OK...time is getting nearer when I will be heading south to seriously begin my adventures in finding a new homestead for hubby and I and our many animals. Need to be within an hour or two of Lexington, SC...family. Have been in touch with Real Estate Agents...but the prices of homes they send me and talk with me about are in the 100,000 !!! Are all you people down South rich ! !!??? Would love to pick up our 5 acres homestead complete with small barn, greenhouse and a couple out buildings and house and take with us !! It is starting to "hit" me about moving and getting me down at times about leaving here but there must be someplace like "home" out there to buy . Have even thought of buying land and building but the cost of well, electric etc...we don't know anything about !! Can anyone help us with ideas, costs and areas?? Need to be within an hour or so of a "decent" city or town for my home business. have asked a fe months ago and did get some ideas but nothing to work with. Any help would be appreciated !! Thanks !

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), April 17, 2002

Answers

Helena, Have you tried any of these towns Robbins,Asheboro,Bennett,Bisco, Mt. Pleasant or Troy NC?? Tyen are small towns that are within an hr. or two of Lexington and I know that land is not as expensive. They are rather small 'country' type towns-farms,old homesteads,texile mills, Asheboro and surrounding areas are know for their pottery, hand crafted items are done and sold and nice prices, etc.Most are two hrs. from Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro, Winston Salem. Our large towns. Good luck

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), April 17, 2002.

Then there is Kings Mountain, Shelby, Grover or if you really want cheap land Cherryville (NC) Gaffney,SC and down around Cowpens, SC there are some farms.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

And the answer to the "Rich" question....Gosh NO !!!! :o)

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Helena, I don't know if this will help but we just closed on land in TN and we will be putting our home up for sale in about 7 or 8 mons. We currently live in Bethune SC. Hwy. l is the main road that runs through our town. Hwy. 1 goes into Lexington SC. We're about 1hr. away from Columbia and Lexington. Our house is 4 bdr. 2 bath. 1800 sq. ft. We are on 2 acres of land. We just planted a sm fruit orchard. There is a 1/2 acre fenced in and 2 out buildings. Bethune is a small town thats located between several larger towns. We don't have many neighbors because of the planted pines on one side of us. The back of us is a field used for planting and the other side is a mobil home. Thats about it. Woods across the rd. We'll be asking $70,000. If you're not intrested in ours, I can keep an eye out in the local paper. We looked for another place nearby and couldn't find anything that wasn't expensive, thats the reason we bought in TN. Good luck!! If I can help let me know. Michelle

-- Michelle Thomas (mpthomas83@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.

Helena

You might consider changing realtors! Not all realtors are "alike". Sometimes you get one that absolutely will not show the lower priced homes. And if you don't know they're out there, and the realtor is not "telling" - heh - helps to boost their commissions - unfortunately for you!

What we've done every time we've moved is sit with the realtor and go thru the multiple listing book, page by page, starting on the first page! Time consuming yes - however - this way you get a real good idea of what's out there and how the prices are running.

Maybe call your phone company and ask them to send you a phone book, or 2, from the area(s) you feel you're interested in. (the books are suppose to be free!) Go to the yellow pages and look up realtors. Many of them are now including their web addy along with all their other info. I have found that in my local phone book, there are many realtors listed, including their web addy, that I have never seen on a web search.

Hope this helped. Best of luck to you!!!!!

-- dottie - in E Shore MD (mother-ducker@webtv.net), April 17, 2002.

We live about an hour from Lexington, SC. There are definitely places available for a lot less in this area. This is not a high cost of living area. Depending on what you want the land here is about $1000/acre if you take the time to look. You can access the local newspaper on line. The Aiken paper is called the Aiken Standard. I would check the Saluda/Aiken County/Wagener area. Contact realtors that are local. Tell them you want something in the couty. They were very helpful to us.

-- Renee' Madden (RM6PACK@aol.com), April 18, 2002.