We bought land last summer. Exploring the central part of Colorado was fun and exciting. This is the journey that we took to a piece we didn't end up buying, but was really, really cool.
Beautiful photos. I remember driving through that general area nearly 30 yrs ago when I spent a summer in Idaho Falls. Love the open spaces of the high plains and that big sky. I wonder what they are getting per acre of open country like that these days.
The prices are all over the map. Realistically, the land is only worth about $1,500-$2,000 an acre. The piece featured in these photos was $16,000 for three acres. It had topography and trees which is rare for the area. I knew I could find something cheaper and better if we kept looking (we were looking for three years). The piece we settled on was 5 acres. They wanted 8k and I negotiated down to $6,500. For Colorado, that's dirt cheap. The best part? Taxes on our land are only about $80 a year.
That's not unreasonable compared to out here in southern Maine. And the property taxes are truly enviable. That is what kills us out here. Mine are 3K$ for a 1/4 acre and a tiny 20x22 house plus a 24x24 barn. Its the corner property with the red fence and the gambrel barn in this photo. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf53ljN_qeU/Upog_Hx60_I/AAAAAAAACe8/DyUMtMDm0Bk/s1600/P1010642.JPG Politics in Colorado leave a bit to be desired though. But I suppose its that way anywhere you go. In addition to better weather and lower taxes we are looking to put as much distance as is possible between us and all that out of touch with reality zombie like masses we witnessed two days ago when we made the mistake of going to the Mall to look for new calendars.
Politics here are pretty divided. Denver and Boulder have enough population (with suburbs) to off set the political landscape for the rest of the state. As per usual, most of the rural areas are conservative. We're at the halfway point outside of Denver where there's a mix of liberals and conservatives. The further out you go, the more conservative it gets. Where we bought the land, I asked the realtor how strict they were about covenants. She told me that if you mention the word covenant, you're likely to be spit on. ;) My kind of people. I've got 100 acres in Aroostook County. When I first took over ownership, taxes were $250 a year (2007). Now they are $700 a year. Still not bad for 100 acres, but I don't have road frontage and receive no services from the town that it's in. Furthermore, I only step foot on it every five years or so. We almost bought a house in Casco in 2003. Those taxes and property "values" were big reasons for us to move on and keep our nomadic lifestyle for a bit longer. I love southern Maine, but the cost of living vs. the average income has quite a gap.
Yes as you know its the same here, the "progressives" in southern ME are enough in number to rule Augusta. So many are imports from NY and CT, and now they have made it just line NY and CT. I have heard that Utah because of the Mormon ethos of self sufficiency has a low level of welfare dependents and thus a reasonable tax environment. I think some time in the near future we will be doing a bit of traveling out west to check out some potential places where we can find some elbow room.
Yes southern WY quite attractive and property prices are not bad there.... FWIW, My mistake... it has been over 20 years..... it was Idaho Springs CO I spent the summer at....
Beautiful photos. I remember driving through that general area nearly 30 yrs ago when I spent a summer in Idaho Falls. Love the open spaces of the high plains and that big sky. I wonder what they are getting per acre of open country like that these days.
ReplyDeleteThe prices are all over the map. Realistically, the land is only worth about $1,500-$2,000 an acre. The piece featured in these photos was $16,000 for three acres. It had topography and trees which is rare for the area. I knew I could find something cheaper and better if we kept looking (we were looking for three years). The piece we settled on was 5 acres. They wanted 8k and I negotiated down to $6,500. For Colorado, that's dirt cheap.
ReplyDeleteThe best part? Taxes on our land are only about $80 a year.
That's not unreasonable compared to out here in southern Maine. And the property taxes are truly enviable. That is what kills us out here. Mine are 3K$ for a 1/4 acre and a tiny 20x22 house plus a 24x24 barn. Its the corner property with the red fence and the gambrel barn in this photo.
ReplyDeletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tf53ljN_qeU/Upog_Hx60_I/AAAAAAAACe8/DyUMtMDm0Bk/s1600/P1010642.JPG
Politics in Colorado leave a bit to be desired though. But I suppose its that way anywhere you go. In addition to better weather and lower taxes we are looking to put as much distance as is possible between us and all that out of touch with reality zombie like masses we witnessed two days ago when we made the mistake of going to the Mall to look for new calendars.
Politics here are pretty divided. Denver and Boulder have enough population (with suburbs) to off set the political landscape for the rest of the state. As per usual, most of the rural areas are conservative. We're at the halfway point outside of Denver where there's a mix of liberals and conservatives. The further out you go, the more conservative it gets. Where we bought the land, I asked the realtor how strict they were about covenants. She told me that if you mention the word covenant, you're likely to be spit on. ;) My kind of people.
ReplyDeleteI've got 100 acres in Aroostook County. When I first took over ownership, taxes were $250 a year (2007). Now they are $700 a year. Still not bad for 100 acres, but I don't have road frontage and receive no services from the town that it's in. Furthermore, I only step foot on it every five years or so.
We almost bought a house in Casco in 2003. Those taxes and property "values" were big reasons for us to move on and keep our nomadic lifestyle for a bit longer. I love southern Maine, but the cost of living vs. the average income has quite a gap.
Yes as you know its the same here, the "progressives" in southern ME are enough in number to rule Augusta. So many are imports from NY and CT, and now they have made it just line NY and CT. I have heard that Utah because of the Mormon ethos of self sufficiency has a low level of welfare dependents and thus a reasonable tax environment. I think some time in the near future we will be doing a bit of traveling out west to check out some potential places where we can find some elbow room.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to check WY and MO. They both have favorable laws when it comes to citizen's rights.
ReplyDeleteYes southern WY quite attractive and property prices are not bad there.... FWIW, My mistake... it has been over 20 years..... it was Idaho Springs CO I spent the summer at....
DeleteThe place is looking just awesum and attractive I want go there and last time I go to Idaho Falls Its also just rocking place.
ReplyDelete