Where to live - suggestions please

[paulw]

We went through a similar decision process in our search for property when we move from our small farm in the piedmont of NC. We enjoy horseback trial riding in the mountains and aren’t beach people so that narrowed the search. Previously lived in the UP of Michigan (15 years ago) that had some appeal for the remoteness, water, hunting, fishing, and land values. But with snow on the ground 5 months a year horseback riding is not a year round activity. Also my blood has thin a bit living in the south so climate was a consideration (and was biting flies/mosquitoes). So we narrowed the search to the NC mountains and central to western Virginia, summers are relatively cool and winters mild. Found some beautiful farm and mountain land in western Virginia reasonably priced but too remote even for us ex UPers (at least every town and nearly every cross road in the UP has a bar). Ended up purchasing land in NC mountains about half way between Ashville and Boone. Land prices are fairly high in the NC mountains especially near Boone and Ashville and large tracts are hard to come by. We live relatively close and were able to look at a large number of properties before making a decision. So the Virginia mountains would be a good choice as it doesn’t appear to be as developed. Virginia didn’t have a MLS system at the time so that also made searching more difficult.

 

[BXmark]

I can't believe some of these land prices you guys are mentioning! I live about an hour outside of Cincinnati in a generally rural area. Land prices around here are $10,000 an acre for smaller 5 to 20 acre parcels. A scrubby 12 acre tract across the road that a farmer bought to farm just sold for $128,000. A farm down the road consisting of 140 acres, a old run down house and some delapadated out buildings is listed for 1.2 million. Even another half hour out the prices run $5,000 and up an acre. An I have always been under the impression we lived in a moderately priced area.

 

[MikePA]

There's 35 acres across the street from us. It's zoned 'Clean and Green' so it can't be subdivided. I'd love to buy it, but it's listed at $395,000! Way too rich for my blood. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[DaRube]

Another Virginian chiming in here. This past summer, we moved out from the DC suburbs to western Loudoun county...which puts us in the area that Terry described. Loudoun is the county right off the tip of the WV panhandle.

This was the furthest west that I could go....due to the realities of my career. Loudoun is convenient, but starting to see the growth problems that you alluded to. Also, the prices have already surged. The western area where we live is still very beautiful, rural, and varied, but who knows for how long.

I can sincerely suggest, though, the areas just west of here, including the WV Panhandle, Clarke County VA.....even Winchester and Berryville, which are probably on the southern edge of Terry's magic radius. And of course, just north of here, into Maryland and even Southern Pennsylvania, is some luscious. To the northwest, Pittsburgh starts to become the dominant city.

Many of the mid-sized towns around here are well served by commuter airlines, so you might only be an additional hop away from your vacation travel.

Good luck!!

 

[cowboydoc]

Personally I would seriously consider the west. Idaho, Oregon, Montana, etc. If you stay at the base of the mountains, for example Boise, ID, you have four seasons and a mild four seasons. You also have a true four seasons. Best of all, weather wise, is there is NO humidity in the west to speak of. Where I'm from the winter's rarely, if ever get much below 20-30 and that is only for a few months. Mild snow but nothing harsh at all. You want to talk about sunshine!!! It rarely rains there and lots of sun. The spring and fall is absolutely the best. The summers while hot, worst is 90-100 is like about 75 with humidity.

With regards to lifestyle it is the outdoorsman's paradise. You name it it's there for the outdoors. Whitewater rafting, some of the best fishing in the world, definitely the best hunting in the world, hiking, skiing, lakes, rivers, mountains, deserts, it's all there. It doesn't get any better.

With regards to land you can buy land anywhere from $500-4000 per acre and there's still plenty of land out there to go around. Price all depends on how close to town you are and the condition of the ground. The ranch I bought out there with my Uncle we paid an average of $500 an acre. This included forest ground, farm ground, and pasture ground.

The quality of life and the people are outstanding. Low crime rates and depending where you are plenty of access to airports, etc. For myself I've been alot of places and I have never found anywhere else as nice to live.

 

[RonL]

ejb

As a matter of curiosity, are you selling your property in MA ? If so, where is it located. Anywhere near Tanglewood?

RonL

 

[ejb]

We would be selling if/when we decide to move...its not on the market yet.

We are about 45 minutes from Tanglewood (I think) I have never been there. From were we are we have a nice view of Mount Greylock, which I beleive is close to tanglewood,and I know that is about 45 minutes away.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...we have a nice view of Mount Greylock...</font color=blue>

My Dad was one of the Broadcast Engineers for Channel 10/19 TV Stations for many years up at the top of Greylock...

Top of the World...{in the Berkshires} /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[billboe]

Very cool (or should I say cold! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif)... I was born in Littleton!

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>so everytime the people in the big cities need more money, they are going to happily raise the taxes on all the country folk to pay for there projects</font color=blue>

Well, I'm sure that it has that appearance, but I can assure you that the city folks pay a proportionally higher tax.

That aside, I've lived in several places over the course of my life (IL, MN, WA, CA, MA, TN), and I can say that California is the top of this heap. I'm staying put.