I wanted to pass on information for finding your dream property. Hopefully the hints will help you find your house in the country.

1. Take a sunday drive around areas that you are considering on living

2. Check out areas in the summer and winter when its lots of rain and draught to see how it affects that area.

3. Subscribe to the local newspaper for classifieds. If they have websites book mark them and check them once a week.

4. Fiance early! If your ready then find someone that will work with you so you can be preapproved. This way if you find something you can move fast.

5. Check for water. Does it have city? Can you drill? Does it have a canal?

6. Check out city taxes for the area will you be able to afford it? Are there any on the property for exemptions for farming or having livestalk already in place. How do you go about getting this in that area, what would be the requirements. Is there a canal there will you have to pay taxes on that too?

7. Check out VA loans and others to see if you qualify especially if you were in the armed forces.

8. When you find a place talk to the neighbors not only will you see if they are nice neighbors but you will learn a lot about other neighbors and the neighbor hood.

9. Check on the restrictions if any for animals and any building permits you need. If your thinking of putting a mobile on it and build slowly you may need to make sure you can put one there first. Can you put up a tirehouse, can house, log house in that area?

10. See if you have any grand father clauses on the property. This is good it means you can have animals or certain things on your property.

11. If its far from your job in the city would you be able to make the commute each day? Is there a carpool nearby?

12. Does the property flood or get snowd in?

13. Find out about the local school nearby if your kids will be attending or local homeschool associations.

14. Find a realator that will work for you that he not taking that high of commission that will save you money, you dont have to go with the one that is selling the property.

15. Take a soil test if you can of the farm and send it to your nearest Ag department for testing.

16. Is there a pond or tank on property is it spring fed or only when it rains there is big difference when its draught season there.

17. Are you going to need fencing? Consider this into cost of buying the place cause it can add up fencing is not cheap.

18. If you have a water well how deep is it and has it ever run dry? How far is it to the local water line?

19.Consider the grass that is growing what would eat it, what kind of animals would you be able to let graze on it?

20. Find out the wildlife there is it going to be a problem? If you want to raise chickens and there are tons of coyotes you will have to consider a coop or electric wire to keep them out.

21. Compare the prices of other homes in the area that you are buying so you know how much to offer.

22. If  your considering a mobile to put on your land be aware of a few things. How far is electric, water, sewage, telephone to your property? They may say just a few hundred feet but that can add up really fast! Check the utility offices to find how much it will cost to run to your mobile.

How much does it cost to dig a hole for your septic and the septic itself?

~Be aware that it will be hard to find someone to Insurance your mobile home.

~Be aware that even if you have equity on the home it will be hard to borrow any of it later cause it is a mobile, its possible but harder.

~How much to put in a road, its costly especially if sand dirt eats it up. Trust us we know! 

~Who ever is going to finance you make sure you keep all documents and check for any new add on's through the years. My own elder parents were scammed out of a few thousand when they sold their place cause of sneaky add on's. They are still fighting to get their money back.

~Be aware that if you need parts for a mobile you will have to find one on line or a local manufacture cause you can't just pick up a faucet part at Lowes or Home Depot they won't fit.

After you find all this out add it up and see if it would be worth it instead of buying a house.

**Note: We love our double wide but we have had trouble on all of the above. When we first moved in the pipe going to the septic busted. They had jerry-rigged it together cause it didnt fit. The Air conditioner inside and out busted, they never cleaned it! No skirt in bottom meant predators made there way in side the walls of our house and kept us awake for hours and damaged some things. 

After you have done all your research - Last close your eyes. Can you visualize yourself living and retiring there. Does it give you a warm feeling of  "HOME", after you have done all you can then say a silent prayer to God. I firmly believe if it will happen it will happen. We once wanted a nice piece of property but we were not able to get it. I was so disapointed. About two years later there as a huge flood around there and the house and property got flooded I was so glad we didnt buy it. God works in mysterious ways even when we think differently at the time.

**One more last minute tip: Being a mother myself I highly recommend checking the area out first for any sex offenders near you especially if you have children. Even out in the country you may be surprised of how many live out here too. Its best to be aware than ignorant about their whereabouts, All it takes is a few minutes of your time.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/states.htm

Sam