| Almost anyone can become a rural property owner; if | | | | different matter. There are some lovely farms on the |
| you are willing to set goals, establish what your | | | | cliffs overlooking the Pacific near Carmel California; |
| purposes are, plan ahead and set targets that are all | | | | where the movie stars reside and if you can find a |
| aligned toward the same result. And, if you can be | | | | hundred acre farm you may be able to get it for a |
| patient instead of requiring instant gratification.There is | | | | hundred million dollars or so, plus the value of |
| no more $50-an-acre land; unless you count some of | | | | improvements. That is about what you can expect to |
| the inaccessible and unusable properties that are | | | | pay for acreage near Rehoboth also; and it's a little |
| sometimes available in blocks of 10,000 acres or more; | | | | easier to find. The farther you go away from the |
| and even these properties are rare. But you can get | | | | "ideal" locations the fewer people are looking to |
| rural properties more reasonably now than in the past | | | | purchase it and the lower the price is. An interesting |
| IF you are willing to be creative in your expectations | | | | anecdote here; I had a couple come to me a few |
| and in the ways you use and modify the property.If | | | | years ago looking to purchase a hundred acres or so |
| you are in a big hurry to find rural property, you will | | | | on the oceanfront near Rehoboth, for horses; they |
| likely not be able to find what you are looking for. Rural | | | | could easily afford the price of a million an acre or so, |
| properties have fewer buyers who want to purchase | | | | but they ended up purchasing land twenty minutes |
| them, but there are plenty of dreamers who have not | | | | inland after they did more reasonable research.Before |
| considered the realities. There are seldom bargains | | | | you go out looking for property, sit down with paper |
| available because most folks who own rural properties | | | | and pencil and any partners or family that will be |
| know exactly who to call first when they want to sell. | | | | involved. You may find numerous surprises when you |
| If the property really is a bargain it is gone with one of | | | | all start writing down importances, desires, and things |
| the first ten phone calls the seller makes. However, if | | | | not wanted. It is most important that you know what |
| you are willing to "think outside the box" of convention | | | | you must have, and what you can do without. Make a |
| you may end up with what is a bargain property for | | | | list of the features you feel an area MUST have in |
| you.Twenty and thirty years ago thousands of folks | | | | order for you to consider relocating there. This might |
| bought into the "live on a farm and make a fortune" | | | | include things like climate (and, thus, growing season), |
| dream of owning a chicken house, home and acreage | | | | being within a certain radius of a population center (or |
| in Sussex County Delaware -- the chicken capital of | | | | maybe a certain distance AWAY from one), and |
| the world -- where there are several million chickens | | | | availability of certain facilities or services. Being within |
| for every person who lives here. For a short while it | | | | 20 miles of an airport or hospital may not matter to |
| was possible to take the "contract" from a chicken | | | | one family, but could be of vital importance to |
| plant to the bank and with only that as collateral, get a | | | | another.The most important item on this list is |
| loan for about 10 acres, a home and at least one | | | | consideration of the social and economic climate of the |
| chicken house. Many folks soon discovered that the | | | | area, and how you will fit into it. Even if you're |
| so called contract had fine print and clauses that were | | | | independently wealthy, the economic circumstances of |
| all in favor of the chicken plant and none in favor of | | | | an area can affect how you will fit into it. Will a |
| the chicken grower. Soon most chicken growers were | | | | well-heeled but bored-with-society person be able to |
| working full time to help support the chicken business | | | | move into an economic Appalachia and truly find |
| they had bought, along with it's mortgage of $200,000 | | | | contentment? Perhaps, but first consider the |
| or more, sometimes much more.Now when I appraise | | | | "necessities" of the life you'll be leaving. Do you need |
| a chicken farm with house and acreage I appraise the | | | | to regularly attend the symphony or visit a high-quality |
| working chicken farm at zero -- and that is really too | | | | library? Is high quality clothing shopping or other |
| high a value in some cases. There are lots of easier, | | | | shopping important to you?MAKING A REASONABLE |
| better smelling and cleaner jobs you can purchase | | | | INCOME AND LEARNING ABOUT RURAL |
| with $200,000 or so. If you want to make a living | | | | IMPORTANCES: IS PROBABLY THE MOST |
| growing chickens you should prepare to spend at least | | | | IMPORTANT PART OF LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE |
| a million dollars, you can finance it of course, and get | | | | STICKS.Those of us who aren't independently wealthy |
| several chicken houses built around your home on 15 | | | | need to consider some means of supporting ourselves |
| to 20 acres, if you don't mind the smell, and then the | | | | in our new surroundings. "Living off the land" is certainly |
| best bet is to lease the business to someone who is | | | | NOT all it's cracked up to be, and isn't even legal |
| running 20 or thirty chicken houses at least.There are | | | | unless you become a vegetarian; year around hunting |
| some sensible things you can do in contemplation of | | | | for meat is illegal everywhere. Even gardening or |
| moving to and living in the country. First among those is | | | | collecting wild edibles is not legal either, if you try to do |
| to start by renting a small home in the area you want | | | | it on public land.Before moving to the country... One of |
| to live -- and either move there or at least visit there | | | | the important questions to ask (and find out for sure |
| often enough to get to know the area. If you already | | | | the answer) is; "Does the area have a large enough |
| live close enough to drive to your dream area daily, | | | | population base to give a person a good shot at finding |
| start doing that and start frequenting the shops, | | | | a job? Another is; "Does it have a diversified |
| churches and restaurants there. Stop at yard sales | | | | economy? Many communities seem to have good |
| and to check into cars, trucks and equipment that is | | | | employment opportunities, but on closer inspection they |
| for sale in people's front yards. Be honest, tell them | | | | all turn out to be based on the same industry, such as |
| you are planning to move into the area and want to | | | | recreation, chickens, fishing camps, skiing, ocean |
| learn about your neighbors and only stop to shop if | | | | swimming and water sports, timber or mining or |
| you are really interested in what they have for sale | | | | farming. If the bottom falls out of a single industry, or |
| and are willing to purchase it at your price. Rural folk | | | | suddenly there is no snow or the water becomes |
| have a built in truth-detector and it is usually accurate. | | | | polluted and is posted against use... as folks from many |
| Don't try to BS them or your reputation will precede | | | | towns can attest has happened, the economy of the |
| any other data about you.I suggest that you can | | | | entire area falls apart -- FAST... to fast to get out with |
| subscribe to a good magazine on rural living, or two or | | | | your investment.If an area's economy is primarily |
| three. One of the best to begin with is Backwoods | | | | based on tourism, such as ours in the Rehoboth, |
| Home Magazine; Start by visiting and reading | | | | Lewes, Dewey, Bethany, Fenwick area, there may be |
| EVERYTHING on line, then get a subscription, then | | | | many jobs available in the service sector (motels, |
| purchase ALL of the back issues which are bound into | | | | restaurants, etc.) But most of these jobs pay very low |
| soft cover books.If you yearn for the simple life of old | | | | wages, and often these jobs are seasonal. Land |
| fashioned living, in a log home for instance, and away | | | | prices tend to be inflated in many resort areas, and |
| from the downward pull of civilization, check out: you | | | | ours more so than most.I was surprised a few years |
| are able to take your income with you, to maintain | | | | ago to find that the most expensive areas of California |
| your current income, and don't need a job where you | | | | were not all that expensive compared to Rehoboth |
| are going. Then I recommend you just rent a place first | | | | and surrounding areas.Minimum wage income is not |
| and start spending more and more time in a good area | | | | likely to enable a person to live comfortably in a resort |
| as you begin to test your transition resources. While | | | | community, much less enable a person to purchase |
| renting get to know the people and see if you fit in | | | | property! An extreme example is the city of Aspen, |
| with them. They are not planning to change to meet | | | | Colorado. This beautiful ski resort community is an |
| your parameters, I assure you. MOST of the folks | | | | extremely expensive place to live. The local fast-food |
| who come from the city to the country start by trying | | | | restaurants have trouble getting employees because |
| to change the area they have moved to and the new | | | | there is no reasonably priced place for them to live. |
| neighbors, to be more like where they left. They should | | | | Some of these businesses actually have to provide |
| not have left or they should get on back there -- and | | | | housing in order to get employees! It is somewhat like |
| most of the neighbors will tell you so.If you move to an | | | | that in Rehoboth area. As you may know, Grotto's |
| area as a renter and find the people to your liking and | | | | Pizza, our largest employer in the area, at one time |
| they find you to their liking, you have probably found | | | | provided space for many of their employees. Now, a |
| the right area. However, in rural areas ten miles can | | | | lot of our resort help lives communally in "three |
| make a huge difference in lifestyle and area ethnicity. | | | | bedrooms, sleeps twenty) type apartments and |
| Please don't move to a resort town, like Rehoboth | | | | homes. Many more of our seasonally employed folks |
| Beach where I work, and then without checking try to | | | | are imported from Ireland and elsewhere -- and come |
| move into a place like Oak Orchard (the little rural | | | | to live in dormitory style, often sleeping in shifts.If you |
| waterfront town where I live) or you will experience | | | | are a computer professional, you are very fortunate |
| some near terminal culture shock. I love where I live | | | | as the "Information Age" has created a class of |
| and the people who live here but hopefully not one of | | | | professionals who can survive in depressed rural |
| them thinks that I have some intention of changing the | | | | areas -- the computer entrepreneur. With reasonably |
| way they live here!Once you have zeroed in on an | | | | good dial-up ISP service, perhaps a cable modem (in |
| area and visited it many dozen times or better yet | | | | Millsboro and some areas of southern Sussex County) |
| rented a place there and started living there for short | | | | a cell phone, computer, printer, modems and fax, |
| stays; I suggest that you start joining various groups | | | | people can now roam across the country and the |
| and organizations as a part-time member and let them | | | | world by phone and the Internet. Some folks, and this is |
| know that you are not full time yet, but hope to be. | | | | a fast growing segment of our buyers, can either |
| They help. Don't try to instruct them or help them do | | | | work at home for a distant company (perhaps |
| what they are already doing better; just try to help | | | | commuting once a week or once a month or even in |
| them on their own terms. You need to learn the rules | | | | the case of one of my clients twice a week) or |
| of this new game, it's their game and their community. | | | | create a new business as a consultant, doing the |
| At most you will be a welcome member of the | | | | same job for the same company they are currently |
| community. You will never be the equal to those who | | | | employed by. With a business card and digital tools |
| have four or ten or thirty generations of family buried | | | | one can appear to have a large conventional business, |
| and established there. For instance in our area those | | | | albeit a laptop and other portable digital tools, and it can |
| who have only been here for sixty years are still not | | | | be quite profitable.Computer-based businesses are |
| considered "from here" by those who have been here | | | | ideally suited for rural living. They are becoming |
| since the 1500s or soon after.Once you have looked | | | | increasingly more important as a means of breaking |
| at several dozen properties that interest you, and that | | | | loose from the grind of commuting to work in big cities |
| may take a year or two or more; you will begin to | | | | that are fast becoming too dangerous to live in. If |
| appreciate different micro-cultures in the area. You will | | | | you're not yet into computers, you'll have to consider |
| begin to notice differences in soils, roads, well water, | | | | whether you have a skill that's marketable in the area |
| septic system functionality and road access; not to | | | | you're interested in.Make sure the place you choose |
| mention the differences in governmental rules and | | | | (a) has a use for that skill, and (b) isn't saturated with |
| enforcement of same. Each time you find the perfect | | | | unemployed people who have the same skill. One of |
| property; put a contract on it "pending research and | | | | my best friends is a fabulous carpenter, home builder, |
| discovery" and during that time check the neighbors | | | | cabinet maker, and skilled in many other fields such as |
| and professionals about the property. You should | | | | welding, auto mechanics, gunsmithing to some degree |
| check the neighbors first, lots of them, they already | | | | and perhaps a couple of dozen more marketable skills. |
| know everything the professionals are going to charge | | | | He moved to a rural area of Virginia to his dream |
| you to tell you.Hopefully by the second or third | | | | home on over a hundred acres and his income |
| property you put a contract and deposit on; you will | | | | plummeted. He is back here now and I'm glad he is |
| have the one that is right for you. Remember, if the | | | | even though I don't see him very often; it's just |
| property is a bargain price, you have missed | | | | pleasant to drive by his business and know he's back |
| something in almost every case. What you need to do | | | | in the neighborhood.Please, please, please... before you |
| is figure out how it is a bargain for you; because you | | | | move to an new rural area; subscribe to the nearest |
| have an unusual use, ability, or way to change the | | | | newspaper for the area you are considering and read |
| property easily to suit your needs.Buy through a | | | | the economic and community sections as well as the |
| Realtor if at all possible. Sign a buyers agent | | | | help wanted ads. If there is a skimpy "help wanted" |
| agreement with your agent so that his allegiance is to | | | | section in the local paper... beware. On the other hand, |
| you -- otherwise, by law his allegiance is ONLY to the | | | | could this "depressing" state of affairs regarding |
| seller and by law, you are in an adversarial position to | | | | employment news probably means that real estate is |
| the seller and the Realtor. With a buyer's agent | | | | bargain priced in that area?OTHER THINGS TO |
| agreement signed, your agent is now on your side, by | | | | CONSIDER |
| law, and is an opponent of the seller and the seller's | | | | What about your health and age? Do you now or do |
| agent. Ask your agent then to provide you with all the | | | | you expect to have frequent need for the type of |
| comparable sales data from the multi-listing service if | | | | medical services mostly found in large cities? |
| there is one. If not hire an appraiser, once you have the | | | | Although they're necessary, think seriously about |
| property under contract, (make the contract contingent | | | | staying at least 25 miles away from the nearest |
| upon a satisfactory appraisal) and pay to have the | | | | freeway system. These "conduits of crime" that cross |
| price evaluated. If you have contracted for too high a | | | | the country not only carry law-abiding citizens but |
| price, renegotiate the contract; if you find you have a | | | | solitary criminals and gangs as well. The gangs and |
| real bargain; you of course double check with your | | | | other thugs tend to use the corridor towns in proximity |
| agent and the appraiser to find out why. It may be that | | | | of the freeways as their "banks" and they excel in |
| the reason for it's "reasonable" price the reason that | | | | "withdrawals on the run." One small town the writers |
| keeps it from selling is not that important to you -- and | | | | lived in was only a few miles from a freeway exit. |
| you do have a bargain.Possibly your employer or the | | | | One night, two men left the freeway, robbed a motel |
| consulting work or your self employment activities may | | | | and got back on the freeway a short time later. They |
| allow you to telecommute. But if you can't | | | | were never caught. Imagine what these corridors may |
| telecommute to maintain your current income; before | | | | become as our cities and suburbs continue to |
| buying in an area, find out if you have a marketable | | | | deteriorate!WHEN YOU FIND AN AREA YOU LIKE . . |
| skill, one which is in demand in that particular region. | | | | . |
| This will give you some assurance that you will not | | | | Once you've decided generally where you'd like to |
| become a financial fatality. Most of the folks who | | | | relocate, visit it several times, preferably at different |
| move to rural communities, without checking into how | | | | times of the year. Learn which areas are desirable and |
| they will make money in the new location, have to sell | | | | which have problems. Check for flood plains, areas |
| their property at a loss within 5 years, due to lack of | | | | with access problems, water problems (not enough, |
| income.If you are retired, be certain that hospitals, | | | | too much or poor quality), noise problems (yes, even |
| doctors, stores, restaurants, etc. are suitable for you in | | | | rural areas can have noisy spots), or other problems |
| the new location -- or be very certain that you will be | | | | peculiar to a given area. Some rural "neighborhoods" |
| able to comfortably reside in the new area | | | | have earned a bad reputation. Find out why before |
| regardless.Some of us are not be able to save | | | | buying there. If the price seems too good to be true, |
| enough money for a cash purchase of our rural dream | | | | maybe somebody's trying to unload a problem.If you're |
| property before we reach retirement age. It is | | | | looking for undeveloped land on which to build your |
| however likely that we can provide a small sum for a | | | | retreat, find out about the water tables: depth, quality, |
| down payment, and we're reasonably certain that we | | | | and reliability. Find out what it costs to drill a well to the |
| can market our skills locally to meet payments and put | | | | necessary depth for that area. Water should be one |
| bread on the table (but please don't just guess about | | | | of the most important considerations in any land |
| this, check it out).Even if you find small acreage (10 to | | | | purchase. In Sussex County we are fortunate that we |
| 50 acres) for $5,000 or less per acre that has good | | | | have generally good water (no matter what the press |
| soil, good water available and a good prospect for an | | | | and Pseudo-envoronmentalists say) and wells are |
| inexpensive, workable septic system -- many banks | | | | relatively cheap to drill.Find out the proximity of utilities |
| and mortgage companies are not optimistic about | | | | and costs to bring them in and hook them up, if they're |
| financing raw land. BUT, seller financing is often a | | | | not already in place. In some areas, costs to hook up |
| alternative and easily structured method of purchasing | | | | to the power lines grid are prohibitive. Some of those |
| raw land. In fact it is not unusual to get twenty, thirty or | | | | same areas may not be conducive to an inexpensive |
| even forty year financing at 10% or less interest -- | | | | well or septic either. BUT that can be an advantage if |
| from the seller. Of course, in order to build on the | | | | you are able to think outside of the norm. For instance |
| property, you will normally have to pay off the seller's | | | | our Fowler's Beach property is not conducive to |
| mortgage with your home financing loan. Any of the | | | | running electric wires, getting good water from a |
| money you have paid on the price of the land, down | | | | shallow well or building and inexpensive sewer system. |
| payment as well as principle payments during your | | | | As a result you can get waterfront acreage for little |
| ownership period, and any appreciation of the land | | | | money on a private beach and the cost of electric, |
| value will be considered as part of your down | | | | water and sewer when added to the cost of the |
| payment on your home owners loan.Be careful to set | | | | property is minuscule!Once you've narrowed your |
| your payments so that you can afford the land | | | | search to a few areas within your target community, |
| payments along with your current cost of housing. You | | | | look at several properties! Realtors such as ourselves, |
| can save thousands of dollars in interest by keeping | | | | can be a big help, not only by showing you individual |
| your loan to as short a term as possible. Also, make | | | | properties, but by telling you about the area in general. |
| sure that there is no prepayment penalty on your seller | | | | It's not necessary to restrict yourself to one Realtor. |
| financing note.You can however often purchase an | | | | But as soon as possible you should choose ONE to |
| existing home on acreage for a lot less than the cost | | | | work with, get their allegiance and preferably sign a |
| of acreage and building a similar home. You can also | | | | buyer's agent agreement with them so that they are |
| often rent out the property to cover part of your | | | | looking out for your best interests!!! If your Realtor is |
| expense while you arrange your affairs for your | | | | too pushy for you or isn't showing you the type of |
| eventual relocation to rural bliss. If you are interested in | | | | properties that interest you, find another one; make |
| purchasing a 100 acre horse farm complete with | | | | sure you void the buyer's agent agreement if you |
| buildings, fencing, paddocks, etc. you can often save | | | | have one (in writing) and get a Realtor who will listen |
| nearly 50% of the reconstruction cost; but there is little | | | | to what you want and provide you such.And don't |
| market for renting such a property.If you find "more | | | | forget to watch the newspapers and check out |
| than five acres" with a home and buildings that need | | | | properties in your price range and area of interest |
| work but are structurally sound, you may save 30% to | | | | being offered for sale by owner. Sometimes the best |
| even 60% of the reconstruction cost. Be certain in this | | | | deals can be had by working with owners; and if you |
| area, Sussex County Delaware, that you get more | | | | have a buyer's agent, the agent can make certain that |
| than five acres as five acres or less falls into a | | | | you are well informed and protected even after you |
| nonagricultural zoning classification that you may not | | | | view the property with the seller.You will also need an |
| wish to be involved with as you develop your rural | | | | attorney in Delaware to assist you with the closing on |
| lifestyle.Most people ask me for 20 to 30 acres, or | | | | the property. It is important to know that all attorney's |
| more. But let's take a look at reality here. A football | | | | CAN do real estate settlements but only a handful are |
| field is three quarters of one acre. Thus 5.1 acres or | | | | worth using. Attorneys specialize and only three to five |
| more is a very roomy place to live acreage wise. If | | | | of them specialize in real estate -- for the rest of them, |
| you want horses however think 15 acres or more. | | | | real estate settlements are awkward and no matter |
| Each horse will need an average of 5 to 9 acres | | | | what they say... they usually make errors and those |
| depending on how you decide to raise the horse; that | | | | errors can be horrid.When you do find a property you |
| acreage is in addition to the land that your home, | | | | like, don't let it blind you to its drawbacks. Whether or |
| driveway, out buildings, garden and other non-fenced | | | | not you're working with a Realtor, do your homework. |
| areas take in. Many people are thinking of one, two, | | | | Remember, unless your Realtor is a buyer's agent, he |
| three or four horses for the family enjoyment; if so | | | | or she is working for the seller. Most Realtors will be |
| they need about 3 or more acres for the home and | | | | up front with you about all your questions, but they are |
| other human related improvements and should figure | | | | also bound by contract to get the best possible price |
| an additional average of seven acres for each horse | | | | for their client, the seller. And, by law -- when they are |
| or pony.If you have a dream of self-sufficiency; living | | | | working for the seller there are numerous things they |
| off the power grid, being away from it all... this is | | | | may NOT divulge to you even when they know about |
| virtually impossible in reality yet most prevalent when | | | | them.First, ask the seller or Realtor all the questions |
| you are in the dream stage. Coming to terms with | | | | you can about the property. For an older dwelling, this |
| what you can realistically afford and what you can | | | | might include questions about the age of the wiring and |
| realistically live with before you buy can save you a lot | | | | plumbing, type of foundation, and in some parts of the |
| of headaches later.Solar power is far more expensive | | | | country, when it was last checked for insect problems. |
| than buying electricity from the power company, wind | | | | This is particularly important near the beaches and |
| power is unreliable, water power is expensive and | | | | regarding wooded properties -- where termites are |
| hard to arrange; now I expect to get a lot of argument | | | | prevalent.Then talk to the neighbors. In the rural sense, |
| on this from those who have read all about it but have | | | | the "neighbors" are folks living within a five-or-so-mile |
| no real experience -- but I won't get any valid | | | | radius of the property; sometimes even more, if the |
| argument from anyone who has done it (unless they | | | | property is down a long road without intersections. Ask |
| are simultaneously trying to sell the idea to | | | | them about the area, its people, any problems with the |
| others).There are many good articles in Backwoods | | | | area, and particularly if they know of any drawbacks |
| Home Magazine; but most of them leave out the initial | | | | with the property you are considering purchasing. If |
| expense, maintenance expense and almost always | | | | they seem reluctant to talk to you, this might be a red |
| the expense of replacing worn components of these | | | | flag you shouldn't ignore: maybe they'd like to buy the |
| so called money saving off-the-grid systems. You can | | | | property but can't afford it, or maybe they don't like |
| however design a passive solar home, one with most | | | | outsiders buying property in their area. If you run up |
| windows facing south west and few facing other | | | | against this in several conversations, you might have a |
| directions. Most older farm houses are already | | | | hard time getting along with the neighbors. Buying -- |
| designed like this, not all of them are well insulated | | | | and holding onto -- that chunk of land, with or without a |
| however.Location: is paramount. We Realtors are | | | | home and buildings on it will take creative planning, |
| wont to chant"location -- location -- location" like a | | | | patience, and caution on your part!IF YOU MUST |
| mantra. It isimportant, just learn what it means as | | | | HAVE A DEAL OR ELSE . . . |
| location hasdifferent parameters for different | | | | Today's expensive properties will be tomorrow's |
| purposes. Location on a main road is imperative for | | | | bargains. Don't be discouraged by short term |
| commercial activity; location near pleasant living and | | | | obstacles. Land prices seldom go down in the long run. |
| good jobs is imperative for residential property; location | | | | Obviously, there are a lot more things to consider |
| regarding rural principles is a matter of sometimes life | | | | when buying rural land as opposed to buying a house |
| and death or at least a matter of doable and undoable | | | | in a city. One of them is the possible problems of |
| for a rural home.I suggest that the proper location for | | | | buying in a "boom town" area when you don't want to |
| rural living is NOT usually closest to the best beach, ski | | | | be part of the boom.It is important to consider whether |
| slope or lake but the more sensible location is near to | | | | your dream location will become less desirable as |
| a rural town where many or most of the locals are | | | | more people relocate there. For this reason it is not |
| living on rural acreage. In our area everyone wants ten | | | | uncommon for people who move to a rural area to |
| to thirty acres near the beach; after finding out the | | | | want to "close the gate" after they get there. They |
| price, they dream about 1 to 5 acres but seldom end | | | | realize that if too many people move to the small |
| up getting it and if they do the difficulty of finding it, | | | | community they have chosen, that it will eventually lose |
| using it for rural purposes and enjoying it when your | | | | the qualities that drew them there in the first place. |
| neighbors complain about your rooster, tractor noise or | | | | Unfortunately, people WILL find these wonderful |
| fertilizer odors will often make this semi-rural location | | | | places, no matter how hard some people try to keep |
| less than your dreams.If you're not rigidly set on | | | | them a secret. Some communities handle growth well, |
| purchasing land in some popular or scenic wonderland, | | | | others don't. Check to see what kind of planning and |
| some good buys can still be found in the less | | | | zoning is present in your chosen area. A community |
| "romantic" parts of the county, particularly on the | | | | that looks ahead and plans for growth fares much |
| edges of small farming communities. In Sussex County, | | | | better than communities that keep their heads in the |
| I suggest the south west part of the county, west of | | | | sand, thinking "it can't happen here." Growth not only |
| Millsboro, nearer to Gumboro, Delmar, etc. for the best | | | | can happen, it will.But short of a natural disaster or a |
| rural surroundings and lowest prices. There are few | | | | devastating man-made calamity, land won't come |
| properties available in that area but even fewer | | | | down in value. Buy it, use it, live on it, improve it, and |
| buyers who have faced the reality of where rural living | | | | love it. Land is the best investment you'll ever make, |
| is better lived.If you are independently wealthy, that is a | | | | for yourself and posterity.Good luck in your search! |