You all have helped me before when I've asked questions, so I'm going to try you again, if you don't mind. I'd like some information about Kentucky. We are planning to move this Spring/Summer and want rural property within an hour's drive from Lexington. I'd like information about property taxes and building codes in any county covered in this circle. I think we'd like to stay South or East of Lexington (because we've come to love the mountains), but any area with hills will do. We have dogs, goats, pigs and plan on a few cows there. All the real estate ads I've seen on the Internet say horses okay, but does that apply to any livestock? Thanks for any help you can give me.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), December 29, 2001

Answers

Hi Mary, I haven't lived in that particular area in about 10 years so my help may be dated. We lived in Scott County (Georgetown) as recent as 1996. Land there is VERY expensive. There is a housing shortage due to the Toyota plant there so there is a lot of development.North in Bourbon County land is also pricey. Lots of big horse farms and bluebloods. If you go south of Lexington to Nicholasville and farther south to Garrard County you should find very reasonable land prices. I can't say about building restrictions since I haven't lived there in a while. Aside from the small town of Lancaster, Garrard County is just farm land. Having lived in Lancaster I can say that they are opposed most development. They fought Walmart til they finally built it in Lincoln County. They fought a large goat operation. The owners finally decided to go elsewhere. I found the people very nice and friendly. The schools were average but nothing special. I worked at the local hospital some of when I lived there but commuted to Lexington most of the time. Madison County which is south east of Lexington is a fast growing area. Being a college town, it has most of the amenities of "town". I hope I have been of some help to you. I love Kentucky. I have lived here for 22 years. It is my home. I would live no where else. I hope you find the happiness here that I have found. If I can be of anymore help to you let me know.

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), December 29, 2001.

mary, I live in Bath county,about 35 miles east from lexington,8 miles from mt sterling. This is a vary rural area. There are many places for sale. You can have any animal you want. There is a lot of different taxes in KY, for instance property taxes, even with a list of different ones on your tax bill you still pay less than WVA for the sam amount of land. I will look up more info if you want. We don,t have any building codes here in rural bath county as i know of yet. In 2000 they did put in septic codes. We built our own house in 1999, no problem. Moungromery county is 3 miles away and they have alot more restriction. The humidity is the biggest problem as I see it. Most everyone here has been helpfull to new comers. If I can help let me know.

-- Lexi Green (whitestone11@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

Mary, PLEASE stay in TN. We have been in Ky about a year and a half and are trying to get back to TN. The people here are nice but the cost of living is MUCH HIGHER than in TN. Just a warning!!!

-- Lou Ann in KY (homes_cool@msn.com), December 31, 2001.

Mary, We lived in Seymour for almost 20 years-now we live in NE KY (Ashland). Land prices are not too bad here--it's actually a little depressed. Land in rural WV is dirt cheap. Lexington is pretty, but HORRIBLY expensive. East Ky is much more reasonable if you are not married to Lexington. Jim

-- Jim Deweese (jedeweese@earthlink.net), January 01, 2002.

Thank you all for your responses. They have given me some good leads. Believe me, I wouldn't leave East TN if I didn't have to for family reasons. I love it here. I also think that usually, if you are a good neighbor, your neighbors will be also. We are Northerners living in the South and know how Southerners are about newcomers, but we haven't had any problems here.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), January 01, 2002.

We live 20 miles from Hopkinsville, any info from this area needed, e- mail us.

-- Wayne & (LYN) Roach (R-Way@msn.com), January 01, 2002.

My wife and I have lived in KY all our lives. We live within an hour's drive of Lexington where I work and my wife works in Danville, 1/2 hour. We are preparing to sell our home because of a new job which requires me to live in that county. People have been asking us for years why we don't move closer to our jobs----the answer is where we live now has one of the lowest tax rates in KY, it is a little depressed economically, but that has its advantages--life here is quaint and crime is virtually non-existent. My wife lived in Louisville for 2 years while finishing up law school and she was so glad to get back. We live in Casey County and no restrictions exist in the county--we are 12 miles from the county seat which is very quaint with its little mom and pop shops, we are 12 miles from Somerset, Ky and Lake Cumberland and all that has to offer with boating, etc, and an hours drive to Lexington and 2.5 to Nashville. We feel very fortunate to be where we are located and are regretful in having to leave. We have 1.6 acres w/ 3 bedroom home, 1.5 baths, large kitchen and laundry room and family room. Huge horsebarn/shop w/poured floors and electricity. A 3 panel fence where we graze our horses. Then I also rent a little bit of pasture ground for cattle. And pasture rent is so cheap often free just for upkeep. We also have the convience of county water but we also have a great well system that we have never ran short of water. We love it. Michael----Bethelridge, KY

-- Michael woodrum (michaelwoodrum@yahoo.com), January 11, 2002.

Hi Mary, I live in Menifee County, KY. I've lived her 6 years and I love it. The cost of living is low compared to Michigan. We have practically no building codes, but I think a septic system is required now (it wasn't when I moved here). Taxes are low, too. The schools suck, but homeschooling laws are lenient. You can have any kind of animal you want. I know people that raise buffalo and even ostriches. The land here is rolling hills. The winters are hard to explain. Sometimes they are mild and sometimes we get snowed in for up to 3 weeks (or so I've been told -it hasn't been that bad since I've lived here). We lose our power, often for no apparent reason. Its usually back on the same day. Crime is almost nonexistent. Water is a problem, unless you have a well. The county has been trying to get the people here enough municipal water since before I moved here. The people are the best I've ever known. We live about 30 miles from a major city, 50 from a big one (Lexington). We have fairly decent stores in Frenchburg- 8 miles away. That's all I can think of to tell you. Oh, there are plenty of places for sale around here. Land is about $1,000 per acre, less if you buy more (go figure). If you need more info, just email me. Good luck, Gayle

-- Gayle Smith (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

I was reading the responses to this thread and saw the one from Ray. Which direction from Hopkinsville are you? I live in south Christian Co. and work in Hopkinsville. Susan

-- Susan (slkolb34@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.