Before I get started, a prediction that I hope we can wrap up and say is true. By the time all is said and done, I hope to be able to say "It was a long road, but we have fulfilled our part of the American dream." Let's see how it goes between now and then.
We have had our eye on some land for several years, and have looked at several plots as time allowed.
One of the factors is the amount--my wife, Dawn, wanted 50-acres originally. Kinda hard to come up with that amount that is not out too far for both of us to drive. The idea was that the kids would want to grow up and build around us. I don't see that happening, but Dawn is an optimist.
We had looked at one plot in person with a real estate agent. I vaguely recall liking it, but maybe it's because we came across it soon after we decided to start looking. I do remember there was a crest where the home would naturally go, and gently sloped downward only to get more steep, finally ending at a small creek.
Then there was another where the owner was going to split it up into two plots. We had gone so far as to put in an offer on both plots combined, but someone beat us to half of it. Then at some point the real estate agent we were dealing with left to be a full-time Boy Scout or something like that.
So fast forward maybe a year, and an acquaintance of my mother-in-law's (let's call him "Bill") had nearly 20-acres he was wanting to sell. He had never developed it save for a small section cleared off for hunting. It is all wooded and a good shape, meaning no irregular or puzzle-like borders. Soon after that we went out and walked the land ourselves. This was nearly two-years ago.
In the meantime we went out a few times to look at other properties, hitting as many as 7 or 8 properties in a day, in an effort to find the right spot for our home. We found a couple that we liked. For whatever reason we sort of stalled on it, then interest was renewed again just recently in Bill's land.
So we went out with Bill maybe 6-weeks ago and walked the land. It was always in the back of Dawn's mind, so we decided we would go ahead and try buying the land from Bill. We got an amount from him that was reasonable, and a good amount of time to come up with the money.
A few weeks ago we also met with an architect (let's call him Frank) over lunch at Bull City Burgers, where they have these rows of tables so you can spread out. And a great pale ale. We sprung our master idea on Frank who took a ton of notes--concepts, pictures cut out of magazines, some general things. For instance, Dawn wants an indoor slide to go from the playroom down to the main floor. You know, things that all families have...
Anyway, we are going to the bank this morning to see about getting a loan.
I'll check in soon to report on how that went.
Stay tuned!
