What part of NM?
What part of NM?
So, when researching rural properties: water availability & power hookup costs seem to be most important. Somebody should create a list/worksheet to assist neophytes (like myself) in navigating the process . Maybe even an opportunity for a consultant to assist folks in obtaining the desired property.
I’m willing to offer a case of beer as payment for this advice (domestic only-let’s not get crazy here).....
I’m willing to offer a case of beer as payment for this advice (domestic only-let’s not get crazy here).....
Don't know how familiar you are with New Mexico, but the exit off I-40 is about 30 miles west of Santa Rosa and 50 some miles east of Moriarty. The exit is the Milagro exit and my place is about 8 miles north of I-40 and by the way the crow flys, directly south of Anton Chico
(there is not a direct road from Anton Chico) We have views of Glorietta Mesa, Hermit's Peak, Starvation Peak and the distant Santa de Cristo Mountain range. The picture you see for my screen name is, a view we see from our deck. Hope that helps!
Yep, I figured your screen pic was from there. We usually do the Red River area on vacations, but I love the high desert.
Correction: should have read Sangre De Cristo, not Sande De Cristo.
We get up to Toas and Red River on occasion. Pretty Country up that way. We able to afford more land where we purchased than in that area and we don't have the crowds like the tourist areas. If we could have afforded it, we might have purchased in that area. We looked all over New Mexico and settled on the place we have and we kept coming back to the one we purchased. It just felt right and we have enjoyed it since 2009. We use it as a central home base to travel around New Mexico and Colorado. Love the high dessert and low humidity as you do.
When I was a kid, we went to Glorieta every summer for a few years in a row. That is some incredibly beautiful country.
I haven't read the entire thread so I don't know if it's been mentioned, but some folks in country let their dogs run lose; can be a pain.
I live on 3.5 acres and my neighbors are mostly on 5 acres and I have houses 100yds in any direction.
That much space is much better than city living, but neighbors can still be a pain if they have noisy 4 wheelers and such. And no shooting center fire ammo for me, a I mostly use pellet guns.
A friend had a place on one acre with neighbors on the same, might as well been in the city. Just more grass to mow.
Edit to add: gravel/dirt road doesn't just mean it might be muddy when it rains, it also means dust clouds roll over your house when cars go by.
I live on 3.5 acres and my neighbors are mostly on 5 acres and I have houses 100yds in any direction.
That much space is much better than city living, but neighbors can still be a pain if they have noisy 4 wheelers and such. And no shooting center fire ammo for me, a I mostly use pellet guns.
A friend had a place on one acre with neighbors on the same, might as well been in the city. Just more grass to mow.
Edit to add: gravel/dirt road doesn't just mean it might be muddy when it rains, it also means dust clouds roll over your house when cars go by.
My wife's family lived nearly all of their lives less than a mile from Tinker AFB, however I grew up in the country in Jones. I can relay some things I learned as well as the complaints of the in laws when we first moved. They picked up a little over 17 acres and it is split between her parents, her youngest brothers family, and us. We fall in a tiny pocket of county jurisdiction between Piedmont and OKC city limits on the Candian side of County Line.
Building in county jurisdiction has some pros and cons.
The boys ranch a few miles up the road paid to have AT&T fiber optic ran up County Line, which saved us a ton to have high quality internet service.
We are on OG&E electric and well water. Our septic system goes out to sprinklers so we dont have to worry about avoiding lateral lines.
We have a whole home generator hooked to our natural gas supply, which is fantastic! Power goes out, the generator kicks on automatically and runs everything on the first floor except the ovens and dishwashers, but does include HVAC. We also have a gas range, so we experience very little disruption when we lose power.
It took my in laws forever to get used to driving 20min each way for groceries, fuel, etc. No pizza delivery either for the kids haha.
My father in law is a big yard junky so he has a full 5 acres of manicured sod (INSANE). My wife wants to do the same, but luckily I have been able to talk her off the ledge on that one so far.
The kids aren't used to having to walk to the end of our private road to catch the bus, but it is good for them.
I wouldve preferred more land and we may move further out after the kids are out of school, but for now we really like the Piedmont school system. Pledge of Allegiance before every assembly I have been to as well as a moment for reflection/prayer. Theyre getting dangerously close to being too big, but the teachers remind me a lot of the ones I had at a much smaller school which is great!
We have paved roads all the way to our private gravel road, but they are crap. Trucks do fine, but my wifes little VW requires a lot of evasive maneuvers to avoid some pretty deep potholes.
My advice would be to really think through what your tolerance levels are on convenience of stores, gas stations, utility access, Internet access, etc. If you are far enough in the country and dont plan on having cattle, there is no need to fence in the entire property. You can go around the perimeter and put No Trespassing signs and just boot people that dont at least respect your property if they cut across it. I would fence in any area containing house, workshops, etc. and to give the dogs a place to run without wandering off. If this is your forever home, proximity to hospitals is important regardless of ambulance service. As we age, we become more at risk of experiencing issues that even an EMT crew in a speeding ambulance cant handle. Plan on at least 2 deep freezers and a large fridge. I grew up where roads may not be cleared very quickly and the grocery store was 30-45min each way, so I manage our pantry inventory to make sure we have enough to make do for a week if necessary.
Overall, I love being in the country. I like having neighbors "down the road" that are easy to get along with but everyone minds their own business. I like being far enough out that people call first before dropping by, because I get super annoyed about unannounced visitors. The silence and lack of traffic are amazing as is the darkness of night with stars you would never know existed living in the city.
Everyone has their preference though.
Building in county jurisdiction has some pros and cons.
- No city sales tax on anything delivered on site, save a LOT dodging Piedmont sales tax.
- No city inspectors leaves you open to shoddy work from contractors if you aren't diligent about monitoring the entire process.
- No city inspectors also means you don't have to wait on permits and can do as much of the work yourself as you want to.
The boys ranch a few miles up the road paid to have AT&T fiber optic ran up County Line, which saved us a ton to have high quality internet service.
We are on OG&E electric and well water. Our septic system goes out to sprinklers so we dont have to worry about avoiding lateral lines.
We have a whole home generator hooked to our natural gas supply, which is fantastic! Power goes out, the generator kicks on automatically and runs everything on the first floor except the ovens and dishwashers, but does include HVAC. We also have a gas range, so we experience very little disruption when we lose power.
It took my in laws forever to get used to driving 20min each way for groceries, fuel, etc. No pizza delivery either for the kids haha.
My father in law is a big yard junky so he has a full 5 acres of manicured sod (INSANE). My wife wants to do the same, but luckily I have been able to talk her off the ledge on that one so far.
The kids aren't used to having to walk to the end of our private road to catch the bus, but it is good for them.
I wouldve preferred more land and we may move further out after the kids are out of school, but for now we really like the Piedmont school system. Pledge of Allegiance before every assembly I have been to as well as a moment for reflection/prayer. Theyre getting dangerously close to being too big, but the teachers remind me a lot of the ones I had at a much smaller school which is great!
We have paved roads all the way to our private gravel road, but they are crap. Trucks do fine, but my wifes little VW requires a lot of evasive maneuvers to avoid some pretty deep potholes.
My advice would be to really think through what your tolerance levels are on convenience of stores, gas stations, utility access, Internet access, etc. If you are far enough in the country and dont plan on having cattle, there is no need to fence in the entire property. You can go around the perimeter and put No Trespassing signs and just boot people that dont at least respect your property if they cut across it. I would fence in any area containing house, workshops, etc. and to give the dogs a place to run without wandering off. If this is your forever home, proximity to hospitals is important regardless of ambulance service. As we age, we become more at risk of experiencing issues that even an EMT crew in a speeding ambulance cant handle. Plan on at least 2 deep freezers and a large fridge. I grew up where roads may not be cleared very quickly and the grocery store was 30-45min each way, so I manage our pantry inventory to make sure we have enough to make do for a week if necessary.
Overall, I love being in the country. I like having neighbors "down the road" that are easy to get along with but everyone minds their own business. I like being far enough out that people call first before dropping by, because I get super annoyed about unannounced visitors. The silence and lack of traffic are amazing as is the darkness of night with stars you would never know existed living in the city.
Everyone has their preference though.
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