Buying vacant land for recreational use [acreage question]

[Sea Six]

I'm considering trading a free and clear house in the city for 10 acres of land that is pretty much just what I would want ... no need to pay any sewer/water tap fees, it's already cleared just the way I would clear it if I had to clear it, it's about as rural as it can get (which is what I want), has utility services already in place - power, landline telephone, and a co-op water service which is pretty affordable, and a very usable 4G cellphone service. There is a septic tank that works.

It even has a pull-thru double RV Metal roof shelter so I can park my 43' Glamper-Model fifth wheel and leave it up there. The F-450 Dually would sit comfortably in the other sheltered space.

There are two other portable outbuildings. I don't know if they leak but they are probably good for something. There are two good-sized rooms built on either side of the metal roof - one has a water heater, washer and dryer connections, and what looks like toilet and tub plumbing connections. There is a toilet and a new fiberglass tub surround that have never been installed. There is also a very old (70's or 80's) junk fifth wheel that could be sold, moved and used as storage, or trashed.

It's fifteen minutes to the County Seat... plenty of shopping, EMS, fire, hospital are all right there. There is paved and well-marked access all the way up to the property, which has about a 1/3 to 1/2 mile dirt driveway.

Couple of security gates... just enough neighbors within a few miles to suit me... a big chain link fenced-in area around the camper which is cleared enough to discourage snakes and maybe a few other critters to protect Molly... heck, it's just what I've been looking for. If the wind is blowing just right you can barely hear a train whistle.

I know at least one of you regulars owns vacant property that you use for RV/camping/weekend getaways.

My question is, have any of you that own such property found that you regret having bought it? Either you underestimated how much/little time you would be using it, or you find you're trying to sell it and it's harder than you thought it would be, etc?

Help me avoid making a mistake before it's too late.

It sure looks like a little slice of heaven to me.

:waiting:


Obligatory Pics

https://ap.rdcpix.com/2124313917/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m0xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/651430457/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m1xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/1707678505/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m2xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/83324169/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m3xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/72046368/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m4xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/107030112/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m5xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/563261024/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m6xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/209593269/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m7xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/3580513/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m8xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/172238615/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m9xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/1271095732/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m10xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/1941122737/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m11xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/1171859085/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m12xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/1152851691/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m13xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/611350215/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m14xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/666512848/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m15xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/948166120/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m16xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/418078500/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m17xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/1140263036/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m19xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

I LOVE the deer moss!!




https://ap.rdcpix.com/1110129527/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m21xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/2017169268/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m24xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/120480828/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m27xd-w1020_h770_q80.jpg

https://ap.rdcpix.com/2124313917/4e609b279df58824916921bc9c2d69eel-m0xd-w640_h480_q80.jpg

[LisaJohn]

What is the average price for an acre of land in that area?

[Sea Six]

I’ve seen $3500 an acre for land that you can’t build on or put a septic tank- up to $7500 /acre with features like stocked ponds/lakes or rivers.

[Sea Six]

I’d like to estimate what it would cost to turn a piece of vacant land into what this property is. I don’t know how to price putting in power lines, water line, phone line. Water tap fee is $2500. Lots of properties I’ve looked at have either no cell service or it’s barely usable. Fences can be pricey.

Anyone know how much a metal roof and enclosed rooms like this would cost, with a slab?

Septic tank also.

[snide]

Looks like a nice little set up. If that is what you're looking for, what is holding you back? Other people's experiences may or may not match your own... :shrug:

[Sea Six]

Looks like a nice little set up. If that is what you're looking for, what is holding you back? Other people's experiences may or may not match your own... :shrug:

True. I’m thinking I’d be up there quite a bit for the first few years. Other than that it’s hard to say.

I can always put a mobile home single or double wide on the first half and rent it out. I’m a professional landlord so that doesn’t scare me any. :lol:

[DAB]

I’d like to estimate what it would cost to turn a piece of vacant land into what this property is. I don’t know how to price putting in power lines, water line, phone line. Water tap fee is $2500. Lots of properties I’ve looked at have either no cell service or it’s barely usable. Fences can be pricey.

Anyone know how much a metal roof and enclosed rooms like this would cost, with a slab?

Septic tank also.

electric supply from utility, at least 10k
phone line, say 2k (why not use cell?)
well digging, about 30-35/foot depth
concrete slab, say 6" with rebar, say 15/sf
roof structure and cover, say 15/sf
fencing, 10-25/linear foot (lower end of range for barbed wire, upper for chain link)

:willy:

[LisaJohn]

Son bought land last year for $2500 an acre in a rural county. Just thinking out loud....if you bought the property you could give it a test run living on it and sell city house later. Think about 10 acres @ $5000 and think about the value of your current free and clear home. Just my .02.

[snide]

electric supply from utility, at least 10k
phone line, say 2k (why not use cell?)
well digging, about 30-35/foot depth
concrete slab, say 6" with rebar, say 15/sf
roof structure and cover, say 15/sf
fencing, 10-25/linear foot (lower end of range for barbed wire, upper for chain link)

:willy:

Is all that fencing to keep the wife from escaping? :bigears:

[Sea Six]

No wife!


:hurray:


It’s just Molly and me.

[MrPeabody]

Looks nice. My only advice would be to have all the infrastructure that is there inspected to make sure it all functions, is up to code, is relatively energy efficient, etc. Not that I would expect any deal-breakers there, but it's always good to know what may require some attention in the future.

[Sea Six]

MEANZ06

[Rodnok1]

If water power and septic already there that's a huge plus, cost of those new can be expensive and have to be to current codes. If it didn't have those price better be low.
Only issue i really had and others i have known have had was vandalism and outright theft. Anything I had on property like that better be insured and or secured very well or it gets gone no matter the neighbors. Guy 2 houses down from me had a box truck back up to frt door and empty his house before I moved out here in the middle of the day. I had a trailer they tried to steal when I was building even, tried to cut the chains wrapped thru the wheels and axles. Good chain paid for itself.
Had friends that had half their stuff stolen from paintball field, they came in a back way.

[Bill]

Whatever the cost is, you will make it up in just a few meth cooks in that old 5th wheel. I would just buy it.

[mrvette]

May want to investigate the region/area really close as to others living out there, specifically public housing projects and the type of folks living close enough to know your place.....

my folks moved to a nice place that turned out within a few years to have a project built about 1/4 mile away......city folks moved in and their house got broken in and cleaned out about 6 times or more in the 30 years they were there.....thankfully they did not get attacked ......

Today, no bets on that......

:issues:

[Ol Timer]

If you hear banjo music and happen to have a purty mouth, you might want to reconsider.

[Grey Ghost]

Get a perc test. How much road frontage? Pull some comp's on the city property and this property.

[Rob]

Does it come with a pit, rope, lotion, and basket or will you have to dig your own?

The Silence of the Lambs - It rubs the Lotion on its skin [HD] - YouTube

[LisaJohn]

You might want to investigate a land loan, ag loan, farm land loan. Interest rates are low.

[MrPeabody]

Looks nice. My only advice would be to have all the infrastructure that is there inspected to make sure it all functions, is up to code, is relatively energy efficient, etc. Not that I would expect any deal-breakers there, but it's always good to know what may require some attention in the future.

Just wanted to add - I don't know who the controlling authority is there, but here you can go to the County Health Dept. and find out if a permit and inspection was done on the septic system and when. They should also have on file a map of where the leach field is and any other details about the system. They do that here at no charge.

A system that was not built properly and doesn't function well can be a big expense to fix.

[MEANZ06]

MEANZ06


Clark, that's 100x time nicer than what we have! We started with a brush lot , now its a dirt lot but I will say we use it every chance we get, a lot lately. our kids & G-kids kids go all the time. My kids were raised like that though so they love it & there's plenty to do around, lake, mountains etc. You can see our progression from brush lot to recent on my YT and pics posted here. We work on it a bit at a time but it's our bug out spot for sure. :seasix:

I'd say do it :yesnod:

[Sea Six]

Get a perc test. How much road frontage? Pull some comp's on the city property and this property.

It's about 338 road front footage. I've got a realtor running the numbers on the city property. I'll give up the appreciation on the city property because I doubt the appreciation on the land will match it, and I'll lose the Cashflow on it as well but I could put a double wide on the front five acres and recapture that after it's paid for itself. Septic seems to work but I'll look into a perc test. There doesn't seem to be any muddy areas or spots with poor drainage.

Clark, that's 100x time nicer than what we have! We started with a brush lot , now its a dirt lot but I will say we use it every chance we get, a lot lately. our kids & G-kids kids go all the time. My kids were raised like that though so they love it & there's plenty to do around, lake, mountains etc. You can see our progression from brush lot to recent on my YT and pics posted here. We work on it a bit at a time but it's our bug out spot for sure. :seasix:

I'd say do it :yesnod: Heck I'm jealous of your lot to be honest. Mountain property... It doesn't get much better than that. What is your elevation?

I'm thinking about getting a tractor plus a few implements so I can manage upkeep by myself. Something along the lines of what you have. It's a 70s or 80s Ford, right?

[Olustee bus]

I purchased three acres near me that had a mobile home (which I had torn down) with a large concrete porch and a mostly completed two car garage with a workroom. I increased the slab a little to about 18x75and connected it to the garage. I build a large pole barn on that slab for a rv shelter and storage room and screened patio. I finished the garage and made the room into a winery.

My wife and I love hanging out there. IT is in the country but not any large acreage around me. It is my man cave/hangout and garage for my two collector cars and small motor home. It had septic tank and water.

It is very convenient and a relaxing place to hang.

However, I don't think I would like to leave the lake I live on to go to the place. I would miss the water. ]

I think you live on the water don't you. Would you miss it?

[Sea Six]

Buster I do live on the water. This would be a second home/ vacation getaway.

[Blademaker]

I say go for it.
Tammy and I had a 2nd home in the mountains for 10 years and had a blast going up on weekends and holidays. Just sold it a couple of years ago, along with our residence to build the house we live in now.

[MEANZ06]

It's about 338 road front footage. I've got a realtor running the numbers on the city property. I'll give up the appreciation on the city property because I doubt the appreciation on the land will match it, and I'll lose the Cashflow on it as well but I could put a double wide on the front five acres and recapture that after it's paid for itself. Septic seems to work but I'll look into a perc test. There doesn't seem to be any muddy areas or spots with poor drainage.

Heck I'm jealous of your lot to be honest. Mountain property... It doesn't get much better than that. What is your elevation?

I'm thinking about getting a tractor plus a few implements so I can manage upkeep by myself. Something along the lines of what you have. It's a 70s or 80s Ford, right?

Our place is only at 3500 but it's only a quick run to be in the snow. Tractor is a '75 ford 3000. I put the details of it in the "OMG we're stuck" thread... :seasix:

[VatorMan]

What kind of taxes on it ?

[Sea Six]

Taxes on this sort of mostly undeveloped land are very very low (in the low to mid hundreds of dollars).

I'm looking at other, larger pieces of land and those that have water features. Ponds/lakes, rivers, creeks, etc. and maybe some livable structures like rudimentary cabins, modular homes, etc.

[VatorMan]

Taxes on this sort of mostly undeveloped land are very very low (in the low to mid hundreds of dollars).

I'm looking at other, larger pieces of land and those that have water features. Ponds/lakes, rivers, creeks, etc. and maybe some livable structures like rudimentary cabins, modular homes, etc.

See if you can rent the land for a month. Pull your RV there and try it out. The landowner gets a stipend and you get a try before you buy, Win win !

[z06psi]

Bought 34 acres 5 years ago. 10 miles from anything.

Road (1900') 20K
Electric (underground) 4K
160' granite well 5k

I am on satellite internet and 4G as well on internet. No landline.


Couldn't be happier.

[Sea Six]

Thanks z06psi for the numbers- how long ago did you have all that done?

I'm looking at another property. There are two adjacent lots, each in a different Florida county. It's a total of 34.6 acres with a 1700' border on a creek (it more closely fits the description of a stream than a creek).

With the presence of the stream I'm also looking into having a several acre freshwater pond constructed. I have the contact info of a guy who does pond construction and pond maintenance in this area. I'd like to have the dirt pushed into a big berm around the pond with a driveway across the top. I'd build a 75-100' fishing pier with several side extensions for fishing, and stock it with fish. I got this idea from another property I looked at last week.

This acreage is large enough to put in some turkey blinds in a few cleared spots.

I'd put in electric, a well for drinking and irrigation, a long (2000' plus) driveway, clear a couple or three acres, have a small 1/4 acre hobby farm, gun range, and a pull through campsite for my 43' Glamper 5th wheel.

[MadInNc]

Taxes on this sort of mostly undeveloped land are very very low (in the low to mid hundreds of dollars).

I'm looking at other, larger pieces of land and those that have water features. Ponds/lakes, rivers, creeks, etc. and maybe some livable structures like rudimentary cabins, modular homes, etc.

Can’t go wrong with natural water...

[MadInNc]

Bought 34 acres 5 years ago. 10 miles from anything.

Road (1900') 20K
Electric (underground) 4K
160' granite well 5k

I am on satellite internet and 4G as well on internet. No landline.


Couldn't be happier.

Top on Sunday Morning.....


BTW. z06psi I have these on driveway

https://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-Security-Wireless-Motion-CWA2000/dp/B002ISVJL6/ref=sr_1_6?crid=41GRSX1TX1T8&dchild=1&keywords=driveway+alarm&qid=1589749225&sprefix=Driveway+%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-6

[Jeff '79]

Go to Wetland mapper to see if there is wetlands on it.
If there is, it'll be tougher to sell, and you won't be able to build within 100' of them, BUT, no one else will be able to either.
Check with the town to see how much frontage is required for a subdivided lot in case you eventually want to subdivide and sell lots. How much frontage is there ?
That being said, it looks like a nice parcel from the pics that you posted.
You can't go wrong with land because they aren't making any more of it.

[JRD77VET]

Go to Wetland mapper to see if there is wetlands on it.
If there is, it'll be tougher to sell, and you won't be able to build within 100' of them, BUT, no one else will be able to either.
Check with the town to see how much frontage is required for a subdivided lot in case you eventually want to subdivide and sell lots. How much frontage is there ?
That being said, it looks like a nice parcel from the pics that you posted.
You can't go wrong with land because they aren't making any more of it.

Except in Hawaii where the volcano empties into the ocean :D

:leaving:

[z06psi]

Top on Sunday Morning.....





BTW. z06psi I have these on driveway



https://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-Security-Wireless-Motion-CWA2000/dp/B002ISVJL6/ref=sr_1_6?crid=41GRSX1TX1T8&dchild=1&keywords=driveway+alarm&qid=1589749225&sprefix=Driveway+%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-6Mother****ers better not be on my driveway. That means they broke the gate and shall be shot dead, dead, dead.

[z06psi]

Thanks z06psi for the numbers- how long ago did you have all that done?



I'm looking at another property. There are two adjacent lots, each in a different Florida county. It's a total of 34.6 acres with a 1700' border on a creek (it more closely fits the description of a stream than a creek).



With the presence of the stream I'm also looking into having a several acre freshwater pond constructed. I have the contact info of a guy who does pond construction and pond maintenance in this area. I'd like to have the dirt pushed into a big berm around the pond with a driveway across the top. I'd build a 75-100' fishing pier with several side extensions for fishing, and stock it with fish. I got this idea from another property I looked at last week.



This acreage is large enough to put in some turkey blinds in a few cleared spots.



I'd put in electric, a well for drinking and irrigation, a long (2000' plus) driveway, clear a couple or three acres, have a small 1/4 acre hobby farm, gun range, and a pull through campsite for my 43' Glamper 5th wheel.2019. I am picking up the 32 acres next door and then will join them. Then put 90% of it a conservatory to help with taxes.

I am still building a 500 yd gun range.

[MEANZ06]

Mother****ers better not be on my driveway. That means they broke the gate and shall be shot dead, dead, dead.

Amen Brother :seasix: If you're not my family you're gonna have a bad day coming up my driveway... :yesnod:

[z06psi]

Amen Brother :seasix: If you're not my family you're gonna have a bad day coming up my driveway... :yesnod:They might get a 400 grain 45-70 round coming at them.

[MEANZ06]

They might get a 400 grain 45-70 round coming at them.

Ain't no "might" here :seasix: my neighbors (closest is a 1/4 mile away) all know to honk there horns at the bottom and wait until I come down