| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 13 2007 : 7:51:45 PM
I found a listing this week for a farmhouse on two and some odd acres. The price was good, and when I looked on a map and on Google Earth, the location and land looked good...I was on the phone with a realtor in five minutes. We drove past it that day and had a showing the next. Today my husband went back with a contractor.
It's actually on three acres of land! There's a timbered outbuilding on a concrete and cinderblock foundation that needs to be rebuilt, but would hold my future cow and chickens. Two car garage, pantry, upstairs laundry. Woods, a tiny brook, but enough clear land for my orchard and CSA veggies. It's surrounded by a Christmas tree farm.
The hitch?. There's a three foot kneewall on the front and back of the upstairs (where all three bedrooms are), and it's all sloped ceiling after that. My six foot hubby HATES that part. I still think it's dealable, except that the stairs run right into the sloped ceiling...you pretty much have to be a smurf or climb off sideways. Also, the wing on the back of it needs a new roof.
BUT: the upstairs of the back wing (runs at a right angle to the original cottage on the front) is unfinished on the back third and upstairs. We can finish that into a master bedroom and an alternate staircase/upstairs hallway, and break through into the original upstairs, solving the whole problem. But that costs moola, y'know?
Dh doesn't want to do it unless we know we can get a renovation loan. And our mortgage guy is out of town until Monday.
I'm so afraid someone else will beat us to an offer.
Could you farmgirls pray/vibe/light candles/whatever in hopes that this works out? I cannot stand another disappointment when we already see so few properties we can afford that aren't trailers. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 6:59:34 PM
LOL, I've been thrilled with Google Earth. Our county is so clear you can see the cars in people's driveways...the county next door, nothing. But it saved me a ton of time when I'd pull up a listing for a property on acreage. I could tell if it was a wicked slope, or completely wooded. It saved me a lot of time. |
| akcowgirl |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 12:48:45 PM
Congrats and good vibes for it all working out and you get the house. It is very cute!!!
The Google earth thing is very funny because we have put an offer on a house and i do the same thing.
Valerie
Yes, I live in my own little world. But that's ok they know me here.
Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
 |
| Libbie |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 09:03:30 AM
I would LOVE a pantry! What a wonderful luxury - I'm so excited that you have such fun options to consider!!!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 7:21:27 PM
We didn't take any exterior pictures, but here's the one the realtor took:
Wish I could show you some of the land. I like to look at it on Google Earth, but I'm a cheeseball.
Here's the pantry:
The inspection went well. A honey-do list, but not any one big thing, except that part of the roof needs to be replaced, which we knew. The seller is paying for it. We're having a pest inspection done later this week.
I need to figure out our outbuilding when we get in there. It's timbered, and it has had electricity run to it in the past. The roof needs replaced, and there's rot and powder beetle damage in some of the wood (don't know how much). But, there's a cement/cinderblock foundation that's intact, windows, nesting boxes,etc.. I think it could hold a mini-Jersey in half and my chickens in the other half. But first I have to measure, b/c it has to be 100 ft. from the road to have them in there, and I suspect it's not. Lots to think about! |
| Phils Ann |
Posted - Jan 19 2007 : 2:54:44 PM
Congratulations, Sarah! We made a shed dormer across part of our upstairs when re-roofing. Lots more room (my sewing room). This could work out so well for you!
Ann
There is a Redeemer. |
| lilpunkin |
Posted - Jan 19 2007 : 2:26:31 PM
I am so excited for you! How awesome is all this for you. I cant wait to see pictures and here all the updates.
Lilpunkin
Life isn't measured by how many breaths you take, but by how many moments take your breath away. |
| Rosemary |
Posted - Jan 19 2007 : 1:50:08 PM
Now the next thing to do is meet the tree farmer and find out what his plans are for the property in the event of his retirement. You don't want to wake up one day and find yourself looking down on a sea of McRooftops. Is he going to get the land rezoned to sell to developers, or is he interested in putting the land in whatever New York State calls its conservation easement program, in exchange for tax credits? Has he already done that? Does he have excess credit you can purchase, to cash in on the enviornmentally friendly vibes?
Your house sounds pretty cool, actually. Since you have roofing in mind anyway, maybe you could make raising the roof on half the house part of the project, to give you more of a ceiling, or put in a big skylight at the top of the stairs for the same effect.
It's so exciting, isn't it? I wish you all the very best luck in the world. |
| shelle |
Posted - Jan 19 2007 : 12:41:15 PM
Congrats Sarah!!
Shelle |
| daffodil dreamer |
Posted - Jan 18 2007 : 8:22:28 PM
Congratulations, Sarah! I'm real happy for you and can't wait to hear about your farming adventures!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 18 2007 : 8:00:28 PM
We're under contract! |
| shelle |
Posted - Jan 16 2007 : 11:41:44 PM
I hope you get this all figured out so you can buy the property.
Shelle |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 16 2007 : 07:40:41 AM
x-post again, sorry.
I think I may have figured this out.
I called the Cooperative Extension today, and they passed me up to the Ag. Protection board in Albany. They said the same thing Jim (farmer's market organizer guy) said...that they don't think I can be prohibited from selling off-site, like at a farmer's market. They basically said if I was growing it in my high-density residential backyard no one could stop me from selling off-site, so why should it matter whether the land's 3 or 5 acres?
Well, I went back and re-read the town's wording. Here it is (bolding mine):
HOBBY FARM - A collection of animals maintained on residential property for non-commercial
purposes as a hobby or pastime.
AGRICULTURAL OPERATION - The raising for compensation of crops, animals, dairy, and
horses, and agricultural or dairy products. The term includes plant, crop and tree growing and
harvesting, horticulture, forestry and the sale at wholesale or retail of the products thereof upon the
premises where the same are grown or produced.
I read that to mean that, as long as I'm selling off-site, there's no problem.
I think this is all b/c I told him I'd be interested in selling excess chicken eggs in the event that I had any. I think if I blow that off completely, promise to seek a variance if I ever need one to sell chicken eggs, this whole thing will go away.
If he hasn't called me by noon, I'm calling him. |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Jan 16 2007 : 06:04:24 AM
How exciting, Sarah. It sounds like everything is going in a positive direction! I'll keep good thoughts for you, too!
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
| Nance in France |
Posted - Jan 16 2007 : 02:12:54 AM
Sarah, your little slice of heaven on earth sounds wonderful! Fingers crossed... Can't wait til all is finalized; keep us informed! Nance |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 1:01:19 PM
Sarah, my hopes, prayers and many good thoughts sent your way. 
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 12:55:39 PM
Well, we submitted the offer, and got a call within the hour. He agreed to all our terms, but wanted to tweak the price a bit in exchange. That's probably doable.
He also wants me to drop the ag. variance contingency. He and his fiance (both have kids) are buying a bigger house together, and they already have an offer on it, contingent on the sale of this one. They're not willing to take this house off the market for the 30-40 days it could take to get an answer about the variance, b/c it might cause their purchase to fall through.
I called the codes officer, but his cell went straight to voicemail (MLK Day). I left him a voicemail asking if he could tell me when the next zoning committee meeting is, or give me the name and number of a zoning committee member, so I can see if there's any way to fast track this.
What I'm asking really shouldn't be a big deal. The property is three acres. Here, that's considered a hobby farm. Cow fine, chickens fine, but only for personal use. To sell any produce, I'd have to be considered small ag., and that's a 5 acre minimum. I think that's because the house is in an area of low density residential. BUT, my neighbor on at least two sides is a Christmas tree farmer, so it's not like I'm surrounded by McMansions with play yards.
Has anyone got any experience with this? What information will a zoning officer want in addition to the zoning and building permit application? What should I be prepared to tell them? I'm going to post a new thread as well, since I can't change the title of this one to get people's attention who might know.
Thanks, farmgirls. You are my experts, and I really need your help. |
| BamaSuzy |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 7:48:27 PM
Best wishes! it sounds like something you could do, maybe the remodeling and adding on, as you get additional money. Let us know what happens!!!!
You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt! |
| owwlady |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 2:55:55 PM
Good luck with your offer, and I think you're past too excited already. Remember, things work out the way they do for a reason. |
| PocketFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 2:45:38 PM
We're writing an offer first thing tomorrow...please, keep your fingers crossed that all goes well and no one beats us to it!
(I'm trying really hard not to get too excited...) |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 08:45:48 AM
Sarah, We have those kind of walls upstairs too, and Rob is 6'2". We are planning on some dormers to sort of heighten the slope if only a little. You can arrange it too, that your bed is not by the slope, I bet. Good luck!! It sounds realyl great!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://frugalwitch.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/ |
| Libbie |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 08:38:20 AM
How exciting! Sending great "vibes" and luck to you - and like Michele said, don't worry - you can fix it as you go. Fun!!!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| beckels |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 07:27:25 AM
I am sending prayers from pa to heaven for ya
beckesl |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 06:18:50 AM
IF you really love it, it can be fixed, maybe not right away but over time, and believe me, time goes fast!!
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| windypines |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 05:02:25 AM
Good luck, and don't worry about everything not being so perfect. You can work on it as you go. Best wishes Michele |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 04:49:40 AM
You bet!! I hope it works out for you! How exciting!!
Karin |
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