For me it all started when I was in my twenties, I was
living on my father-in-law’s 5 acres and later on 6-2/3 acres he had. Years
later I remember sitting at home one evening looking through the Penny Saver, I
saw an ad for 40 acres of land $10,000 outside of Del Norte Colorado with owner
financing for $100 down and $110 a month. Though we were living from week to
week I believed that we could afford that. I called the owner and arranged to
go see the land, asked for a week off from work. The week before we were going,
Nancy went to Phoenix for a church meeting and met some friends of ours from
Oregon who told her that there was land for sale like that near them. When she
got home her mind was set on Oregon not Colorado so we went to Oregon.
I had communicated that I wanted 40 acres of land for less
than $20,000 owner financing preferred, when we were going to meet the realtor
she didn’t show, after a call from our
friend we were told she would meet us the next day. Showing up late she
informed us that she didn’t find any listings that met my criteria but she
found a 35 acre parcel, a 30 acre parcel, and a 20 acre parcel, I wasn’t
feeling happy, but I decided that the 35 acres might be ok. She then went on
and on about some 5 acre parcel that would be good for us, I made it clear that
I wasn’t interested in 5 acres.
I told her we would like see the 35 acres, looking at the
map I knew it was south of town. So when we left town going north I knew
something was up. We arrived at some semi nice 5 acre parcels; this time I made
it really clear that I wasn’t interested in 5 acres…
Next we ended up at the 20 acre parcel $21,000 which I feel
in love with instantly the plot was on a hill overlooking a lake the fir trees
were huge close together and beautiful. There was one problem it was in the roe
river charter, huh. Basically it was a home owners association which had to
approve any building plans, one dog or cat no livestock, cars had to be garaged…etc.
NO THANKS.
The 30 acres $18,500 were next, no road access, zoned F2
only farming or forestry, you could build with a permit, if you cut down a tree
it had to be replanted where the old tree was cut down….etc. NO THANKS.
The 35 acres 18,000 which didn’t look at was zoned F1
forestry only, no building no camping no no no…etc. NO THANKS.
Plus the property tax in Oregon is their main source of
income, not good for someone who wants homestead.
Needless to say I wasn’t happy (understatement).
When we got back home Nancy was sharing details of our trip
with a neighbor who gave us a copy of United Country Reality catalog. There I found
places all over the country that fit what I was looking for, time for some
thoughts about what it was I really wanted.
