Need Advice: Getting ready to buy land...

By the end of this year, I'll be buying somewhere in the dept of 20-30 acres to build some log cabins on or perhaps cob houses. Fruit/nut trees, garden, solar, chickens, fish/pond, etc.

Ideally I'm looking in the WV, VA, NC, SC areas where there is decent soil for crops, is somewhat mountainous, and has to have a natural spring on it. I think the water source issue will be a big problem in the near future.

Just wondering what you guys think. Is there anything I may be forgetting about and should look into?? I'm already aware of seeking out land/mineral/timber rights, title search, zoning/permits, etc

I dont care for AZ, NM, S. TX, because of the desert soil where you can't grow anything but cacti.

Maybe there are some like minded individuals who would want to buy in for a bigger parcel?

My advice is to make sure it is paid outright and not mortgaged so they can't take it away if it gets real bad.
It will be yours with nothing owing on it.
Thats my only advice...it sounds like you know what your doing tho.

I have a buddy I served with in the Corps who retired to WV... He has free gas... a well on his property is a natural gas well.. pretty cool uh...
well since that's the part of the world your looking at I'd see if the land you want also comes with free gas too... sure would be handy in the winter

Click here to see where free gas is available

[edit on 5-6-2009 by DaddyBare]

reply to post by dominicus


I wouldn't particularly look for a property with a natural spring and be counting on that spring for water, because most springs dry up in dry weather.

You will also have to go to a county that has no zoning regualtions for the kind of stuff you seem to be interested in, especially cob houses.

Have you ever visited Medicine Pak, Oklahoma?

www.medicinepark.com...

It's quite the little community, it seems to sound exactly like what you are trying to start up. It's full of cobblestone cabins lined along its streets and there is a creek with dams running down the main street. Many Senators and Govenors and maybe a President or two stayed there in the past when getting ready to go on some serious hunting.



[edit on 5-6-2009 by RussianScientists]

reply to post by DrumsRfun

Yeah that's what I'm doing. Gonna pay for all of it upfront as I don't want to deal w/ mortgages. I never owned a credit card and never purchased anything unless I had the dough for it.

DaddyBare,
Yeah I'm looking into the free gas thing as well. I post a new thread about that a few weeks ago when I started looking into parcels and seeing some of them including free gas.

Russianscientists,
I actually would prefer to start my own lil community. I know about medicine park, but they get like 2 million visitors a year for the nearby forest preserves and trout fishing.

I would like to stay out of the lime-light and live quitely. Thanks for the info though.

it all depends on what you are tring to do, buying to hold up on when tshf, might work at frist, but after they get control of the cities, and subrubs, they will move out and start looking in the hills. buying any thing that might show up through a record search, well the gig is up. thats like going to a gun store or pawn shop and buy a gun. they know you bought one and they are gonna be looking.

but if you just want to live a quite life for a little while and grow your own food, try North AL,GA,TN or KT

My number one priority for land was isolation. Everything else would be figured later.

For that reason, as well as the fact that I'm already here, and familiar with the environment, I stuck with Colorado. When land is far from civilization, even farther from improvements such as power and roads, sparsely treed due to altitude, with no rivers or streams, it's cheap. On the flip side, snow pack and glacial ice provide water year round, and there's plenty to hunt. Although gardening isn't very productive at this elevation, a small greenhouse does provide from shelter from the elements and better atmosphere. In lieu of streams, trees and springs, I have caves.

The biggest concern is heat in the winter time, as there's not a whole lot of fuel in the form of firewood laying around. Passive solar however, is extremely effective at 12,000 feet.

The point is that it's a lot, and I mean a lot, of trouble to "pay a visit" to me. Am I worth it?

reply to post by dominicus


I suspect NW NM would be better fallout pattern wise . . . and the soil condition can be augmented tons. Southern Central Colo has a lot going for it.

I'd also suggest burying your structures at least mostly. And building a mostly buried greenhouse.

Stan Deyo's website has some good info on such things . . .

StanDeyo.com

I think it is.

reply to post by dominicus


I would suggest you move to states that have little or no zoning regulation, for what you want to do. Like KY, TN, GA.
You need a moderate climate to grow large crops outside a greenhouse, so don't go too far north or south.
Forget about hunting in those areas - everyone else has the same idea and almost every state has game laws and rangers.
If by "spring" for mean a running creek - you better buy high on a hill or mountain, because "sh*t flows downhill". If you mean groundwater straight from an underground spring, good luck finding a place for cheap.
If you want a wooded site - solar will be tough, wind almost impossible. Of course, if you buy 40 acres or more, you can clear some area.
Some areas of the states mentioned have little to no law enforcement in some areas- so someone must be at home all the time to protect the turf. If you leave, they will even steal the copper wires out of the walls and the toilet. Of course, if you are new to the area, you will immediately be a suspect character. No one will trust you.
Contract me directly for any more info.

If you buy it outright and decide just to use it for farming type things so to speak, what my father had done was rent the land for the total cost of taxes on it along with the agreement at the end of the harvest the person renting it would supply him with a certain amount of the crop (basically enough to cut his grocery bill way down). This worked out really well for him and the same person has been renting this land for over 30 years now with that deal and their both happy.

Just another option you could consider.

[edit on 5-6-2009 by Darthorious]

Check out land in Indiana.

I was looking a few years back and saw 100+ acres available for 20,000 bucks.
If you are looking to basically set up "anywhere but here" that could be an economical option for you.

I am familar with the area you mention looking.

Be sure your spring or creek is not a "wet weather" spring or creek. Some of them will gush water after a rain or snow melt, then by bone dry.

Also, watch out for what they called a "falling" or "sinking" creek / spring while I was there. What I mean is ocassionally a creek would "fall" or "sink" and start flowing below ground. In this case the water is still there (likely) if you can get to it.

reply to post by dominicus


Personally I would move to where you liked the weather and your surroundings. When it comes to growing your own food I wouldn't mess with the soil, you will have better results by growing your food stuff though either aeroponics or hydroponics. Plowing up the soil for crops takes fuel and equipment, hydroponic and aeroponics can be ran with very little water and the power can be from solar cells or wind. Plus no weeding and less time needed to survive working in the garden. On a average you will get 10 times more food per square foot using these methods compared to farming. Been there and done that.

Tru

reply to post by truskeptic

Oh I agree completely, hydroponics is the way to go indoors. But you see I'd also like cherry, apple, pear, peach trees, as well as several different kind of nut trees that grow good in that particular climate, and doing ant kind of tree indoors hydroponically results in "space/ceiling" issues.

Plus whats cool is that with hydro gardening, you can grow year round.

What was your setup like and what did you grow?

reply to post by dominicus


I still use hydroponics, I raise a small amount of sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, peas, lettuce etc. The basic without to much effort, and this is done in a 10 X 10 white tarp yard shed. Living here in Arkansas without adding any heat, I can still get a double crop, no problem. And if you have children it is much more healthier for them

If you build a passive solar heat system for a green house (using hot air though the rock type) you could and would have about anything needed for year around growth for any crop.

Free range a few chickens and let them take care of the bugs for you plus giving you eggs and meat if needed. Down the road from here, they have some chickens and not a snake to be found when those little dudes are hunting. Copperheads are not a match for those guys, they will keep the a yard free of vermin. To keep the chickens safe from predators, just get a few guineas, they warn the chickens of predators and will let you know if something or somebody is coming.

Tru

There are lots of considerations when thinking about the purchase of land.

1 Cost. There's no getting around this one. You can afford it or you can't.
2 Location. This is not as simple a consideration as one might think. If it's too far, it's hard to get to. If it's too close, it may not be right for your purposes. You also want to be close enough to a city that you can get building supplies but far enough that you're safe if the situation calls for it.
3. Local building ordinances. I'm in the process, right now, of building in a remote location. Before I started, I contacted the local building dept and asked them about 2 pages of questions, most about building in that area but some about how owner builders are treated.
4. Codes and restrictions on the land. You need to know everything before you start. Setbacks, restrictions on buildings (if any) type of engineering required (mine was for big wind loads)
5. Time frame that you will build in. I have to have an inspection at least every 6 months or the permit will expire.
6. What can you do yourself and what do you have to hire out.
7. What do building materials cost in that area.
8. Will your residence be visible from the road?
9. Availability of water. Do you need to drill a well. What does that cost in that area.
10 Septic requirements
11 Power. You might in the long run want to be off the grid but in the short term it's nice if there is power available.
12 Landscaping. Do you want to have trees obscure your residence from view. Plant soon so they can grow. Same with fruit tress etc. Get them growing.
13 Year round accessibility?
14 Gates and fences. If you keep animals you'll need some fenced areas.
15 What are the natural predators in the area.



Have fun, I know that I am.

reply to post by Wildbob77

Hey WildBob,
Thanks for that list of things to keep in mind. Its already been printed out. If you don't mind me asking, what general vicinity do you have your parcel in and how many acres???

One concern of mine and a big expense is having an access road to where I want to start building. Paving one is sooooo expensive. Maybe gravel or something. Although where I want to move, they do get some snowfall in the winter so being able to get in and out for basic supplies.

Also I'm still on the debate side of going with a cob house or cabin. I have done small carpentry off and on, built decks/patios, patio stone work, koi ponds, etc. Those skills come in handy, though I will need electricity to cut lumber unless I pre-cut everything somewhere off-site until I figure out the solar and/or wind power out.

Hey Truskeptic,
I heard if you have Guinea's, they kill off your roosters but let the hen's slide by.

AGENDA 21 ECT... ECT... Before you waste your money do your history. To own property in america is a myth. america is a colonial corporation to the royal in england, thats why we have to pay taxes on the land that you bought with your hard earned dollars. THINK about it and if you really care about yourself - RESEARCH. Why do we pay taxes on something we own ? Dont believe me, then all you doubters who think you own your property - check your deed - it list you as a TENANT not OWNER. Compare to this example - when you buy a car with cash, you pay tax, title and registration, plate fees, after that you dont ever pay a penny towards tax on the car - of the car you are the real owner. now buy a house and property, pay them of and the title or deed will not claim you as owner as it does on the title for the car youbought and paid for. Take your money and go find an uncivilized section of a country not under the control of a government. I know, this is hard to believe but do your home work before you get what you thought to be yours - TAKEN FORM THE GOVERNMENT. SORRY america isnt the same as it was before 1776.

Under ground until after 2012 i fear is the best way to go. thats what out NWO is gonna do but their gonna leave alot of us to perish or w/e i think that we could ...well....underground sounds good then we rebuild but not how it;s how it was "no room for hate"....ReHaB

It sounds like you got a nice plan and lots of advise from fellow ATS’s. Most everything has already been said except for one thing.

If you going to buy land. WHAT’S THE REASON. Before you can plan on a location what event are you planning for, or rather planning to avoid? Let me throw you a few Curve Balls.

2012-We’ll its been Debunked already, but lets play along. Mayan’s say some Big Planet like thing is going to come close to earth and cause our Earth to tilt and all kinds of things, Bringing about Earth quakes, Tsunamis ,meteors etc.

Firstly is your land far enough inland to avoid a Huge 100-200ft wave traveling miles inland- I think you said you’ll be near the mountains, so you o.k
2nd: Earthquakes, It has been said that Mountains are formed by land masses pushing against each other, so make sure you not too on top of the mountain or in an Earthquake zone. I read an Article some time back that said a large part of the East coast has an old dormant Earth quake belt underneath it. You’ll have to research this.
3rd :Meteors- well lets hope a big rock does not land on you home.

Nuclear fall out: If something happens to NYC you’ll be o.k. but if they Hit Norad or Houston. Our weather patterns comes your way. You might need to plan on a chemical suit.

New World Order: You should be o.k against Financial crash-you got your own food and place paid off, Disease induced Population reduction. Buy a Gun(a few) keep people off your property.-I would suggest Solar Power sensors on perimeters with camera’s –They’ll give you an early warning when someone is coming. Don’t forget the escape route.

Mark of the Beast- Here’s the real Problem- This is the only time where they’ll come looking for you. Out in the country is where they expecting People will go hide and do exactly what you doing. Remember Wako Texas-David Koresh –The wako from Wako who said he was Jesus. Well ATF were first on the case because of his Gun’s and so called Community he had set up. These Places are Magnets for the Police. You in the open, you easy to see and they can send Satellites to see what you up to. The same technology they use to check for oil and Minerals can find your under ground tunnels. The new Infrared scanners the Military have, can pick up heat signatures in dense Bush from high up.

The thing is you really cannot hide-You can avoid most all situations but not all. You’re place will be fine until they come looking for you then you’ll need to hit the mountains on foot living off the land for 3 ½ years.