Ok, every once in a while I get myself totally bummed out thinking there is no possible way that we will ever actually own a little sliver of land to homestead on. Right now, the average price for one acre is $30,000. And that is for a virtually unusable acre - on the side of the mountain where it would cost about $120,000 to get a well, septic, utilities and phone put it. Then you have to build the house! For something more usable, by usable I mean still on a hillside, but not too steep to build on, an acre costs closer to $130,000. Sometimes they have utilies nearby, but not usually. Either way, the elevation would be close to 11,000 feet, and it gets awefully hard to garden that high. On a $30,000/yr salary, how on earth are we every going to be able to afford even a single acre? I get so discouraged.
Does anyone have any ideas of how to help us?
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>
Ouch! Those are some high prices. I'm not used to seeing numbers like that in Texas. The two best things you could do are to keep your eyes open for property or move. I know with your husband running the surplus store, moving might not be an option, but have you considered other career opportunities for him? Other states have much more managable property prices.
But keep your eyes peeled. We got lucky that our property had been sitting on the market for 7 months and the guy had already moved and had two mortgages. He started out asking way to much for the property, which is why it hadn't sold. By the time we got to him, he was really willing to negotiate. You have the luxury of staying where you are and saving your money while looking for the perfect property.
Remember that the farther you move out of town, the lower property prices get. It's kind of a balancing act of paying less for property but more for gas. If you don't want to move too far away from family (like Texas), what about land prices in Utah or Kansas? They've got to be cheaper than Colorado.
Sorry. I know moving might be out of the question, but how can you fight housing prices like that. God bless.
Edited by dsw3131 on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 12:41
I hear you. I just wanted to offer that you're not alone in the discouragement- but don't let it get you down in a rut! NOTHING stays the same!! That is the natural order of things, so count on that and keep doing the little things that give you a feel for country life, keep getting the background knowledge and little by little try the skills you'll need to grow things & make and mend things, begin to aquire the small appliances or equipment you will one day need: a hand-crank grain mill, start canning, get the home-care books for animals, spend time at feed stores learning, make bread, make aprons, make plans and dreams and hone down the skills of gardening - or turn the garage/attic into a greenhouse (try hydoponics).... whatever you attempt, they'll all bring you closer to your dream.
We have been facing down that homesteading dream as well- and here we are on 10 acres (heavily tree'd and no irrigation). No money for animals or building supplies, no roto-tiller or barn... just us and the house. We are barely keeping the house over our head. But things change, and when they do, I'll be ready!
Let us know how you're doing today!!
Welcome to our farmette-ette-ette-ette (9000 sq foot city lot). Come on in! I may not stop what I'm doing while you're visiting, but feel free to join in. Mi casa es su casa!
