Living with Horses - A Place in the Country

or cant afford as you assess each property.
Raw land
When considering a piece of undeveloped land base your decision for the property on what both you and the land are capable of. Raw land will need a lot of improvements do you want to clear trees install services drill a well and create a septic field etc. Or would you prefer to buy a property already set up so you can be settled in before the snow flies? Does the property lend itself to good pasture or hay land or is it rocky with poor soil or wet and marshy in places. Does it have a good building site?
Zoning and land use
Zoning determines how the land can be used including lot sizes height of buildings setback requirements from property lines and roadways and other conditions and is intended to minimize incompatible land uses and facilitate orderly development. Your local municipal office can answer your questions about the zoning and land use requirements for the property you are considering.
Ask specific questions about the property and the region Could the old gravel pit down the road be reopened someday bringing gravel trucks banging past your house? Could the field across the road be developed into a residential subdivision destroying your pastoral view? Do any conservation issues prevent you from converting the wet area at the back of the property into a pond? Are there any easements or rightsofway across the property?
While youre at municipal hall find out what to do with your trash its very unlikely you will have garbage and recycling pick up as you did in town. Can you burn it or is the local landfill site within easy driving distance?
Go local
Use a local real estate agent and a local lawyer both of whom should be familiar with the historical information