Need feedback on property for sale

[Dace]

OK this is a new area for my family and I could use some good information and I know you all will not sugar coat it.

We looked at a 24 acre property nearly an hour away, this would be a big move for us and I want to really weigh all the pros and cons.

First of all the house is nice, it is quite large and almost perfect. It could use a guest bedroom, but we can work around that.

The house was built around a very large boulder which is the focal point of the small backyard patio area and a fountain as created to flow off of it. Astheltically this patio is nice, flowers, water feature, simple.

The rest of the property is natural. there is a small flat area out front with some flowers, and could be made into a nice little seating area...maybe a little fire pit. Again talking aesthetics and relaxation.

Down to more important stuff....nearly all of the property is hilly/rocky. there are at least 4 distinct, fairly level workable areas. One is under 4-5 oaks and right off the back patio, so I am thinking that would make a good chicken run and maybe a little goat barn. There is another area off the drive way that could be turned into a large garden and another more rolling area in the front of the house that could be turned into a small pasture for a horse or mini cow. There is some semi flat space if you take a little bit if a hike, maybe a hundred yards away that could be used for horses as well. I have this thing about liking to see my animals though.

There is a 5K sq foot building with offices which DH would like to launch some sort of business out of and use for storage. It is about three hundred yards behind the house.

Most of the terrain consists of Manzanita and scrub, a few smallish oaks and lots of large boulders. There is a neighbor in close proximity and another one within site, but further away. The house it self seems to sit at the front of the property line and the bulk of the land is behind the house and does not seem to be usable...other than hiking of course. It is beautiful though.

The house has a well and a 1200 gal water tank and propane. ...both of which are new to us. Not sure what we need ot know about those.

So I am trying to get photos on line but I am having trouble isolating the property.

I would make the move, it just depends on how hubby feels about the drive and what the seller has to say. We are at the mercy of an owner carrying the loan as we do not qualify for a loan for two years...so there is some 'settling' for less than perfect going on. In a perfect world I would not want to see the neighbors and I would want more flat land. But since ownership is more important we are willing to sacrifice perfect. It is hard to keep perspective though since it is my dream to move a way and have land...even if it is not all usable!

Thoughts? Things we should consider?

 

[keljonma]

Renting for a year without strings may be the perfect way for you and your family to realize whether or not this place is your "dream". It will also give you a chance to decide if the house, outbuilding or land need work you never notice at first glance.

Personally, I wouldn't do any permanent planting for the first year, because you need that time to see where water puddles or drains too quickly.

Prayers your way, Dace; New Adventures need them!

 

[FarmerDenise]

The issue of the weather is an important one. More specifically rainfall. You will need to consider that you will be watering your garden. If you get enough rainfall you would be able to collect the runoff from the roofs. It takes power to pump water from a well. You will become an expert at maintaining the pump.
Kekjonma is right in advising not to plant anything permanent the first year. We have two ponds every winter, that you wouldn't know about in the summer

Have a professional inspect the buildings. That way you'll know what will need to be done and even more important, if there is something major/dangerous that would need to be done that is too expensive.

Other than that, the place sounds great. Just because you cannot use some of the land for farming or grazing, doesn't make it worthless. Being able to take a walk on your own property is worthwhile. You might even be able to hunt it, if you are into that. The land will provide you with plenty of foraging material that you may not be aware of.
I also advise you to have a trusted friend or relative look at the property with you. They know you and will have a more objective view of it and your best interest at heart.

Having some neighbors in a remote area is not a bad thing either.
It's nice to know that there is someone to call on in case of an emergency. And if you are lucky you will get along well and help each other out.
You might want to meet them before you buy, to see, if there is anything really offensive about either of them that might make you regret moving there.

But it sounds to me, that you have already made up your mind
Good luck to you.

 

[Dace]

Thanks Ladies, I appreciate the feedback.

I agree on no planting for a year (that will be tough and I know that while I would try, I won't stick to that )

Waterfall is minimal....So Cal dryness

The more I think about it the more I like the fact that I can create little 'vignettes' rather than focus on a over all cohesive landscaping plan.

I love the idea of hunting and hiking but I am terrified of rattle snakes and me recent adventure with one has me a little shy....I am sure that would ease up in time.

Really... I am game for this adventure, it is just a matter of stepping back and seeing how the cards fall I guess.

The only trouble that I see with renting for a year is moving the kids. This is an all in or nothing kind of a deal. We either commit or we don't.

 

[big brown horse]

IMHO Kids are pretty resilient and you can always import their friends on the weekends. They might groan and moan, or they might think it would be tons of fun. I would have LOVED to move away from friends for the chance to be one with nature etc.

Aren't hogs good for killing snakes? Dace you could be a hog farmer, wouldn't that be right up your alley?!!

Just kidding.

It sounds wonderful to me...all that space! I love the boulder focal point, very unique. What style is the house? I'm imagining an oasis when I try to envision it.

 

[Dace]

Not exactly an oasis...which makes me think tropical.

My dad used to have a place out in the hills, very similar to this place, except this house is MUCH nicer

Who knows....it may not fall into place, so I am not going to get emotionally invested.

 

[FarmerChick]

OK this is a new area for my family and I could use some good information and I know you all will not sugar coat it.

We looked at a 24 acre property nearly an hour away, this would be a big move for us and I want to really weigh all the pros and cons.

First of all the house is nice, it is quite large and almost perfect. It could use a guest bedroom, but we can work around that.

The house was built around a very large boulder which is the focal point of the small backyard patio area and a fountain as created to flow off of it. Astheltically this patio is nice, flowers, water feature, simple.

The rest of the property is natural. there is a small flat area out front with some flowers, and could be made into a nice little seating area...maybe a little fire pit. Again talking aesthetics and relaxation.

Down to more important stuff....nearly all of the property is hilly/rocky. there are at least 4 distinct, fairly level workable areas. One is under 4-5 oaks and right off the back patio, so I am thinking that would make a good chicken run and maybe a little goat barn. There is another area off the drive way that could be turned into a large garden and another more rolling area in the front of the house that could be turned into a small pasture for a horse or mini cow. There is some semi flat space if you take a little bit if a hike, maybe a hundred yards away that could be used for horses as well. I have this thing about liking to see my animals though.

There is a 5K sq foot building with offices which DH would like to launch some sort of business out of and use for storage. It is about three hundred yards behind the house.

Most of the terrain consists of Manzanita and scrub, a few smallish oaks and lots of large boulders. There is a neighbor in close proximity and another one within site, but further away. The house it self seems to sit at the front of the property line and the bulk of the land is behind the house and does not seem to be usable...other than hiking of course. It is beautiful though.

The house has a well and a 1200 gal water tank and propane. ...both of which are new to us. Not sure what we need ot know about those.

So I am trying to get photos on line but I am having trouble isolating the property.

I would make the move, it just depends on how hubby feels about the drive and what the seller has to say. We are at the mercy of an owner carrying the loan as we do not qualify for a loan for two years...so there is some 'settling' for less than perfect going on. In a perfect world I would not want to see the neighbors and I would want more flat land. But since ownership is more important we are willing to sacrifice perfect. It is hard to keep perspective though since it is my dream to move a way and have land...even if it is not all usable!

Thoughts? Things we should consider?

Dace--as great as it sounds, I know how you "want this soooo bad" that you might just jump and buy anything. be sure it is truly what you want!!!! want vs. need and need vs. want. you know.,....

now second is, WHAT do you want 24 acres for? Honestly if you WANT true usable farm land this is not it. boulders and rocks is not farm land and if out of 24 acres you have ---maybe 4 good usable acres, then you lose big time---20 acres of loss.

So again, what do you want????? that is the key????

you just need to truly know in your heart if "the usable" land is really enough....and if it is, then great, if not, do not settle for less than what you are paying your hard earned money for.

best of luck---hang in there...great things will come your way!!!

 

[PamsPride]

Did you talk to the neighbors about the immigrant problem? Is there one?
I have a well....we don't have to do anything with it.

 

[hennypenny9]

In my extremely limited experience of choosing this house (which we are trying to sell!) my advice is, go look at the property at all times of the day. And during the week, and weekend. If I had known about the back-door neighbor's habits and dogs, I would have though twice. But we only looked during the day, during the week.

Also, I dunno about in SoCal, but here in the summer everything looks great and pristine, and in the winter it can be totally different.

nearly all of the property is hilly/rocky...
and the bulk of the land is behind the house and does not seem to be usable...other than hiking of course. It is beautiful though.

So how much can you actually use out of the 24? 15, 10? How much do you want/need for your animals? Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE LOVE to have acreage, but since regretting the current house I live in, I'm much more cautious!

 

[Beekissed]

I'd ask about how deep your well is and how much output you can expect from it. The water is so important.

You can always put sheep or goats on the hilly portions of your property......

Is the house going to be hard to cool in the summer? I would ask about the average electric and propane bill per month, zoning--if any, and check out the neighbors big time.

Dace, hope you find all you are looking for in a house/property!