Decisions, Decisions
Hello again--Sorry to be away for so long but so many things were happening with business trips, catching a viral bug and a million other things--you know the drill. Anyway, just got back from New Mexico--where I had gone for a short vacation to look at some land that I would like to buy--eventually to live there as soon as I can get more financially stable.
I am intrigued by a new concept in conservation communities where one can acquire a large amount of land, provided one keeps it in its natural state. In one of the communities I looked at, you can get 20 acres of high desert land--mostly pinon pines, cedar, small cactus, yucca-type plants, etc., but you can only build on one acre--the rest has to stay in its natural condition. There are covenants about how the homes can look (they have to blend in with the land) and you can only landscape with native vegetation. The preserve has over 18,000 acres but only 5% of the land will be disturbed--yet the entire preserve will be available for the owners to use for hiking, biking, horsebackriding and the like. You can also get involved in the conservation group if you want and there are some pueblo ruins on the site and archaeology groups working in the region.
And oh, it is breathtakingly beautiful, both on the preserve and the surrounding countryside. I think there are eight mountain ranges in view and huge, huge expanses of wide-open spaces.
Anyway, I am very tempted to get a lot--even though it would be a big financial hardship right now. But it is just so what I want. It is a bit isolated, but there is a small town nearby and you are about 80 miles from Albuquerque--which is a reasonable sized city. They have sold out the first phase (56 sites) and most people are waiting to build until they retire or want a second home. But many have their names near their driveways and it is a broad community of people from the West, Mid-west, East, FL, and all over. Some are living there now and I am going to talk with a few to see how it is.
This is the view from the lot that I liked the best:
Imagine looking at that sight every morning. Sigh. It looks a bit like a city below but it is only grassland and fields.
I also looked at a similar development further south (near Las Cruces). They are 40 acre lots in an equally beautiful area--but it was so isolated that I don't think I could feel comfortable there. It was lovely to visit it though and to see the beauty. Here is a shot I took through my rental car windshield as we drove in:
Ah me, I really can't afford this now but if our company is successful, it will be OK. I am hoping that my equity will be worth enough to pay off the land and build a small house there. Then I would like to do some consulting and just live at my own pace. So I am trying to decide to take a chance and grab this lot now, even though it would be hard financially.
Anyway, just wanted to share this all with you. It is great fun to think about--even if I don't do it.
I am intrigued by a new concept in conservation communities where one can acquire a large amount of land, provided one keeps it in its natural state. In one of the communities I looked at, you can get 20 acres of high desert land--mostly pinon pines, cedar, small cactus, yucca-type plants, etc., but you can only build on one acre--the rest has to stay in its natural condition. There are covenants about how the homes can look (they have to blend in with the land) and you can only landscape with native vegetation. The preserve has over 18,000 acres but only 5% of the land will be disturbed--yet the entire preserve will be available for the owners to use for hiking, biking, horsebackriding and the like. You can also get involved in the conservation group if you want and there are some pueblo ruins on the site and archaeology groups working in the region.
And oh, it is breathtakingly beautiful, both on the preserve and the surrounding countryside. I think there are eight mountain ranges in view and huge, huge expanses of wide-open spaces.
Anyway, I am very tempted to get a lot--even though it would be a big financial hardship right now. But it is just so what I want. It is a bit isolated, but there is a small town nearby and you are about 80 miles from Albuquerque--which is a reasonable sized city. They have sold out the first phase (56 sites) and most people are waiting to build until they retire or want a second home. But many have their names near their driveways and it is a broad community of people from the West, Mid-west, East, FL, and all over. Some are living there now and I am going to talk with a few to see how it is.
This is the view from the lot that I liked the best:
Imagine looking at that sight every morning. Sigh. It looks a bit like a city below but it is only grassland and fields.
I also looked at a similar development further south (near Las Cruces). They are 40 acre lots in an equally beautiful area--but it was so isolated that I don't think I could feel comfortable there. It was lovely to visit it though and to see the beauty. Here is a shot I took through my rental car windshield as we drove in:
Ah me, I really can't afford this now but if our company is successful, it will be OK. I am hoping that my equity will be worth enough to pay off the land and build a small house there. Then I would like to do some consulting and just live at my own pace. So I am trying to decide to take a chance and grab this lot now, even though it would be hard financially.
Anyway, just wanted to share this all with you. It is great fun to think about--even if I don't do it.