What do you think - time to trade out Deberosa?

[Deberosa]

My realtor friend sends me these listings every so often and today's was particularly interesting. I may get serious about this opportunity.

I currently have 4.5 acres, an 1100 sq ft house 1970 vintage that is a modular on a foundation, and a big old barn that I did put a new tin roof on but it needs a repair from the last storm. THe other half of the barn is tarped for the past 4 winters till I get around to fixing it! It's 17 miles from Kurt's work and I work from home.

THe place I am looking at now is 2700 sq ft house 1985 vintage, two big barns - both newer than mine on 20 acres with river frontage very near where the river runs into the Pacific Ocean so less flooding. It's a bank repo. It would be about 25 miles for Kurt to commute.

I think I could make this an even switch out pretty easily and since it's so close moving all of my "stuff" isn't so intimidating! Plus it is a repo so vacant now.

We're going to take a look. I would be starting over with gardens but 4 times the space is real attractive and I do have the tractor to help.

What do you all think - here's the link:

http://locator.nwmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Locator&PRGNAME=MLSLogin&ARGU MENT=I9xUF6hi%2BAmcF%2B8gU%2BqONg87B%2FH6cmYgfS6kr jHaARw%3D&KeyRid=1

[flatwater]

Ya know what you have now. Don't jump to fast and does it give both the same excitement when you think about it. And have you both prayed about it?
Flatwater

[jen_in_southtexas]

Hey Deb,

It sounds great and doesnt hurt to take a look. It is definately more space. Go and see what kind of feel the place has.

Im good with my one acre but you are more active around your property with your animals and crops. Do you think that 20yrs from now you will still be able to work the land?

Let us know what you think after you go and take a look at it. Good Luck.

-jen

[msta999]

Sounds great! I was looking at 20 acre lots myself, but then when I really thought about it....20 acres?? I guess I could put most of it into pasture?? But would be nice to have a big chunk of land like that. First thing I'd so is put in a trail around the edge of the property so I could drive it once every week or two. Gotta keep track of whats going on around your property and the "pesky" neigbors would be just a little farther away...hopefully. Good luck on your decision. ;D

[Deberosa]

Sounds great! I was looking at 20 acre lots myself, but then when I really thought about it....20 acres?? I guess I could put most of it into pasture?? But would be nice to have a big chunk of land like that. First thing I'd so is put in a trail around the edge of the property so I could drive it once every week or two. Gotta keep track of whats going on around your property and the "pesky" neigbors would be just a little farther away...hopefully. Good luck on your decision. *;D

What I like even better is that it has river frontage - which is at the start of the salmon run! There would be some great fishing in the back yard.

20 acres would mean no more hay purchasing and in that area the grass remains thick and green almost all winter long.

However thanks for the reality check too. We'll go drive by this week some time and see what it's like. Maybe it's just another passing thought!

[TNDadx4]

There are pluses and minuses to both. Personally, I'd jump at the chance for 20 acres, possible hydro power(?) and more, but there are some more things to consider like neighbors, upkeep, taxes, having the water (if there's a well) and soil tested, etc.

In reading about it, it does sound beautiful, though!

Either way, I wish you the best!

[Funkhouser]

The Colville location is beautiful! :o

And those prices are fantastic...you'd get about a half-acre with your house for that same amount of money where I live :-/

[msta999]

Put up all the hay you will need and possible hydro power? Even if you did'nt do those right away, it would be a comfort knowing you could. Plus, I know what it is like to live in a flood area, not having to worry about that would be a great plus. Not much more of a commute for Your other half. The biggest worry is you might get lost in the house, over twice as big as the current one. ;D
The hardest part would be managing the 20 acres or maybe not, might be able to just let some of it sit, since it is out in the country. Is it all open fields or are there a lot of trees on the land? Sounds like a heck of a deal and you will be out of the floor area, which is worth gold on its own. Let us know how it goes.

[Deberosa]

The Colville location is beautiful! * :o

And those prices are fantastic...you'd get about a half-acre with your house for that same amount of money where I live *:-/

Oh, there are lots of places like that up Colville way - really nice places off grid. However for my work I need high speed internet and satelite is just not reliable enough. Plus it gets COLD up that way and I am a wimp. ;-) It will hardly ever snow in Montesano. In addition getting all of the critters and stuff from here all the way to Collville is a challenge that I don't even know how to start - but if people are looking for great off grid homesteads already set up there are lots for sale much cheaper than the one on this link, this was one of the most expensive ones I saw!

[Deberosa]

Put up all the hay you will need and possible hydro power? Even if you did'nt do those right away, it would be a comfort knowing you could. Plus, I know what it is like to live in a flood area, not having to worry about that would be a great plus. Not much more of a commute for Your other half. The biggest worry is you might get lost in the house, over twice as big as the current one. *;D
The hardest part would be managing the 20 acres or maybe not, might be able to just let some of it sit, since it is out in the country. Is it all open fields or are there a lot of trees on the land? Sounds like a heck of a deal and you will be out of the floor area, which is worth gold on its own. Let us know how it goes.

Yeah - you almost got to think what is the catch. ;-) We are going to go look - I'll let you all know what we find out.

[OzarkMtnDaredevil]

Ya know what you have now. Don't jump to fast and does it give both the same excitement when you think about it. And have you both prayed about it?
Flatwater

I'm with Flatwater. Look for rocks and submerged trees before you jump off of that bluff into the pretty, blue water below. I'm sure, Deb, that you've made bad or unwise decisions in your past. So have I. Now is a time to very careful. You already know this. Don't let a new paint-job sell you on a 20 year old truck with a slipping transmission. Can ya dig? ;)

[bookwormom]

If I was in your situation I would look at it, most definitely. r

[nancy1340]

My initial thought was NOT ONLY NO, BUT HELL NO.
I love your valley home. But for what you want to do it looks like a better setup for you.

[WileyCoyote]

Oh, gosh, Debbie, I'm torn...
I read your blog often, and know what you have, and what you've been thru with the flooding.
I don't know what it would take to heat a larger space if you are worried about tne cold. More wood, or worse more propane or electric? Would you be able to close off part of it in the winter so as not to waste fuel?

I really understand - living on a third of an acre in a 1000 sq foot FmHa POS, when I found this place it was heaven to me - 60 acres of rolling pasture, two barns, sweet pure aquifer water, and 1750 sq foot home... but we had to consider fuel costs (turns out they are a THIRD of what we spent on the FmHa home!!!) and- could we really handle and control all of that space? DH has not seen the back of the property yet, he can't walk that far, and we have talked about a horse or mule or even a small ATV (his preference) to keep an eye on the back fence, as well as to access the deer and antelope areas.

There are a lot of considerations with a new place, too - we have discovered that the previous owner (bless his heart) really was an enthusiastic feller, but tires thrown onto a roof to hold it down, rather than taking the time to drive good solid screws that are long enough into it, are just simply not good enough! Plus the plumbing is rather peculiar, and there are heating ducts that were hooked up backwards - when they were hooked up at all. The chimney for the woodstove wasn't tacked down right and we had to repair roof leaks first thing.. Some remodeling that was done... well, let's just say that Elmer's Paste is NOT a replacement for wood putty nor caulk, and that guttering simply cannot be shoved together without benefit of an occasional sheet metal screw! And any plumbing facilities that are installed should at least be examined and sealed with a WATERPROOF sealer...

Another point to consider is that in a lot of bank repo's, the people who lose the house sometimes do really terrible things - like pour cement down the drains, or poke holes in the roof, or rip out all of the insulation in the attic, or take every bit of piping or wiring, even to crossing wires so that the first time electricity gets turned back on.... POW.

I guess what I am trying to say is that there is always a lot of work and forethought involved, but if you feel that you can overcome whatever pitfalls and surprises there might be, and start over, go for it!

[bookwormom]

I wish you well, and it is great you have the option, compared to being stuck. I checked the links and all I can get are two places. One is flat and the other is a lovely valley. so I don't know. If you are up to the work it sounds good. Only you and Kurt can decide. would I do it? Probably, especially if it was the valley. river front and green grass. sounds great.
but looks can be deceiving, find out what are the drawbacks.

[Deberosa]

Thank you for all of the input. We did drive out there today since we had to go that way for animal feed. It's three miles back a dead end road - not too much past that place. About halfway back there is a police car in one driveway so maybe the meth lab stuff is a minimum down there...

The gate was locked and no for sale sign on the property. THe building sit way back frome the road - like the picture of the drive in the listing, the river must be fairly close behind the buildings but not much sign of flooding along that area - seems like it's even got a tide - high straight banks - because it's close to the bay.

However I think the deciding factor may be that there probably isn't any DSL out a dead end road like that. I've got to have high speed internet access for my work and satellite is not reliable enough at this point. And we didn't learn very much at all about the property.

It sure is pretty though! The roads are lined with decidious trees and totally filled with elderberries, never saw so many elderberries! The pastures were very rich and green, the barns are missing a few sheets of tin on the roof but mostly in one piece - that may have rotted some of the insides if it's been very long but didn't look it from a distance (we took binoculars also).


So I still think the better choice, especially given the world the way it is right now is to just stay put - but it's always worth checking things out!

[jen_in_southtexas]

Glad you and Kurt took a look at the new property. Never hurts to do that. However, Im glad you decided not to trade Deberosa. You've put your heart into it and have done so much work on it.

Although Ive never been to Deberosa, I kinda like it there and all the stories you have shared with us.

-j

PS..Whatever happened to Daisy? Did she have her calf? Did i miss a post?

[Deberosa]

Thanks Jen, it would be very hard to leave here. We were just walking around here on the holiday weekend and saw all of the stuff we would have to start over. The grapes will be producing this year, we'll have tayberries this year, the new apple trees are producing, the fences are pretty much complete, etc. etc. etc. Starting over seems so daunting but I am cursed with itchy feet too...

And Daisy - well, she is still walking around being a cow. I think her being pregnant was my imagination and in the next couple of weeks I am doing to be looking up an AI person. I hear they can give them a shot to go into cycle which may be needed because I have not seen her in heat at all. May try breeding T-Bone at the same time to see if she is sterile or not.

[countryjo]

We have driven through that area to the beach, we like to take Hwy 12, not so busy and my brother lives in Chehalis, after last years big Chehalis flood ......you would have to be carefull of that area.
Sounds like a good idea to stay put to see how the economy is going to do. Sure will be nice to eat from the fruits trees and bushes.
Non of our 2 apple trees or pears tree formed one piece of fruit, last year we had lots. I live in Central Wa.