Buying acreage, what do I need to know?

cat fever · Jul 17, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
JRobyn mentioned feasibility/cost of your utilities. I always wondered why folks with tons of acreage built their homes next to the roads with all the noise, dust and loss of privacy. Well ... now I know - lol.

We just broke ground on our new home, 2500' of trench for electrical and water, and 3500' of driveway. Before anyone even shows up with a hammer, we'll be almost $50K into the project. On one hand, I'm sick about the upfront cost. On the other, it's our retirement home and I don't want to compromise the goal of seclusion. The driveway could have been 1000' shorter but with the additional length it will be totally out of view from the home.

I'll probably need to start a Go-Fund-Me page and have all you guys chip in before this is over

Kind of laughed out loud when I read your post. But then I thought anyone with a 3500' driveway has all the money in the world.

I built my own home many years ago and my thought was keep the home close to the road so I have more field for growing hay/cows. Well that was when my road was a dead end. Now I wish I had done what you are doing. You are the smart one, I'm still learning.

KiotiKowboy · Jul 18, 2015

cat fever said:
Kind of laughed out loud when I read your post. But then I thought anyone with a 3500' driveway has all the money in the world.

I wish that were true. Lately, I've been praying more

I told my wife that I hope we can spend a night in the place before it's foreclosed.

This is what it looks like today

cat fever · Jul 18, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
I wish that were true. Lately, I've been praying more I told my wife that I hope we can spend a night in the place before it's foreclosed.

This is what it looks like today

View attachment 433357

When you start in a hole, there is no where to go but up.:laughing:
Are you hoping to be done before winter?

dstig1 · Jul 18, 2015

Good luck to ya. It is a hard road building new, if you are doing a lot of it. I should know... As long as you don't get a gulley washr that blows out your dig hole, you should be in good shape. Get those walls poured and braced/backfilled ASAP!

KiotiKowboy · Jul 18, 2015

cat fever said:
When you start in a hole, there is no where to go but up.:laughing:
Are you hoping to be done before winter?

Winter was the original plan but it took forever to get started. I suspect we will be fully enclosed by winter but probably not in before early spring.

KiotiKowboy · Jul 18, 2015

dstig1 said:
Good luck to ya. It is a hard road building new, if you are doing a lot of it. I should know... As long as you don't get a gulley washr that blows out your dig hole, you should be in good shape. Get those walls poured and braced/backfilled ASAP!

With all that fractured rock, it holds no water. We got 6" of rain and it barely looked wet. I'm more concerned with what happens "after" the concrete is poured.

This basement will be 1000', with about half fully encased in concrete (soundproof media room & safe room). I'm not too excited about seeing it filled with water, so I hope we get a roof over it pretty quickly.

cat fever · Jul 18, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
Winter was the original plan but it took forever to get started. I suspect we will be fully enclosed by winter but probably not in before early spring.

Sounds good, keep us updated on the progress and good luck.

wmonroe · Jul 19, 2015

Steppenwolfe said:
If mineral rights do not convey, don't buy it.

It's tough to find any property in south west pa that has any mineral or gas rights. A large piece of property adjoining me went up for sale last year and the owners did have all the rights since it had been in their family for years. Long story short, they sold the place for $80,000 less than what I offered them, difference was my offer included all gas and mineral rights and the winning offer was land only.

wmonroe · Jul 19, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
With all that fractured rock, it holds no water. We got 6" of rain and it barely looked wet. I'm more concerned with what happens "after" the concrete is poured. This basement will be 1000', with about half fully encased in concrete (soundproof media room & safe room). I'm not too excited about seeing it filled with water, so I hope we get a roof over it pretty quickly.

Good luck with the build. It takes a lot of money and is stressful and tiring but once complete it is all worth it. It's been four years since we finished our house and moved in and I would build another.

Stuka · Jul 19, 2015

Lots of great feedback, thanks. I knew this forum had a lot of wisdom and experience.

I never thought anything about checking the land in order to put in a septic system, I guess I assumed that was something routine, seeing that there are homes everywhere in the country. I will check on that, though.

Yeah, that's one mighty driveway. I agree with you, it is better to locate the home away from the road, but I guess my strategy will be make a parking lot and a 2000 ft walking path to the house