mgriffith
03-17-2010, 07:08 AM
The wife and I are actively looking for some property, which we intend to use as:
1. A bug-out site
2. A family camping/hunting site
3. A possible retirement home site
I would like to hear any opinions you may have on this.
We have several conditions the location would have to meet. I have listed them in the order of their importance to us (most important first):
1. Available water...a spring or stream on the property would be great. A river or lake close by would be acceptable, depending upon how far away.
2. Remoteness. We are currently looking at land on the market, and using Google Maps to get an aerial view to see what other buildings are around the site. If it looks remote enough, we'll drive there to have a look. Having a cell phone signal would be nice too!
3. Closeness. It can't be too far away. If it were to be used as a weekend get-a-way, two hours or so would probably be the farthest we would like to drive. In an emergency bug-out type scenario, the closer the better. If we put a retirement home there, we don't want to be too far from the grandchildren.
4. Size. At least 5 acres, up to about 25 acres. 5 acres would be acceptable if it was surrounded by un-used or national forest land. 25 acres will allow us to disappear in there and no one will see you. For you people out west, this may seem tiny, but remember here in Missouri, all of the land we are looking at is heavily wooded. During the Winter when the leaves are off the trees, you can't see more than 50-75 yards into the woods. In the summer, more than a few feet.
5. Accessibility. I don't want to have to buy a FWD truck just to get there.
6. Building codes. We found a nice piece of property close by, but there are restrictions on what and when you can build. We are thinking if it's a bug out site or weekend get-a-way, of just putting a large shed on the property. Later on we may decide to build a retirement home, but we want to be able to just have the shed for some time. Lowes has some nice buildings that would be great....one large barn with a loft of about 570 sq. feet for about $5800 built on site. I could probably build one myself for less as I have all the skills and tools.
7. Electricity. Having available power would be great, but not a requirement unless we want to turn it into a retirement home. Even then, I could get by with solar power if we wanted to be off-grid.
8. Price. Land around here goes for roughly $2000.00 an acre, depending upon location, electric, etc. We have a budget of about $25,000.00. Some 5 acre sites are nearly that much, and some 25 acres sites in the middle of nothing can be had for that price.
To be used as a bug-out site, remoteness is key as well as who is living around there. We went to a site last week and the homes we drove past to get there looked like we needed to have shotguns hanging out the windows to discourage them. That one is off our list. Besides, I nearly got stuck in there because my little truck couldn't make it up the hill to get out. On the third try with it floored in first gear, I made it. Whew!
So far, the leading candidate is a 7 acre site with electric, good cell signal, remote (state conservation land within a couple miles, and absolutely nothing for many miles to the southern quadrant. But it does have some neighbors within a couple miles, and building codes, and no water on the site (a lake within one mile).
Your comments are appreciated.
Mark
1. A bug-out site
2. A family camping/hunting site
3. A possible retirement home site
I would like to hear any opinions you may have on this.
We have several conditions the location would have to meet. I have listed them in the order of their importance to us (most important first):
1. Available water...a spring or stream on the property would be great. A river or lake close by would be acceptable, depending upon how far away.
2. Remoteness. We are currently looking at land on the market, and using Google Maps to get an aerial view to see what other buildings are around the site. If it looks remote enough, we'll drive there to have a look. Having a cell phone signal would be nice too!
3. Closeness. It can't be too far away. If it were to be used as a weekend get-a-way, two hours or so would probably be the farthest we would like to drive. In an emergency bug-out type scenario, the closer the better. If we put a retirement home there, we don't want to be too far from the grandchildren.
4. Size. At least 5 acres, up to about 25 acres. 5 acres would be acceptable if it was surrounded by un-used or national forest land. 25 acres will allow us to disappear in there and no one will see you. For you people out west, this may seem tiny, but remember here in Missouri, all of the land we are looking at is heavily wooded. During the Winter when the leaves are off the trees, you can't see more than 50-75 yards into the woods. In the summer, more than a few feet.
5. Accessibility. I don't want to have to buy a FWD truck just to get there.
6. Building codes. We found a nice piece of property close by, but there are restrictions on what and when you can build. We are thinking if it's a bug out site or weekend get-a-way, of just putting a large shed on the property. Later on we may decide to build a retirement home, but we want to be able to just have the shed for some time. Lowes has some nice buildings that would be great....one large barn with a loft of about 570 sq. feet for about $5800 built on site. I could probably build one myself for less as I have all the skills and tools.
7. Electricity. Having available power would be great, but not a requirement unless we want to turn it into a retirement home. Even then, I could get by with solar power if we wanted to be off-grid.
8. Price. Land around here goes for roughly $2000.00 an acre, depending upon location, electric, etc. We have a budget of about $25,000.00. Some 5 acre sites are nearly that much, and some 25 acres sites in the middle of nothing can be had for that price.
To be used as a bug-out site, remoteness is key as well as who is living around there. We went to a site last week and the homes we drove past to get there looked like we needed to have shotguns hanging out the windows to discourage them. That one is off our list. Besides, I nearly got stuck in there because my little truck couldn't make it up the hill to get out. On the third try with it floored in first gear, I made it. Whew!
So far, the leading candidate is a 7 acre site with electric, good cell signal, remote (state conservation land within a couple miles, and absolutely nothing for many miles to the southern quadrant. But it does have some neighbors within a couple miles, and building codes, and no water on the site (a lake within one mile).
Your comments are appreciated.
Mark