acres, and it's far enough from the city that I doubt the city would ever annex it. It's technically an entirely different town, even though there's nothing there but houses and farms. Population 800.

No well water, but we could drill one. Only two neighbors, one you can barely see through the trees, and one across the street. The house is much nicer and is basically move in ready. The land is shaped oddly, and a lot of it is partially shaded, but I think I could work around it. Could possibly buy more land behind it one day if I located the owner. It's nothing but trees for at least a mile behind the home.

Buying First Homestead - Homesteading Questions

Buying First Homestead - Homesteading Questions

homstdr74 · #25 10/02/13, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toasterburn

I'll take the advice given into consideration. And as it turns out, there is another property we are more interested in. We looked at it before and dismissed it for being out of our price range, but an hour ago we heard back from the seller and it looks like they are open to a lower offer, so it might be an option after all.

This one is also 3 acres, and it's far enough from the city that I doubt the city would ever annex it. It's technically an entirely different town, even though there's nothing there but houses and farms. Population 800.

No well water, but we could drill one. Only two neighbors, one you can barely see through the trees, and one across the street. The house is much nicer and is basically move in ready. The land is shaped oddly, and a lot of it is partially shaded, but I think I could work around it. Could possibly buy more land behind it one day if I located the owner. It's nothing but trees for at least a mile behind the home.

Now you're talkin'. That place looks like it has potential. Yes, more acreage might be good, but you have probably read enough to know that you can do a lot with just a few acres. I like the access and the idea that there are fewer houses right nearby; the possibility of getting more land adjacent to it is a positive.

One more thing---unless the place has been surveyed and you've seen the papers and the survey on that, it might be good to have it surveyed. We knew our boundaries (I had done some surveying in the Corps) but had some neighbor difficulties about that until we were proven correct by a licensed surveyor.

John_Canada · #26 10/02/13, 04:37 PM

Second looks promising. One thing you may look into is called Eden gardening. We have started a 16'X16' bed and did not have to pull one weed and only watered twice the whole year (oh yeah not tiling either). Just search back to eden and watch the guy's free video.

CountryWannabe · #27 10/02/13, 06:21 PM

I managed quite nicely for around 20 years on 3 acres - chickens, goats, sheep, garden and orchard. If I were to be given my choice of the two properties I would go with door #2. Firstly because the nearby town is so much smaller, likely to give you a lot less hassle. Secondly, the neighbors' homes at site #2 are smaller, more rural-looking, so I would suspect that they are going to be more tolerant of your homesteading aspirations, whatever they turn out to be. My previous home was slowly being surrounded by larger homes with 3 acre lawns. They didn't like roosters crowing, or sheep bleating and a buck in rutting season... well, even I didn't find that an attractive addition to my home but that is homesteading for you. Just my 2cents worth, but as others have said - you have to consider what is best for you and your family and go forward from there.

Mary

Rustaholic · #28 12/29/13, 02:47 PM

Check for water damage or mold.
To the left of the driveway it looks like two areas of heavy water runs.
The place my brother bought had that going on and there was over $9,000 worth of damage to the house and another $2200 moving earth to direct water away from the house.
I agree, I like this place better than the first one.
Smaller town close and smaller houses in the area.

goatlady · #29 12/29/13, 06:24 PM

"Door #2" is a better place for what you say you want to do, no question. That 1st place has "fancy" neighbors waaay toooo near to be comfortable with. Roosters can start crowing at 3 in the morning! The city may have no jurisdiction but the county sure does and they can shut you down. Also if the city is insisting hook up to their water, there ARE annexation plans on the board. THey are not running those lines for nothing and they must annex to collect their share of property taxes for their "services," such as they would be.

potatoguru · #30 12/29/13, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

Listen real close to what others are saying about living close to the city or town...

I used to own three acres outside of town.. it was a little ways away... I got lucky and sold the place before things started to happen, but it was only a couple years later all the zoning for the property got chanced and it went from rural to residential..

First a wider road got put in and a lot more traffic came with it... then city water showed up.. then more houses started being put up.. then all the farmers around the property sold to developers.. then more houses started coming in, and a road went right along side the property to a subdivision behind the property...

Then they had to get on city water and take out the septic I put in because of the homes behind the property...

I used to hunt on the property.. I could shoot out there all I wanted without fear of hitting someone... It only took about 6 years after I sold the place for the new owners to get screwed out of a country place... and it was several miles outside of town.. .not any more.. ..

Also, three acres isn't a whole lot when you start talking about orchards and goats and chickens.. they all start taking up land pretty quickly.. just depending on how big you want to go.. .

This is what I love about living in Oregon. I'm only 2 miles outside of a pretty good sized town. With Oregon's current urban growth laws the earliest year I could be annexed into the city limits is 2093. Certainly not in my lifetime.

Rural farmland in Oregon is cherished, I wish other states would follow Oregon's example to preserve our nations rural heritage.

Funbowhunter · #31 12/30/13, 01:15 AM

GET IT INSPECTED! You don't want to know the costs of mold remediation. Make sure the septic is within local code and is useable. Again have the well tested for nitrates. If you have raised beds, it is a good idea yo amend the soil one foot deep, then build your raised beds over that, many veggies like deep roots.
Try to get your agent to write that the seller will pay closing costs AND will purchase a home warranty for you.
Do you have a pick up? Lawn tractor?