Maine land lease...opinons needed

[gulcherville]

I have a large tract of open field and woods mix in Maine that i am thinking about dividing up into individual lots for Homes and Cabins, with a large piece 150 acres or so open to all for farming, firewood and such with some shared buildings, like greenhouses and repair shop. A common well and wind generators. Very basic start, come on up and build your retreat, hunting camp or BOL.Practice up on your skills, learn how to survive on your own and grow your own food. Teach the kids how to build a shelter then have years of great times using it. Use it as a base camp for hunting and fishing, practice living on your wits. Come share your skills and learn a few new ones from some new friends. Ever seen something on TV and said "I can do that" come prove it to yourself. I would plan on putting up a perminate residence, so someone was always there keeping an eye on your property and keeping the 6 miles of road cleared for year round access. A couple of free Guest Cabins for folks to stay in while they build thier own places ( have to put a time limit on that I guess, so everyone has a chance). Or have a safety retreat in case it did look much easier on TV. I am thinking I can put all this togeter for $1500.00 down $100.00 a month locked in for 10 years. Much cheaper than buying a piece by yourself. And with a lot of the expensive things like drilled wells and roads already done. What are everyone's thoughts on this?, what would you add or change? Good idea or not? Would there be a demand for such a thing? thanks for you time and input.

Brent

[patriotchick]

I live in maine..hope your land isnt under LURC control. Other than that it sounds like a good idea, but I dont know if I would open it up to the puplic, it would be by invite only.

Make sure that even if you are going to be watching out for the place, that you arent legally responsible incase of fire, break in, etc etc etc, gotta "cya".
Where is your land located?

[gulcherville]

I have two pieces, one is in downeast maine 250 acres, the other is near baxter state park, 475 acres. and that is why i am thinking of going lease, much cheaper for everyone. subdivision drives the cost upto 20k for a one acre lot., and then they tax the heck out of you, this state loves to grab your money. And on the CYA, it is why i'm doing a little research now before i pay the lawyers to set it up.

[beekeeper]

I have 150 acres in Maine UT, just North of Bangor.

We have looked at a few properties in the past, where a group of families joined together to buy land, informally divided joint-ownership, thinking they were going to all live in peace and communal harmony.

20 years later it becomes all messed up.

People change what they want, kids grow up, the economy changes. Everything changes.

[gulcherville]

I am not looking at a communal living farm, more a collection of independent types, with a central support center. Hard enough for two people to commit to a fuitful life long relationship, 20 would be impossible. Thanks for your input. the more questions that are asked the easier it will be to make the right choices.

[WileyCoyote]

LOL As someone who worked with developers, this sounds like a homesteading development. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Why not? The developers I worked with put in water and sewer, roads and central gathering places, rules and regulations (HOA), and had the peole buy lots and build their own homes - and charged exorbitant prices and demanded certain types of homes. *They, too, had areas where people could garden, even equestrian centers, etc where they could keep their own horses. Why not a place where they could keep cows or chickens as well?

Patriotchick is right; make sure you are within legalities of the state, county, and any other oversight organizations. Make sure everything is spelled out in your property owners' agreements. As for 'changes', some people may want to buy and hold the property, or just use it for camping, while others may get a little aggressive and try to run the farming or animal areas for their own profit - get a developer's attorney to help you write this up and forestall any misuses/abuses of the property. Not all attorneys are trained in how to do this; spend the extra $$ and get one that is successful at such things. I know one who teaches other lawyers all over the country; PM me and I'll send you his name. If he can't do it he'll know someone who can.

I've thought about doing it on my 60 acres here too, to a limited extent, but I am too attached to my property, and have too many plans for it, to divvy it up. Must be that whole Irish 'never give up any land' thing! *;D *Plus I don't want any more neighbors.... No matter how well written your HOA is, a few that have ulterior and sometimes unpleasant motives still sneak in. Make sure that you are not portrayed as some crazy militia-forming group or secret society.

Just my thoughts on it.

[Lobo]

Beekeeper,

Where is 'Maine UT"?

Lobo

[patriotchick]

UT stands for Unorganized Territory-it includes several actual townships and plantations...and alot of areas called (for example) T2-R9 -which is township2 range 9 on a map.

therefore they have no local control in that they have no selectmen, no town office, no locally controlled building codes or land use regulations....they are all overseen by LURC (the land use regulatory commission) they have alot of rules about development etc. that a person wants to be aware of before they buy land with plans of developing it in the future if its under LURC control.

[Lobo]

Thank you patriot chick,

I thought I had emailed beekeeper not blogged.

As soon as you said 'unorganized territory' I understood. That is the area that I would like to settle in. Do you know if LURC is anti earth friendly homesteading?

Lobo

[patriotchick]

I think LURC is pretty much anti people, regardless of if they are earth friendly or not, but if you do a google search for Maine and LURC you will get the info you need on what restrictions they place on dwellings and life activities.

[Lobo]

I did the googly thing after I emailed you and it was helpful. I know they are fighting the Plum Creek deal on Moosehead. I know it ws getting quite nasty up there pro and con complete with shootings and home burnings.

I agree with the 'anti people' sentiment. a lot of the people I have spoken to in ME who have jobs, etc in the Woods are adamant about only short term.

Since some people have settle there, there must be someway for me to break in.