Why is it so hard to find cheap land with no neighbors??

[ohiofarmgirl]

wow! solace thats lovely!! congrats!

and

id rather have neighbors, we live right beside the inlaws

my advice: move. i finally had enough of my ridiculous MIL and she hadnt even moved in yet (next door basically). so we moved 45 mins away and funny... now she's not so horrible... i think i called her bluff
;-)

but we got a gate just in case
;-)

we are pretty far out but i just cant help but think that we'll move again, further out....​

 

[Omran]

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Sorry, I hate to tell you, Land IN WV is NOT NOT cheap, my parents in law live there since the 1800s and buddy the Land there is sky High.

PUT IT THIS WAY , They don't make Land anymore

 

[Davaroo]

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Why is it so hard? Supply and demand. The supply cannot meet the demand.

As populations grow, there are more and more people who want the same thing. The "back-to-the-land" movement only exacerbates the matter.

Since they dont make more land, there is a finite supply. More people clamoring for the limited land and the price goes up. Simple.

I've been in the real estate business. The days of decent land for $2000/acre passed well over a decade ago, in most places.

It's harsh, but you better keep saving or want less land.
Ever heard of a guy named M.G. Kains? He wrote a book, "5 Acres and Independence." You may wish to read it - you'd be surprised what you can do with less.

 

[SportTees]

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I bought the book about a month ago but haven't had time to read it yet.

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We moved an hour away from the in laws but when my lil girl was born they followed us!!! They now live only a few houses away and its dh that wants to move because of that- its his parents - kinda of ironic . Me I just want more land

 

[Davaroo]

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I bought the book about a month ago but haven't had time to read it yet.

While not a literal 'How-To' book, it is a good primer and covers topics you probably will not think of in your zeal to move "outta town."

As a plus, it was written way back when people didn't know so much, nor have so much. So while it is approaching a century in age, it is simple and repeatable, even today and teaches the way to make land pay at good value cost.

I'd suggest anyone read at least the first half before embarking on any move to rural climes.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

My nearest neighbor is right at one mile away

LOL But we are still really all close around here. There is a good handfull of us within several miles of each other. We trade out veggies this time of year.....

I love our neighbors though....

 

[swampducks]

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Not necessarily, at least if you look at the per acre price. Up here in northern MI, per acre prices drop quickly for more than 20 acre parcels. It's the "prime" 10 acre and less parcels up here where the price jumps. This is one reason why we have a large parcel. It was just over 2000 an acre but it also has a house on it. If it hadn't it would easily have sold less. Of course, mush of it is swampland and can't be built on. But it sure keeps the neighbors away.

Oh and there are lots of ducks up here.

 

[Davaroo]

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Not necessarily, at least if you look at the per acre price. Up here in northern MI, per acre prices drop quickly for more than 20 acre parcels. It's the "prime" 10 acre and less parcels up here where the price jumps. This is one reason why we have a large parcel. It was just over 2000 an acre but it also has a house on it. If it hadn't it would easily have sold less. Of course, mush of it is swampland and can't be built on. But it sure keeps the neighbors away.

Oh and there are lots of ducks up here.

like I said, "...in most places." Of course there are exceptions, but the OP wanted 10 acres, not 100. Land usually goes for less per acre in large lots, that's right. 10 or under the price goes up, as you noted. Land at 2000/acre - in 200 acre lots - may as well be on the moon.
Of course, much of it is swampland and can't be built on. - these sorts of things make a difference, too.

The OP was lamenting on what is a general state of things in the real estate market.
There are forces at work to lessen some of the ridiculous prices in the market we've seen in recent years. But they don't generally apply to land.

The thing to do is remind people what horrors await them out in the country, so they will want to stay away - driving prices down.

 

[Katy]

This is one thing I've seen happen more than once in our area with families who didn't think their move out to the country through enough. They only thought about not having close neighbors, having enough acrerage to let their kids have a horse or some 4-H animals, etc. They don't think about if they lose electricity and are not on rural water they don't have water for anything whether it's their animals or just flushing the toilet...unless they spend more money on a generator. We've been without electricity for more than a week at a time many times over the years. Luckily we have a windmill that pumps water for our cow herd and I carry up to the house so we can flush and to my chickens and ducks!! The pony they let the kids get soon wipes out the available grass or winter comes and they have to buy feed for it. The road isn't graded when there's snow soon enough for them to make it to work on time....or even get out sometimes. When you forget to buy milk on the way home from work you'll have to drive miles instead of blocks to go back to get some. Your septic system quits working and you don't call the city to dig up the line.....you either have to do it or call someone who can. Living out in the sticks has many pluses, but I don't think a lot of people are realistically prepared for it.

ETA....Also don't count on the farmer up the road to help bail you out of a problem or ask to borrow his equipment.....and then get upset because he doesn't have time to help you out.

 

[EweSheep]

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Yes when my family were living out in the country, we had to deal with that issue too. Sometimes it takes more work to get it working and running more efficent that living in the city limits. Sometimes I would have to settle for living in the city limits with an acre or two that has all the city services. Yes it takes knowledge and determination and we love living out in the country. With gas prices, it may not be festible for us making less than 23 thousand dollars a year.