Things to Consider When Evaluating a Property Part 1: The Background Story
There are 3 main factors when considering a property to farm, homestead, or use as a bug-out location.
- Water
- Access
- Structures
I didn't know this helpful little tidbit of information when I purchased our first land in the Ozarks.
The land that we now not so affectionately call Mucky Mountain.
The Background:
My wife (@allforthegood), our 2 children (at the time) and I took a road trip to the Ozarks almost 4 years ago this spring. We were in search of the Spirit's leading as to where God wanted to settle us on a new homestead. We were sure He was calling us down to this part of the country, but weren't quite sure exactly where, so we took the trip to find out.
We drove all over North West Arkansas, from Cherokee Village across to Yellville then to Eureka Springs, down through Rogers and Hot Springs, back up through Little Rock and finally came back around to the Yellville Area.
It was there that we both felt God speaking to our hearts through a very clear sense of peace that the Yellville area was going to be our new home.
As a side note, a life lesson that took me a while to figure out:
God has given you your spouse as a gift; a completer. The other half of your whole.
If both of you have prayerfully sought God's guidance on a decision, and that decision doesn't violate the Law of Love, then having agreement and peace on something is a good indicator that God wills it.
This understanding has been very helpful in discerning the will of God in my life. Hopefully, this advise will help you as well.
Having resolved to make the Yellville, Arkansas area our new home, we set out to find us some land.
Much to our delight, we discovered that land is very affordable down in the Ozarks, compared to our native land of Wisconsin. We’re talking $1000 - $1500 per acre affordable. Comparable land in Wisconsin would easily sell for $3500 - $6000 per acre.
We met with several different realtors and found a 10 acre parcel for sale just north of Yellville that we would have been ecstatic to begin homesteading on. We went back to Wisconsin confident that this land was going to be our new home. Unfortunately, or so we thought at the time, that 10 acre parcel was sold out from underneath us by a dishonest realtor (oxymoronic, I know).
We found Mucky Mountain on Craigslist later on the same day that we found out that our first land option was gone. I drove down the next day with @olympus-mons and we walked all over the land, trying to ascertain it's value. I realized it was a better piece of land than our first option and excitedly told @allforthegood the good news.
After returning home we gave the lady selling it an offer to purchase for the exact amount she was asking. No haggling or counter offers were needed. Mucky Mountain had a better layout and was closer to town.
It was everything we wanted or needed. Or so we thought…
Stay tuned for the Rest of the Story...
Thanks for Reading!
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I am keen to read the next part of this story ... what is wanting there?
It is strange how homesteads find you.
We found our place in Wales really on a whim. I was off work ill one December day and started looking at estate agents (realtors) websites for something to do as we had half a mind that we might need to move with another child on the way.
I look at a realtors site in Wales where my mother came from, and found a place that looked like a dream. Old farmhouse, a lake, woodland and 17 acres all for much less than the expensive area we lived in 250 miles away.
On a flight of fancy we set off for Wales a few days after Christmas, found a hotel with one room left on New Year's Eve, visited the property on 2 January and bought it on 5 January.
Twelve weeks later we packed our belongings in a van and moved to a new life in the countryside. A radical move as I had been born and bred a town boy til then.
But the story doesn't end there. A few weeks after moving there we met an old lady who lived on the next farm a mile to the north. She began telling us about the family who lived in the farm before it had been abandoned in the 1950's.
I slowly realised I knew the people she spoke of. It was my mother's family.
My mother had died when I was young. I did not know her family had lived there.
Somehow a guiding hand had brought us here.
Now we can never leave.
Awesome story. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading 😊
taxes.
if they can tax it...you don't own it...you're only paying rent
how highs the rent?
what's the likely hood that it will be raised?
The rent is second lowest in the nation, state wide average. Property taxes on Mucky Mountain were $37.00 a year. The land I currently own is $56.00 per year. Compared to $3000.00 plus back in Wisconsin. That is one of the reasons I moved to Arkansas. I hate paying rent to the government and I hate asking permission to do work on my own land and house. Arkansas is lax in both categories.
I live in WI and can confirm property taxes are pretty high. I'm looking to relocate to a tiny, backwoods town that is not a very "desirable" location right now and it's like 2500-3000 per year!
Time to relocate to the Ozarks, if you can. Wisconsin is high in regulation and high in property taxes. 2 things that a homesteader can't afford to fight. So I left the battle and moved to a place where you can still be left alone...for now.
then you're good until it get's californicated like parts of texas did.
Parts of Arkansas have already. Mainly "chicago wayed". Mountain Home is pretty much made up of 60% retired Chicago yuppies that want to turn it into a little Chicago. With that comes more police tickets, zoning regulations, and higher taxes. Thankfully, it's another county over and an hour away.
when I was truckin I went over a good bit of Arky.
it's being 'developed' fast.
I like the name of the area.
We have an area in NZ called "Soggy Bottom, Boggyburn, I wonder if they were named by the same bloke?
Looking forward to the rest of the story.
Looking forward to the rest of the story...
We're looking around the Black Rock/Imboden area. Hardy isn't out of the question, but it's a little far from work (bleh!). I found that Cherokee Village very strict regulations about everything. Can't even keep chickens there!
Yeah, the eastern side of Arkansas isn't as "friendly" to homesteaders. The closer you get to a larger city (Jonesboro) the more the government needs to regulate. And they don't offer their regulatory services for free. Oh, no. With their regulations comes higher taxes to pay for their bureaucracy. I think the Black Rock area is friendlier, from what I've heard.
We are right in Jonesboro. It's amazing how much it has changed since I was a kid. Don't get me wrong, we've enjoyed our time here, but it's time for the next chapter... at least I think it's time for the next chapter. We just need this house to sell! I guess God has a little bit more writing to do before he lets us turn the page.
I am waiting the hear the next part. You have inspired me to tell our story too. A little different twist to homesteading, in the tropics. For the New Year. Gives me a few topics to write about...
Excellent! Looking forward to reading it.
Can’t wait to read more. BTW, saw that descriptor “perspiring homesteaer” on your page - made me snort my coffee.
Glad I could give you a nasal enema!
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If I remember the rules correctly, you can Power Down and not claim the Steem that is powering down until it's all done, in which case you'll get it all in one year, but every time you claim some of the powering down Steem before it's all powered down, it makes the rest of it take longer to finish powering down, so if you're constantly claiming every bit as it powers down, it'll take 2 years to get it all. So basically, you can power down quickly (1 year) by being patient, or slowly by being impatient (2 years) but you get some of it sooner.
Thanks for the refresher, but I think you might have posted this in the wrong place. I appreciate it anyways!
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