| Almost anyone can become a rural property owner; | | | | that is a different matter. There are some lovely |
| if you are willing to set goals, establish what your | | | | farms on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific near |
| purposes are, plan ahead and set targets that are all | | | | Carmel California; where the movie stars reside and if |
| aligned toward the same result. And, if you can be | | | | you can find a hundred acre farm you may be able |
| patient instead of requiring instant gratification.There | | | | to get it for a hundred million dollars or so, plus the |
| is no more $50-an-acre land; unless you count some | | | | value of improvements. That is about what you can |
| of the inaccessible and unusable properties that are | | | | expect to pay for acreage near Rehoboth also; and |
| sometimes available in blocks of 10,000 acres or | | | | it's a little easier to find. The farther you go away |
| more; and even these properties are rare. But you | | | | from the "ideal" locations the fewer people are |
| can get rural properties more reasonably now than in | | | | looking to purchase it and the lower the price is. An |
| the past IF you are willing to be creative in your | | | | interesting anecdote here; I had a couple come to |
| expectations and in the ways you use and modify | | | | me a few years ago looking to purchase a hundred |
| the property.If you are in a big hurry to find rural | | | | acres or so on the oceanfront near Rehoboth, for |
| property, you will likely not be able to find what you | | | | horses; they could easily afford the price of a million |
| are looking for. Rural properties have fewer buyers | | | | an acre or so, but they ended up purchasing land |
| who want to purchase them, but there are plenty of | | | | twenty minutes inland after they did more reasonable |
| dreamers who have not considered the realities. | | | | research.Before you go out looking for property, sit |
| There are seldom bargains available because most | | | | down with paper and pencil and any partners or |
| folks who own rural properties know exactly who to | | | | family that will be involved. You may find numerous |
| call first when they want to sell. If the property really | | | | surprises when you all start writing down |
| is a bargain it is gone with one of the first ten phone | | | | importances, desires, and things not wanted. It is |
| calls the seller makes. However, if you are willing to | | | | most important that you know what you must have, |
| "think outside the box" of convention you may end | | | | and what you can do without. Make a list of the |
| up with what is a bargain property for you.Twenty | | | | features you feel an area MUST have in order for |
| and thirty years ago thousands of folks bought into | | | | you to consider relocating there. This might include |
| the "live on a farm and make a fortune" dream of | | | | things like climate (and, thus, growing season), being |
| owning a chicken house, home and acreage in Sussex | | | | within a certain radius of a population center (or |
| County Delaware -- the chicken capital of the world | | | | maybe a certain distance AWAY from one), and |
| -- where there are several million chickens for every | | | | availability of certain facilities or services. Being within |
| person who lives here. For a short while it was | | | | 20 miles of an airport or hospital may not matter to |
| possible to take the "contract" from a chicken plant | | | | one family, but could be of vital importance to |
| to the bank and with only that as collateral, get a | | | | another.The most important item on this list is |
| loan for about 10 acres, a home and at least one | | | | consideration of the social and economic climate of |
| chicken house. Many folks soon discovered that the | | | | the area, and how you will fit into it. Even if you're |
| so called contract had fine print and clauses that | | | | independently wealthy, the economic circumstances |
| were all in favor of the chicken plant and none in | | | | of an area can affect how you will fit into it. Will a |
| favor of the chicken grower. Soon most chicken | | | | well-heeled but bored-with-society person be able to |
| growers were working full time to help support the | | | | move into an economic Appalachia and truly find |
| chicken business they had bought, along with it's | | | | contentment? Perhaps, but first consider the |
| mortgage of $200,000 or more, sometimes much | | | | "necessities" of the life you'll be leaving. Do you need |
| more.Now when I appraise a chicken farm with | | | | to regularly attend the symphony or visit a |
| house and acreage I appraise the working chicken | | | | high-quality library? Is high quality clothing shopping or |
| farm at zero -- and that is really too high a value in | | | | other shopping important to you?MAKING A |
| some cases. There are lots of easier, better smelling | | | | REASONABLE INCOME AND LEARNING ABOUT |
| and cleaner jobs you can purchase with $200,000 or | | | | RURAL IMPORTANCES: IS PROBABLY THE MOST |
| so. If you want to make a living growing chickens | | | | IMPORTANT PART OF LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE |
| you should prepare to spend at least a million dollars, | | | | STICKS.Those of us who aren't independently |
| you can finance it of course, and get several chicken | | | | wealthy need to consider some means of supporting |
| houses built around your home on 15 to 20 acres, if | | | | ourselves in our new surroundings. "Living off the |
| you don't mind the smell, and then the best bet is to | | | | land" is certainly NOT all it's cracked up to be, and |
| lease the business to someone who is running 20 or | | | | isn't even legal unless you become a vegetarian; year |
| thirty chicken houses at least.There are some | | | | around hunting for meat is illegal everywhere. Even |
| sensible things you can do in contemplation of moving | | | | gardening or collecting wild edibles is not legal either, if |
| to and living in the country. First among those is to | | | | you try to do it on public land.Before moving to the |
| start by renting a small home in the area you want | | | | country... One of the important questions to ask (and |
| to live -- and either move there or at least visit there | | | | find out for sure the answer) is; "Does the area have |
| often enough to get to know the area. If you | | | | a large enough population base to give a person a |
| already live close enough to drive to your dream area | | | | good shot at finding a job? Another is; "Does it have |
| daily, start doing that and start frequenting the | | | | a diversified economy? Many communities seem to |
| shops, churches and restaurants there. Stop at yard | | | | have good employment opportunities, but on closer |
| sales and to check into cars, trucks and equipment | | | | inspection they all turn out to be based on the same |
| that is for sale in people's front yards. Be honest, tell | | | | industry, such as recreation, chickens, fishing camps, |
| them you are planning to move into the area and | | | | skiing, ocean swimming and water sports, timber or |
| want to learn about your neighbors and only stop to | | | | mining or farming. If the bottom falls out of a single |
| shop if you are really interested in what they have | | | | industry, or suddenly there is no snow or the water |
| for sale and are willing to purchase it at your price. | | | | becomes polluted and is posted against use... as folks |
| Rural folk have a built in truth-detector and it is | | | | from many towns can attest has happened, the |
| usually accurate. Don't try to BS them or your | | | | economy of the entire area falls apart -- FAST... to |
| reputation will precede any other data about you.I | | | | fast to get out with your investment.If an area's |
| suggest that you can subscribe to a good magazine | | | | economy is primarily based on tourism, such as ours |
| on rural living, or two or three. One of the best to | | | | in the Rehoboth, Lewes, Dewey, Bethany, Fenwick |
| begin with is Backwoods Home Magazine; Start by | | | | area, there may be many jobs available in the service |
| visiting and reading EVERYTHING on line, then get a | | | | sector (motels, restaurants, etc.) But most of these |
| subscription, then purchase ALL of the back issues | | | | jobs pay very low wages, and often these jobs are |
| which are bound into soft cover books.If you yearn | | | | seasonal. Land prices tend to be inflated in many |
| for the simple life of old fashioned living, in a log | | | | resort areas, and ours more so than most.I was |
| home for instance, and away from the downward | | | | surprised a few years ago to find that the most |
| pull of civilization, check out: you are able to take | | | | expensive areas of California were not all that |
| your income with you, to maintain your current | | | | expensive compared to Rehoboth and surrounding |
| income, and don't need a job where you are going. | | | | areas.Minimum wage income is not likely to enable a |
| Then I recommend you just rent a place first and | | | | person to live comfortably in a resort community, |
| start spending more and more time in a good area as | | | | much less enable a person to purchase property! An |
| you begin to test your transition resources. While | | | | extreme example is the city of Aspen, Colorado. This |
| renting get to know the people and see if you fit in | | | | beautiful ski resort community is an extremely |
| with them. They are not planning to change to meet | | | | expensive place to live. The local fast-food |
| your parameters, I assure you. MOST of the folks | | | | restaurants have trouble getting employees because |
| who come from the city to the country start by | | | | there is no reasonably priced place for them to live. |
| trying to change the area they have moved to and | | | | Some of these businesses actually have to provide |
| the new neighbors, to be more like where they left. | | | | housing in order to get employees! It is somewhat |
| They should not have left or they should get on | | | | like that in Rehoboth area. As you may know, |
| back there -- and most of the neighbors will tell you | | | | Grotto's Pizza, our largest employer in the area, at |
| so.If you move to an area as a renter and find the | | | | one time provided space for many of their |
| people to your liking and they find you to their liking, | | | | employees. Now, a lot of our resort help lives |
| you have probably found the right area. However, in | | | | communally in "three bedrooms, sleeps twenty) type |
| rural areas ten miles can make a huge difference in | | | | apartments and homes. Many more of our seasonally |
| lifestyle and area ethnicity. Please don't move to a | | | | employed folks are imported from Ireland and |
| resort town, like Rehoboth Beach where I work, and | | | | elsewhere -- and come to live in dormitory style, |
| then without checking try to move into a place like | | | | often sleeping in shifts.If you are a computer |
| Oak Orchard (the little rural waterfront town where I | | | | professional, you are very fortunate as the |
| live) or you will experience some near terminal culture | | | | "Information Age" has created a class of |
| shock. I love where I live and the people who live | | | | professionals who can survive in depressed rural |
| here but hopefully not one of them thinks that I | | | | areas -- the computer entrepreneur. With reasonably |
| have some intention of changing the way they live | | | | good dial-up ISP service, perhaps a cable modem (in |
| here!Once you have zeroed in on an area and visited | | | | Millsboro and some areas of southern Sussex |
| it many dozen times or better yet rented a place | | | | County) a cell phone, computer, printer, modems and |
| there and started living there for short stays; I | | | | fax, people can now roam across the country and |
| suggest that you start joining various groups and | | | | the world by phone and the Internet. Some folks, |
| organizations as a part-time member and let them | | | | and this is a fast growing segment of our buyers, |
| know that you are not full time yet, but hope to be. | | | | can either work at home for a distant company |
| They help. Don't try to instruct them or help them do | | | | (perhaps commuting once a week or once a month |
| what they are already doing better; just try to help | | | | or even in the case of one of my clients twice a |
| them on their own terms. You need to learn the rules | | | | week) or create a new business as a consultant, |
| of this new game, it's their game and their | | | | doing the same job for the same company they are |
| community. At most you will be a welcome member | | | | currently employed by. With a business card and |
| of the community. You will never be the equal to | | | | digital tools one can appear to have a large |
| those who have four or ten or thirty generations of | | | | conventional business, albeit a laptop and other |
| family buried and established there. For instance in our | | | | portable digital tools, and it can be quite |
| area those who have only been here for sixty years | | | | profitable.Computer-based businesses are ideally |
| are still not considered "from here" by those who | | | | suited for rural living. They are becoming increasingly |
| have been here since the 1500s or soon after.Once | | | | more important as a means of breaking loose from |
| you have looked at several dozen properties that | | | | the grind of commuting to work in big cities that are |
| interest you, and that may take a year or two or | | | | fast becoming too dangerous to live in. If you're not |
| more; you will begin to appreciate different | | | | yet into computers, you'll have to consider whether |
| micro-cultures in the area. You will begin to notice | | | | you have a skill that's marketable in the area you're |
| differences in soils, roads, well water, septic system | | | | interested in.Make sure the place you choose (a) has |
| functionality and road access; not to mention the | | | | a use for that skill, and (b) isn't saturated with |
| differences in governmental rules and enforcement | | | | unemployed people who have the same skill. One of |
| of same. Each time you find the perfect property; | | | | my best friends is a fabulous carpenter, home builder, |
| put a contract on it "pending research and discovery" | | | | cabinet maker, and skilled in many other fields such |
| and during that time check the neighbors and | | | | as welding, auto mechanics, gunsmithing to some |
| professionals about the property. You should check | | | | degree and perhaps a couple of dozen more |
| the neighbors first, lots of them, they already know | | | | marketable skills. He moved to a rural area of Virginia |
| everything the professionals are going to charge you | | | | to his dream home on over a hundred acres and his |
| to tell you.Hopefully by the second or third property | | | | income plummeted. He is back here now and I'm glad |
| you put a contract and deposit on; you will have the | | | | he is even though I don't see him very often; it's just |
| one that is right for you. Remember, if the property | | | | pleasant to drive by his business and know he's back |
| is a bargain price, you have missed something in | | | | in the neighborhood.Please, please, please... before |
| almost every case. What you need to do is figure | | | | you move to an new rural area; subscribe to the |
| out how it is a bargain for you; because you have an | | | | nearest newspaper for the area you are considering |
| unusual use, ability, or way to change the property | | | | and read the economic and community sections as |
| easily to suit your needs.Buy through a Realtor if at | | | | well as the help wanted ads. If there is a skimpy |
| all possible. Sign a buyers agent agreement with your | | | | "help wanted" section in the local paper... beware. On |
| agent so that his allegiance is to you -- otherwise, by | | | | the other hand, could this "depressing" state of |
| law his allegiance is ONLY to the seller and by law, | | | | affairs regarding employment news probably means |
| you are in an adversarial position to the seller and the | | | | that real estate is bargain priced in that area?OTHER |
| Realtor. With a buyer's agent agreement signed, your | | | | THINGS TO CONSIDER |
| agent is now on your side, by law, and is an | | | | What about your health and age? Do you now or |
| opponent of the seller and the seller's agent. Ask | | | | do you expect to have frequent need for the type |
| your agent then to provide you with all the | | | | of medical services mostly found in large cities? |
| comparable sales data from the multi-listing service if | | | | Although they're necessary, think seriously about |
| there is one. If not hire an appraiser, once you have | | | | staying at least 25 miles away from the nearest |
| the property under contract, (make the contract | | | | freeway system. These "conduits of crime" that |
| contingent upon a satisfactory appraisal) and pay to | | | | cross the country not only carry law-abiding citizens |
| have the price evaluated. If you have contracted for | | | | but solitary criminals and gangs as well. The gangs |
| too high a price, renegotiate the contract; if you find | | | | and other thugs tend to use the corridor towns in |
| you have a real bargain; you of course double check | | | | proximity of the freeways as their "banks" and they |
| with your agent and the appraiser to find out why. It | | | | excel in "withdrawals on the run." One small town the |
| may be that the reason for it's "reasonable" price the | | | | writers lived in was only a few miles from a freeway |
| reason that keeps it from selling is not that important | | | | exit. One night, two men left the freeway, robbed a |
| to you -- and you do have a bargain.Possibly your | | | | motel and got back on the freeway a short time |
| employer or the consulting work or your self | | | | later. They were never caught. Imagine what these |
| employment activities may allow you to | | | | corridors may become as our cities and suburbs |
| telecommute. But if you can't telecommute to | | | | continue to deteriorate!WHEN YOU FIND AN AREA |
| maintain your current income; before buying in an | | | | YOU LIKE . . . |
| area, find out if you have a marketable skill, one | | | | Once you've decided generally where you'd like to |
| which is in demand in that particular region. This will | | | | relocate, visit it several times, preferably at different |
| give you some assurance that you will not become a | | | | times of the year. Learn which areas are desirable |
| financial fatality. Most of the folks who move to rural | | | | and which have problems. Check for flood plains, |
| communities, without checking into how they will | | | | areas with access problems, water problems (not |
| make money in the new location, have to sell their | | | | enough, too much or poor quality), noise problems |
| property at a loss within 5 years, due to lack of | | | | (yes, even rural areas can have noisy spots), or |
| income.If you are retired, be certain that hospitals, | | | | other problems peculiar to a given area. Some rural |
| doctors, stores, restaurants, etc. are suitable for you | | | | "neighborhoods" have earned a bad reputation. Find |
| in the new location -- or be very certain that you will | | | | out why before buying there. If the price seems too |
| be able to comfortably reside in the new area | | | | good to be true, maybe somebody's trying to unload |
| regardless.Some of us are not be able to save | | | | a problem.If you're looking for undeveloped land on |
| enough money for a cash purchase of our rural | | | | which to build your retreat, find out about the water |
| dream property before we reach retirement age. It | | | | tables: depth, quality, and reliability. Find out what it |
| is however likely that we can provide a small sum for | | | | costs to drill a well to the necessary depth for that |
| a down payment, and we're reasonably certain that | | | | area. Water should be one of the most important |
| we can market our skills locally to meet payments | | | | considerations in any land purchase. In Sussex County |
| and put bread on the table (but please don't just | | | | we are fortunate that we have generally good water |
| guess about this, check it out).Even if you find small | | | | (no matter what the press and |
| acreage (10 to 50 acres) for $5,000 or less per acre | | | | Pseudo-envoronmentalists say) and wells are |
| that has good soil, good water available and a good | | | | relatively cheap to drill.Find out the proximity of |
| prospect for an inexpensive, workable septic system | | | | utilities and costs to bring them in and hook them up, |
| -- many banks and mortgage companies are not | | | | if they're not already in place. In some areas, costs |
| optimistic about financing raw land. BUT, seller | | | | to hook up to the power lines grid are prohibitive. |
| financing is often a alternative and easily structured | | | | Some of those same areas may not be conducive to |
| method of purchasing raw land. In fact it is not | | | | an inexpensive well or septic either. BUT that can be |
| unusual to get twenty, thirty or even forty year | | | | an advantage if you are able to think outside of the |
| financing at 10% or less interest -- from the seller. Of | | | | norm. For instance our Fowler's Beach property is not |
| course, in order to build on the property, you will | | | | conducive to running electric wires, getting good |
| normally have to pay off the seller's mortgage with | | | | water from a shallow well or building and inexpensive |
| your home financing loan. Any of the money you | | | | sewer system. As a result you can get waterfront |
| have paid on the price of the land, down payment as | | | | acreage for little money on a private beach and the |
| well as principle payments during your ownership | | | | cost of electric, water and sewer when added to the |
| period, and any appreciation of the land value will be | | | | cost of the property is minuscule!Once you've |
| considered as part of your down payment on your | | | | narrowed your search to a few areas within your |
| home owners loan.Be careful to set your payments | | | | target community, look at several properties! Realtors |
| so that you can afford the land payments along with | | | | such as ourselves, can be a big help, not only by |
| your current cost of housing. You can save | | | | showing you individual properties, but by telling you |
| thousands of dollars in interest by keeping your loan | | | | about the area in general. It's not necessary to |
| to as short a term as possible. Also, make sure that | | | | restrict yourself to one Realtor. But as soon as |
| there is no prepayment penalty on your seller | | | | possible you should choose ONE to work with, get |
| financing note.You can however often purchase an | | | | their allegiance and preferably sign a buyer's agent |
| existing home on acreage for a lot less than the cost | | | | agreement with them so that they are looking out |
| of acreage and building a similar home. You can also | | | | for your best interests!!! If your Realtor is too pushy |
| often rent out the property to cover part of your | | | | for you or isn't showing you the type of properties |
| expense while you arrange your affairs for your | | | | that interest you, find another one; make sure you |
| eventual relocation to rural bliss. If you are interested | | | | void the buyer's agent agreement if you have one (in |
| in purchasing a 100 acre horse farm complete with | | | | writing) and get a Realtor who will listen to what you |
| buildings, fencing, paddocks, etc. you can often save | | | | want and provide you such.And don't forget to |
| nearly 50% of the reconstruction cost; but there is | | | | watch the newspapers and check out properties in |
| little market for renting such a property.If you find | | | | your price range and area of interest being offered |
| "more than five acres" with a home and buildings that | | | | for sale by owner. Sometimes the best deals can be |
| need work but are structurally sound, you may save | | | | had by working with owners; and if you have a |
| 30% to even 60% of the reconstruction cost. Be | | | | buyer's agent, the agent can make certain that you |
| certain in this area, Sussex County Delaware, that | | | | are well informed and protected even after you view |
| you get more than five acres as five acres or less | | | | the property with the seller.You will also need an |
| falls into a nonagricultural zoning classification that you | | | | attorney in Delaware to assist you with the closing |
| may not wish to be involved with as you develop | | | | on the property. It is important to know that all |
| your rural lifestyle.Most people ask me for 20 to 30 | | | | attorney's CAN do real estate settlements but only a |
| acres, or more. But let's take a look at reality here. A | | | | handful are worth using. Attorneys specialize and only |
| football field is three quarters of one acre. Thus 5.1 | | | | three to five of them specialize in real estate -- for |
| acres or more is a very roomy place to live acreage | | | | the rest of them, real estate settlements are |
| wise. If you want horses however think 15 acres or | | | | awkward and no matter what they say... they usually |
| more. Each horse will need an average of 5 to 9 | | | | make errors and those errors can be horrid.When |
| acres depending on how you decide to raise the | | | | you do find a property you like, don't let it blind you |
| horse; that acreage is in addition to the land that | | | | to its drawbacks. Whether or not you're working |
| your home, driveway, out buildings, garden and other | | | | with a Realtor, do your homework. Remember, |
| non-fenced areas take in. Many people are thinking of | | | | unless your Realtor is a buyer's agent, he or she is |
| one, two, three or four horses for the family | | | | working for the seller. Most Realtors will be up front |
| enjoyment; if so they need about 3 or more acres | | | | with you about all your questions, but they are also |
| for the home and other human related improvements | | | | bound by contract to get the best possible price for |
| and should figure an additional average of seven | | | | their client, the seller. And, by law -- when they are |
| acres for each horse or pony.If you have a dream of | | | | working for the seller there are numerous things they |
| self-sufficiency; living off the power grid, being away | | | | may NOT divulge to you even when they know |
| from it all... this is virtually impossible in reality yet | | | | about them.First, ask the seller or Realtor all the |
| most prevalent when you are in the dream stage. | | | | questions you can about the property. For an older |
| Coming to terms with what you can realistically | | | | dwelling, this might include questions about the age of |
| afford and what you can realistically live with before | | | | the wiring and plumbing, type of foundation, and in |
| you buy can save you a lot of headaches later.Solar | | | | some parts of the country, when it was last checked |
| power is far more expensive than buying electricity | | | | for insect problems. This is particularly important near |
| from the power company, wind power is unreliable, | | | | the beaches and regarding wooded properties -- |
| water power is expensive and hard to arrange; now | | | | where termites are prevalent.Then talk to the |
| I expect to get a lot of argument on this from those | | | | neighbors. In the rural sense, the "neighbors" are folks |
| who have read all about it but have no real | | | | living within a five-or-so-mile radius of the property; |
| experience -- but I won't get any valid argument | | | | sometimes even more, if the property is down a long |
| from anyone who has done it (unless they are | | | | road without intersections. Ask them about the area, |
| simultaneously trying to sell the idea to others).There | | | | its people, any problems with the area, and |
| are many good articles in Backwoods Home | | | | particularly if they know of any drawbacks with the |
| Magazine; but most of them leave out the initial | | | | property you are considering purchasing. If they |
| expense, maintenance expense and almost always | | | | seem reluctant to talk to you, this might be a red |
| the expense of replacing worn components of these | | | | flag you shouldn't ignore: maybe they'd like to buy |
| so called money saving off-the-grid systems. You can | | | | the property but can't afford it, or maybe they don't |
| however design a passive solar home, one with most | | | | like outsiders buying property in their area. If you run |
| windows facing south west and few facing other | | | | up against this in several conversations, you might |
| directions. Most older farm houses are already | | | | have a hard time getting along with the neighbors. |
| designed like this, not all of them are well insulated | | | | Buying -- and holding onto -- that chunk of land, with |
| however.Location: is paramount. We Realtors are | | | | or without a home and buildings on it will take |
| wont to chant"location -- location -- location" like a | | | | creative planning, patience, and caution on your |
| mantra. It isimportant, just learn what it means as | | | | part!IF YOU MUST HAVE A DEAL OR ELSE . . . |
| location hasdifferent parameters for different | | | | Today's expensive properties will be tomorrow's |
| purposes. Location on a main road is imperative for | | | | bargains. Don't be discouraged by short term |
| commercial activity; location near pleasant living and | | | | obstacles. Land prices seldom go down in the long |
| good jobs is imperative for residential property; | | | | run. Obviously, there are a lot more things to |
| location regarding rural principles is a matter of | | | | consider when buying rural land as opposed to buying |
| sometimes life and death or at least a matter of | | | | a house in a city. One of them is the possible |
| doable and undoable for a rural home.I suggest that | | | | problems of buying in a "boom town" area when you |
| the proper location for rural living is NOT usually | | | | don't want to be part of the boom.It is important to |
| closest to the best beach, ski slope or lake but the | | | | consider whether your dream location will become |
| more sensible location is near to a rural town where | | | | less desirable as more people relocate there. For this |
| many or most of the locals are living on rural acreage. | | | | reason it is not uncommon for people who move to |
| In our area everyone wants ten to thirty acres near | | | | a rural area to want to "close the gate" after they |
| the beach; after finding out the price, they dream | | | | get there. They realize that if too many people move |
| about 1 to 5 acres but seldom end up getting it and | | | | to the small community they have chosen, that it will |
| if they do the difficulty of finding it, using it for rural | | | | eventually lose the qualities that drew them there in |
| purposes and enjoying it when your neighbors | | | | the first place. Unfortunately, people WILL find these |
| complain about your rooster, tractor noise or fertilizer | | | | wonderful places, no matter how hard some people |
| odors will often make this semi-rural location less than | | | | try to keep them a secret. Some communities handle |
| your dreams.If you're not rigidly set on purchasing | | | | growth well, others don't. Check to see what kind of |
| land in some popular or scenic wonderland, some | | | | planning and zoning is present in your chosen area. A |
| good buys can still be found in the less "romantic" | | | | community that looks ahead and plans for growth |
| parts of the county, particularly on the edges of | | | | fares much better than communities that keep their |
| small farming communities. In Sussex County, I | | | | heads in the sand, thinking "it can't happen here." |
| suggest the south west part of the county, west of | | | | Growth not only can happen, it will.But short of a |
| Millsboro, nearer to Gumboro, Delmar, etc. for the | | | | natural disaster or a devastating man-made calamity, |
| best rural surroundings and lowest prices. There are | | | | land won't come down in value. Buy it, use it, live on |
| few properties available in that area but even fewer | | | | it, improve it, and love it. Land is the best investment |
| buyers who have faced the reality of where rural | | | | you'll ever make, for yourself and posterity.Good luck |
| living is better lived.If you are independently wealthy, | | | | in your search! |