Hi again, and thanks for your input. You're kind of confirming what I suspected. I do feel a bit restricted on just one acre, and to have that parcel of land
just there...it's aggravating. Even more so because the farmer doesn't even use it. He rents it to someone else for silage.
The story so far is that I expressed my feelings to the estate agent who contacted the vendor. The vendor apparently spoke to the farmer who said he was open to selling the land, and passed on the farmer's number to me. I rang and his wife answered, the farmer wasn't around. The wife was a bit frosty and said the land wasn't for sale. So I rang the estate agent again and explained what had happened, he rang the vendor who said "well if that's their answer..." and doesn't seem prepared to approach them again. So I'm left scratching my head really... in truth, I'd be happy just knowing I could rent it. And maybe in time (in my happy fairy land) once we get to know the locals and become part of the community, have opportunity to buy it. But I know that farmers like to hold on to their land. But it's really aggravating as it is part of the paddock that the property sits on, and he sold that bit of the land to the vendor without issue. It's just THERE. I really don't know what to do.
Our budget is on the lower end, so we really are a bit restricted. There was another place that had 6 acres, but it was boggy, needed loads of drainage, had a hostile neighbour and was in a valley with a shooting range, clay pigeon, rough shooting, etc. We were there for about an hour and all you could hear was gun shots. Bang! Bang! Bang! It really took the shine off it for me!
We're looking at another place this weekend, 10 acres (half pasture, half woodland), which is over budget (but a manageable mortgage) but the house is damp and needs a lot of work...
So really, the one acre place so far is the best bet... if I could get that land. Even just to rent it!! Gaaaahhhhhh!!
As for what we want to do... well... I'm not really sure. I know I could never raise animals for meat. I just couldn't. I do eat a little meat, though less and less these days, I just couldn't kill one of my own animals as I get too attached. But I will continue to have chickens, and I would like a couple goats for milk, yogurt, etc, bees and also love alpacas, and wouldn't mind a couple as pets to help keep the chooks safe. I've also always wanted a couple of rescue donkeys. Just because I love them. Thus the need for the extra couple acres. Apart from that, it'd just be vegetables and fruit, etc.
My instinct is that if we buy the smaller property with the hope that we can get that other bit of land (buy or rent), then we're kind of stuck, with no guarantee of ever expanding the way we want to. In a part of the world where the market to re-sell is rather sluggish.
The other thing about the property is that it's a derelict cottage. It needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, to retain it's original characteristics in keeping with the area, but to modern building regs with regard to insulation, under floor heating, etc. It's an amazing little place... but
little. OK for us, as it's just the two of us, but for anyone else, might just be too small to sell on, especially without the extra parcel of land behind us. So you can see my dilemma!
Topic: Hello everyone (Read 1535 times)
