Unbuildable lots- potential for vandwellers?

[mayble]

All I want is a piece of dirt that I can get to without 4x4, to park a travel trailer on to use a few months out of the year.
No well, no septic, no electricity.  Just my own little boondock waiting for me whenever I want to use it.
Two or three such places scattered around the country would be ideal but I have relatives in the midwest and southeast, so a winter spot in the southwest would do me just fine.

The problem is all the regulations.  It boggles the mind that they can decree how many nights I can spend on my own unimproved land.  I understand the need for septic/sewer for public health in populated areas, but it seems in many areas they're overreaching with these restrictions.

 

[Vagabound]

Similar goals, and on the regulations, I agree completely.  It seems a pretty simple concept that, regardless of PR/commercial messages to the contrary, if you have to ask for anyone's permission or cannot otherwise control the disposition of any type of your property, then you don't really own it.  From my perspective, we/the government regulate individuals too much, and the business world too little.  Ordinarily, that would be perplexing, but I guess it comes back to this quotation:

“The rules only applied to people who couldn’t afford different rules.”
 -- Cameron Stracher, author, “The Water Wars”

Vagabound

 

[Headache]

Well, then maybe the land scam areas of Taos county might suit either of you. I'm still considering it. If enough people were in the area it could be considered a "collective" of some sort. You could spend the winter in AZ since the temps dip down into the teens, summers are actually not too bad because of the higher elevation and cool evenings.

And no building codes, no rules on how long you can stay there, no one telling you want to do as long as you don't start a pot farm.

 

[Headache]

If you are willing to travel for at least one of the seasons, most of the USA will meet your requirements.

I'm looking for something that I can park on any time of year as well as be away from any time of year.  Since I'm never sure when the wanderlust will grab hold of me I need that kind of flexibility.

For example; I've found 2 RV parks in Vermont that are open all year round.  My first though was wondering how much snow it would take to bury my rig so I could take pictures and post them.  Of course that would be after building a snowman next to my van.

 

[rvpopeye]

Trust me on this , you don't want snow burying your rig...........it will become rodent heaven !

 

[Headache]

I just want it for the pictures, not to stay like that. I couldn't stand not being able to see out my windows for long! I'd definitely be digging out after I took them.

 

[highdesertranger]

I remember being in Mammoth Lakes CA. you could go to the second floor balcony step over the rail and be standing on the snow. highdesertranger

 

[rvpopeye]

I didn't think so but just saying in case!

That's a lot of snow that would have to fall for just one storm.
Maybe get someone with a snow blower to help !!!!!

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Awhile back I was doing some research to see if it was possible to get licensed to carry a firearm in all of the lower 48 states. In some states it looked like you'd have to at least own some land to make it possible. I lost interest in that idea but while searching some land prices, I was surprised at what 5k can buy in some states. I think it would be pretty cool to have a few pieces of land around the country to park on when you wanted to.

I know a lot of places have restrictions against it, but I think there are more places that you can do it and be fine than not being able too......especially when land is only 5 grand. Don't imagine there are too many people in those areas to raise a stink nor people to really enforce it. I actually found some decent lots for those prices too.....not just empty desert. Much of the East coast has cheap lots with trees and views.

Just another of my many ideas I suppose!

 

[Vagabound]

Some interesting ideas here.  I did similar online searching, but burned out on it before finding anything good.  So many of the places I saw had some onerous county zoning or building or RV-use restrictions.  Even very rural property.  Found it discouraging and got busy doing other stuff.  Glad to see this thread though.

(Headache) Well, then maybe the land scam areas of Taos county might suit either of you. I'm still considering it.

 
Can you give me an idea where around Taos you're describing?  Or maybe, it was already mentioned in this thread somewhere.

(Every Road Leads Home) I was surprised at what 5k can buy in some states. I think it would be pretty cool to have a few pieces of land around the country to park on when you wanted to.   ...   I actually found some decent lots for those prices too.....not just empty desert. Much of the East coast has cheap lots with trees and views. 

Based on your research, which areas did you think were the most promising?

Vagabound

 

[Cammalu]

It's cheap here in Western, KY


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Headache]

Can you give me an idea where around Taos you're describing?  Or maybe, it was already mentioned in this thread somewhere.

West of Taos on the mesa.  From Tres Piedras east to Taos and south but I forget how far south it goes.  I mentioned the Carson/2 Peaks area in another post that included the link to a documentary on the area.  That documentary was on people that mostly live in Units 4 & 5 so you want to avoid those areas if you wish to live a quieter life.  There was recently a murder there(June or July I think) but the suspect is in custody.  I'm also on friends on facebook(info in the facebook thread) with a gal who lives there with her husband full time.

If you ever stay in the area long enough to have a garden then you want to stay north around Tres Piedras because the soil didn't get depleted as bad from the sheep over grazing as Carson and that surrounding area did.  From what I understand there are several people experimenting with reintroducing native prairie grasses in an attempt to reclaim the land.

I was looking in the Tres Piedras area but the particular property I was interested in has some issues that I don't want to be involved with so now I'm looking in the Questa area.  More snow, more trees and fiber optic interwebs.

Cammalu too humid for me out that way but if you provide a description of areas someone here may be interested!

 

[Vagabound]

West of Taos on the mesa.  From Tres Piedras east to Taos and south but I forget how far south it goes.  ...

Cammalu too humid for me out that way but if you provide a description of areas someone here may be interested!

Headache:  Thanks for the details.  I think, for any of these areas that we discuss, at least three things are important to know:  1)  average price per acre;  2)  building code severity or laxness; and 3) rules related to staying in an RV on your own land.  I wish we had a thread dedicated to exactly that, separated by state.

Cammalu: I agree with Headache re: other people and interest.  More info please.

Vagabound

 

[Headache]

Headache:  Thanks for the details.  I think, for any of these areas that we discuss, at least three things are important to know:  1)  average price per acre;  2)  building code severity or laxness; and 3) rules related to staying in an RV on your own land.  I wish we had a thread dedicated to exactly that, separated by state.

1) Price per acre varies greatly.  I've seen it as low as $3000 an acre in the land scam areas upwards of $50k the closer you are to Abiquiu, Taos and the ski resorts or if there is easily accessible water.  It depends on location, geography and most importantly especially there; water table and water quality.

2) Building codes also vary by location.  In the scam areas they don't even bother.  In the resort and country club areas there are usually home owners associations and property owners associations and you'll be watched like a hawk.  However, New Mexico and especially Taos county also has some of the most lenience regarding creative building I've ever encountered thanks mostly to the earthship builders.  The day I called the county to ask some questions they had approved a residential building permit for a 200 sq ft home.

3) RV dwelling rules also vary by location.  Outside of the cities and incorporated towns and unless there is a HOA or POA involved with covenants most locations don't have RV living restrictions.  The original subdivision I was going to look at had a POA but there was also a section where you could live in your RV year round.

When I go there in the spring you are welcome to join me to look around.  I'm also going to try and hit up the spring tax auction and see what they have available.

 

[Vagabound]

1) Price per acre varies greatly.  ...

... (lots of stuff) ...

... but there was also a section where you could live in your RV year round.
...

Your version:  204 words.

My version (after using Google Magic v2.3):  

6 words ...

"Thus the need for a directory."



=========================

Just pulling your leg.  I liked reading your descriptions of that area.  

My first thought: HOA/POA = Ebola

Haven't gotten to NM yet on my research list.  That said, during a trip once, I went to a high desert area of NM.  It was unexpectedly some of the most beautiful land I've seen anywhere.  Meadows with grass and flowers.  Lots of pines swaying in the cool summer breeze.  Hilly, but not mountainous.  And almost no people.  Peaceful.  I remember thinking two things:  1.  "I could live here", and 2.  "How would I eat?"  Needless to say, it was pretty remote.  In the end, not sure if it was beautiful the way homely girls are after 5 beers, or if it was actually beautiful.  In any case, a nice memory.  Thanks for helping to bring it back.

I'm an East Coast boy, but did some time in the desert for 5 years.  No, not that.  Lived there.  While there, I remember really missing the greenery.  Long time ago, so not sure how I'll react now to the dry, flat SW now.  

On the bright side, I think I have a line on a good low-mileage lunar lander!

Vagabound

P.S. - Thanks for the invitation to do a site visit.  Might take you up on that.

 

[Headache]

[qu

In the end, not sure if it was beautiful the way homely girls are after 5 beers, or if it was actually beautiful.  In any case, a nice memory.  Thanks for helping to bring it back.

If you're smart it's a little of both but if you're looking at me I get uglier.

I'm an East Coast boy, but did some time in the desert for 5 years.

I was in western Mass for a time and I have to say that the east coast humidity is some of the most stifling I've ever encountered.  However, it does bring in some of those noreasters I love so much that dump 2 ft of snow at a time.  There's a sadistic part of me that wants to live in Vermont but I'd have to accept living indoors for a few months of the year.  Not going to lie, I love New England.

 

[rvpopeye]

I'm really liking the idea , a cheap lot somewhere to park and not worry about being asked to leave............................

Headache
Next winter when it snows 2 feet,,,,, you're welcome to come help shovel off my rig's roof !

 

[Reducto]

It looks like they stopped paying for their domain name or otherwise lost control of it. It's now owned by a marketing company who probably plans to sell it at some point.

The new owners might have only recently redirected it to the parking page it's at now and sometimes it takes a while for changes to propagate to all name servers depending on how things are set up. That's why some people see the original page. Eventually your isp's name server will pick up the change and you won't see it either.

If anyone does contact them you should probably tell them they lost their domain name.

 

[wayne49]

I've finally sunken to the low, low state of replying to myself.  The end is near! ;-)

But on this point ... I just noticed that someone in another unrelated thread made a comment that digging a hole for a trench latrine in the Quartzsite or Ehrenberg area (rules aside) would be nearly impossible due to the hardness of the soil.  Maybe that's the answer to my question above.  If so, it would take more time to drill, more fuel, more wear and tear on the drilling equipment, and more of all mandatory well-drilling supplies, like cigarettes and beer of course.

Thanks, Vagabound.

You're welcome, Vagabound.

 

I just opened this thread and scrolled back to see what I had missed.

For the area around Pahrump:

A few feet below the top "soil" is a layer of stuff that is hard and thick. This layer is above the water. I do not know the name. I thought it is "crichi", but a search does not return a soil layer.

I have not seen this layer myself.

-Wayne49

 

[wayne49]

I just want it for the pictures, not to stay like that.  I couldn't stand not being able to see out my windows for long!  I'd definitely be digging out after I took them.

A standard RV roof will not stand much snow. You would need an A frame roof to park under for snowy areas.