I am trying to get together a couple families to help get the property next to me---a developer has made an offer and i do not want a subdivision to go in!!!!! Does anyone have any experience with this kind of stuff? my concept is for privately owned pieces/3-4 families(i am in piedmont virginia)

-- kathryn russell (lotzakdz@juno.com), February 21, 2001

Answers

Response to intentional community help

I'm going to make the assumption you don't have the resources to buy it yourself for your own subdivision. Only alternative then may be to find your 3-4 other families and make a joint offer; however, I doubt you would get them to agree on how it should be subdivided as all would want the nicest piece of the pie at the lowest cost per acre. Buying as an association or something would also have problems, such as what happens if someone wants to sell. Even if you could swing financing, have it surveyed and subdivided, it may not control your neighbors. Say you listed one tract through a realtor for $50,000 and get an offer for $50,000 from a family of six who all own huge trucks with barely legal mufflers which don't matter much because they play their music on full volume anyway. Legally you could not turn down the offer without owing the realtor their commission. I suspect, baring resources to buy it yourself, you are going to be stuck with whoever ends up there.

Now, on the bright side, it will probably increase your property value (with higher taxes, of course).

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 21, 2001.

Response to intentional community help

been there, done that, whew, never again.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), February 21, 2001.

Response to intentional community help

Kathryn,Do you have room for a rifle range or better yet an artillery range on your property?I'm only saying this half fecetiously.You would be surprised how well on old muzzle loading canon can keep the yuppies from choosing your neck of the woods.If it turns into a development you can kiss having animals or doing very much in the way of farming goodbye.The yuppie dogs will kill your stock and the yuppies will complain about every animal noise and smell from your side of the fence.Your prior use be damned.You have my sympathy.

-- greg (gsmith@tricountyi.net), February 22, 2001.

What is the name of a large city near you? Can you describe the area and the property? How many acres, price, estimate of annual taxes. Is there a source of water on the property? You might consider re-posting as a Homestead available post.

Rick

-- Rick K (Rick_122@hotmail.com), February 24, 2001.

Kathryn,

I guess this response is belated, but on the chance it may help... Find "The Community Land Trust Handbook" This book explains property rights, how to bundle or seperate them, has examples of how land trusts have been used for various purposes, e.g., to protect from development, or develop in a particular way, to protect environment, etc. It gave me a big boost in my search for answers to land issues. I have not yet used any of these tools in a practical way, but that is another story...

Also, try the E.F.Schumacher Society. They have resources along these lines. They have a website which you can find with a search engine.

Good luck.

-- Bob in Ohio (robertblessum@netscape.net), July 17, 2001.

OH NOOOOO... not you too Kathy! We recently sold our farm in VA and moved to Arkansas. the primary motivating factor was the clear cutting of the woods in front of us and across the road. I used to LOVE my sanctuary there, was so beautiful. We lived in the boonies and on a dirt road, very secluded too. But eventually the timber comapnies wanted to cash in on the hefty profits from selling wood. I was so devistated when they were surverying last fall to cut. i wanted to literally kick the owners butts who sold it. i realize that folks do what they do, but since they lived in westyern VA and didn't live there, never seen their property they didn't care cause it wasn't near them.

Well... last christmas they started logging, made a mess, looked like a war zone. and then after they finsihed we were notifed by a neighbor that the logging company wanted to sell. So I called the realator, I about fell over when he said that the land was selling for $1,000 an acre. I laughed, it was clear cut. And that menat 20,000 I had to pay, cash mind ya, to stop anyone form building in front of us. I knew it was hopeless. But still I was thinking of ways to try to work it out since our farm wa sapid for. i figured that somehow my poor goats didn't deserve jerks for neighbors. So I then leanred that the realator was selling it to a developer from Fla! DEVELOPMENT in the boonies? oh my.... no way... and about the same time VA passed the strict milk regs, so my cheese and fudge business had to end or risk a big mess. I then called the competiting United country agent and listed, i'd be damned if i was going to ahve neighbors and develop into what... its the boonies? Well... thats when i learned Keysville was going to put in a golf community. so that drove up prices on land. Needless to say we cashed in and moved, we sold in 3 weeks.

i wish you well, sure know the feeling.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), July 18, 2001.