How did you determine the amount of Acreage you own & Are you happy??

[JimMorrissey]

How did you determine the amount of LAND you purchased?

The ONLY way to determine the amount of land is to have it professionally surveyed. You could get digital aerial photos and use GIS or something along those lines, but not many people have or know how to operate Geographic Information System software. Usually the town is pretty close, but sometimes it can be way off, either less or more land. I've seen one example that was off by 20 acres or more! That's why a true survey is the only real way to determine your boundaries and total acreage. Fencelines and stonewalls are not boundaries.

We decided on which piece based on a number of factors....sheer amount is in the equation, but not absolute. Lot shape and zoning and proximity to power, soil conditions, bedrock, water depth (local average well depth) are all concerns. A beautiful 5 acre lot with a view, or on the water is going to win over some viewless flat field of 15 acres IMO. I guess it all matters what you intend to do with it (farm it or build a house for your family, etc.) and where you live in this vast country of ours.

 

[Slacker]

I bought my land as a place where I could hunt, fish, drink, holler and generally act stupid. For this I needed lots of trees, water supply and an assurance that no one would build close to me. I got what I wanted.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I bought my land as a place where I could drink, holler and generally act stupid.

And some of us just registered on this site to accomplish that end.

 

[plumboy]

I buy as much as I can offord with being able to pay it off in at least 10-15 years.I'm at a 130 now and still wanting more,but thats the way it goes.I wish I could say it was investment but I dont ever see this place booming.

 

[hudr]

How did you determine the amount of LAND you purchased?

What were deciding factors? Did you know someone with XXX amount and decide it was to big or to small?

Just seen a plot and decided you liked regardless of the size?

We Kinda went by acreage amount, then other features.

Bought a place between my BIL and Parents. Price was right for the acreage (~55) and it connects to "family" land on both sides. Parents land will be split between myself and sister so neither of us will have to be absentee owners. There is ~32 acres on another side of me that I would REALLY like to own. If I had my 'druthers, there would be a 10' privacy fence around the whole place and I would show up in town twice a year for sugar and copper tubing.;-)

 

[JimMorrissey]

Slacker,

That is one of the best reasons to buy lots of land that I've heard Hilarious.....

 

[riptides]

The ONLY way to determine the amount of land is to have it professionally surveyed. You could get digital aerial photos and use GIS or something along those lines, but not many people have or know how to operate Geographic Information System software. Usually the town is pretty close, but sometimes it can be way off, either less or more land. I've seen one example that was off by 20 acres or more! That's why a true survey is the only real way to determine your boundaries and total acreage. Fencelines and stonewalls are not boundaries.

Agree, But NOT in my county.
My plat refers to trees and stone markers for reference.

And the county is FULLY aware of these issues.

-Mike Z.

 

[rox]

Getut,

You forgot one very important criteria ,and since this is a family viewing forum I'll have to be rather delicate how I phrase this but here goes, if it gets pulled it gets pulled. I want to have enough land, with the right topography so that in the heat of summer, if I want to work in "minimul" clothing I can do so without giving a neighborhood show.

Along the same vein. Our neighbor Claude lives up hill from us but his view of our property is limited to the western oriented stone terraces, and remember we have a lot of trees which provide great cover. Also don't forget I'm a Northern girl, not used to the southern hot climates.

So anyway our first summer here it is hotter then heck and my husband is working outside in the afternoon has still not put on shorts, he's still in his underwear. I tell him that he need to put on shorts, what if the neighbor comes over, but he doesn't listen to me. So he is working on the stone terraces that are adjacent to our neighbor Claude. When he finished working he comes down the hillside with a big grin on his face. Seems that he ran into Claude, and guess what, Claude was in his underwear too!

Fast forward to last week. End of June it is really hot, really hot and we are hand picking almonds. We move from the western terraces that Claude has a view to, to the eastern terraces where we are pretty darned private, and all I can say is, it was just really hot...Let you imagination work for you. Let me jsut say, I can appreciate the point of view of the African women..

We needed to stop almond picking so that my husband could spray for the olvie fly. Since Claude has been so helpfull my hubby decides to drive the tractor up the hill over to Claude's and spray the small group of olive trees Claude has.

It seemed like Claude was home, but he never showed his face. Well of course the sprayer broke twice and my hsuband called for Claude, but he didnt' answer so rather then go down the big hill on foot then up the big hill, again on foot, my husband goes into Claudes shop and borrows the tool to fix the sprayer, twice. He is just finished spraying and Claude's olive trees when Claude comes walking over in his underwear. Note- he did not drive up. So my husband tells him about his sprayer breaking down and how he borrowed a tool but put it back and askes Claude if he was there because he didnt' see him drive up. Well Claude tells him he was there but he didn't "show" himself in person, because he didn't want to , well, "show himself"...

Now this is a geat neighbor, retired mechanic, very knowledgable about country life and if he walks down the hillside to our property which he does from time to time, but not very often, and sees some cheek he is not going to flip out. He is just going to think, "yeah it is real hot"

So basically I like to have enough property with the right topography where if it gets real hot, I can dress appropriately.

 

[JimR]

We started out with 3 acres when we built our house down the street from my in laws place. When they passed away they left that to us. We now have about 44 acres and it is more than enough to handle. Only about 3 acres are open fields. The rest is heavily wooded. I have a hard enough time just trying to keep the woods cleaned up from winter storm damage. Sometimes I think it would be better to have most of it clear cut and put back to fields again.

 

[MotorSeven]

I bought my land as a place where I could hunt, fish, drink, holler and generally act stupid. For this I needed lots of trees, water supply and an assurance that no one would build close to me. I got what I wanted.

Exactly!
You know, i never thought of it that way.....does flipping my wheeler, breaking my nose and cracking a rib or two qualify ? Me and George W. Dickle just shouldn't hang out anymore

Anyway....bought 32ac, didn't like the useable house sites, bought 63ac adjoining and am working on another ten that my neighbor owns. If i had more $ i would keep adding to the "farm". I dreamed about owning a farm all of my life, so at 48 i ain't wastin no more time!
RD