Thinking about buying a house on ~4 acres

when you get done picking up downed limbs, you have to start picking up downed limbs

after you've lived there 10 years or so, you'll hire someone to mow & weedeat

Don't purchase it until you have seen it after a few heavy rains. You will want to know if it floods/how it drains. Same thing goes for the road. Will you get rained in if a big rain event happens. (It happens to me)

Check out the neighbors as much as possible. Are they the type to encroach on your spot? Are they raising live stock? (get ready for flies) Are they all related? Meaning is your house on what used to be their family property? This can lead to problems later when they think its still theirs for private use.

Show up for every appointment at the house. When the inspector goes, go. Start establishing your presence there. The neighbors will show up and start asking questions. Feel them out that way.

Its the 1 acre of woods connected to a larger wooded area? Are people hunting it?

Are the property boundaries well marked? Not just on the land, but in the land survey. The last thing you want is a land depute the day you move in.

Learn as much history about the property as possible.

Are there any right of ways involved with the property? (past, present , and future)

Where is the water well, who has access to it and why?

How is the traffic on the road that leads to the property?


Are you still considered in the city/town limits? What laws apply to you? Can you burn a fire if you want, shoot guns, fireworks, etc. Basically, how much fun can you have on your own land?

If I think of more, Ill post.

Let most of it go native. Plant some native trees and reduce the amount of area you are actually maintaining. You won't regret it.

Living landscape by Doug Tallamy is a good reference book if you are interested.

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Let most of it go native. Plant some native trees and reduce the amount of area you are actually maintaining

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This. Blows me away when people clear up acres of land just so they can mow it. Let property grow back up with proper trees and keep a small but well maintained yard. Mowing all weekend is for birds.

Is the road leading to the property paved, gravel or just an old dirt road? If not paved or blacktop, be prepared for a dust storm when folks drive past, especially if the house is near the road.

Someone already mentioned check for low spots that hold water when it rains. My late father-in-law's property in CENLA is on clay based soil. When it is dry it is hard as concrete. When it is wet and holding water, it is like soup in some spots.

If you plan on putting in some sort of garden spot, flowers or vegetables, what kind of soil is there to begin with. Any soil can be amended to become good soil, it just depends on the amount of work involved getting there.

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It will make you laugh at all the OB topics debating weed and feed, killing certain weeds and grasses, etc., as you will just care about keeping the grass down to a manageable level, regardless of weeds.

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i'm happy with anything more presentable than "vacant lot"

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Are there any right of ways involved with the property? (past, present , and future)

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The neighbors will show up and start asking questions. Feel them out that way.

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this. My dad bought a couple of acres and the neighbor ended up being a total dick head. The neighbor bought the land behind my dad and showed up a few days later and started bull dozing trees. My dad had to sue to show that there was no right of way. I don't remember the details of why the neighbor thought he could do that. He's been over to the house harassing my dad a times. He won't do it when he knows my brother or myself are there to knuckle check him. He's sulphur white trash with a little bit of money.

Buy the best chain saw that you can afford.

is the property designed in a way you can possibly subdivide at a later point?

Keep 1/2 an acre mowed and manicured then put goats on the other 3 1/2 acres. Goats are fun and they will keep it clean.