Fulltiming across the USA.............on your own land?

[CFerguson]

Does anyone have any experience Fulltiming on properties that you own?

What I am thinking of is buying property in several locations around the country such that at any given time of the year, you would have at least one spot to have ideal weather.

Yes, I know local laws/zoning have to be considered, but what got me started down this track is that some distant relatives of mine own a large lot on a river in MI and when the salmon are running, they all tow their RVs to the property and fish to their hearts’ content. I know they have municipal water on the site, not sure about electric. Ideally, I’d want both.

I’d love to hear about your experiences doing this and any downsides to this idea (other than initial cost and taxes, local meth heads, etc).

[CFerguson]

Yeah, I guess they still allow children on the Internet after nappytime.

I hadnt thought of the obvious that you mentioned, ajriding: a nearby rental storage unit at each lot. So Obvious for the things that you don't want to haul around but would like to have on site. I would worry about thieves with an on site shed unless you have neighbors that can look out for you. I have also considered a permanent no-walls RV garage on the sites. I have seen a number of these in Idaho where residents use them for shade in the summer and to keep the snow off the RV in the winter.

For wells, if the water table is shallow (like near a stream/river), its possible to self drill a shallow well. Not for drinking water, but for everything else it would be fine. Or fine with a good filter for that matter.

[ajriding]

You will get the trollers and silly answers no matter anything. Just ignore the clueless and eventually there might be a real answer.

Owning a few lots is my goal. As you know, staying on others property has its downsides. As a full timer you want to be on your own land.

I just want two lots, one in the mtns, then one in a warmer climate for winter. The biggest hurdle is the rules against wells and what you can do on your own land - like live in an RV.
My stuff can also be permanently stored in a shed since it would be my own lot. Otherwise you just dont have stuff, or you have to pay storage somewhere…
Keep us non trolls posted, Im interested to see your progress.

[Bill_Satellite]

No thanks. This should be fun.

[CFerguson]

Bill.Satellite wrote:

CFerguson wrote:

js218 wrote:
Most expensive cost at all 3 locations was septic and well drilling.

Septic doesn't worry me too much. That's gonna be a pretty similar cost most everywhere as long as I choose my land/soil wisely.

I'm still not sure which way to go with water. Drilling could get pricey, of course depending on where you are. Locating near a stream is the best bet so long as it doesn't drive the land cost to an unreasonable level. A water buffalo is another option I have considered. We drink 'store' water even now as we RV and prob wont change that (unless we drill a good well), so site water would just be for washing, etc.

Electric is the one where I am most uncertain. Again, land choice can greatly affect this if you want municipal electricity. A generator seems like something I wouldn't personally like. Solar seems like a lot of (ongoing) work to really do it right. Gonna have to spend some time on solar sites to research that further. I do love my electricity.

You've got to keep your story straight. If money is NO OBJECT getting city water and electric to each site should be no object either. Find the land, get the use approved and get a nice slab laid to park the RV and have the necessary utilities run.
Good luck!

Not going to argue with you. Go find someone else to troll.

[Bill_Satellite]

CFerguson wrote:

js218 wrote:
Most expensive cost at all 3 locations was septic and well drilling.

Septic doesn't worry me too much. That's gonna be a pretty similar cost most everywhere as long as I choose my land/soil wisely.

I'm still not sure which way to go with water. Drilling could get pricey, of course depending on where you are. Locating near a stream is the best bet so long as it doesn't drive the land cost to an unreasonable level. A water buffalo is another option I have considered. We drink 'store' water even now as we RV and prob wont change that (unless we drill a good well), so site water would just be for washing, etc.

Electric is the one where I am most uncertain. Again, land choice can greatly affect this if you want municipal electricity. A generator seems like something I wouldn't personally like. Solar seems like a lot of (ongoing) work to really do it right. Gonna have to spend some time on solar sites to research that further. I do love my electricity.

You've got to keep your story straight. If money is NO OBJECT getting city water and electric to each site should be no object either. Find the land, get the use approved and get a nice slab laid to park the RV and have the necessary utilities run.
Good luck!

[js218]

Yep, the electricity can be costly, my property in Pa. cost 7k to run line and poles.

[CFerguson]

js218 wrote:
Most expensive cost at all 3 locations was septic and well drilling.

Septic doesn't worry me too much. That's gonna be a pretty similar cost most everywhere as long as I choose my land/soil wisely.

I'm still not sure which way to go with water. Drilling could get pricey, of course depending on where you are. Locating near a stream is the best bet so long as it doesn't drive the land cost to an unreasonable level. A water buffalo is another option I have considered. We drink 'store' water even now as we RV and prob wont change that (unless we drill a good well), so site water would just be for washing, etc.

Electric is the one where I am most uncertain. Again, land choice can greatly affect this if you want municipal electricity. A generator seems like something I wouldn't personally like. Solar seems like a lot of (ongoing) work to really do it right. Gonna have to spend some time on solar sites to research that further. I do love my electricity.

[js218]

Most expensive cost at all 3 locations was septic and well drilling.

[CFerguson]

Good replies, folks. Thanks!

I am no stranger to buying and selling land in multiple states. Still own 100ac in VA and 9 in TN that have electric (water on 1) but am looking to expand to some more 'home' bases for travel like js218 has done. One of the ideas a friend had was to file a mining claim out west and rockhound a bit on it some. Very minimal cost to that, but will have to provide my own electric on that one.

valhalla360, perhaps I am an optimist, but its still no skin off my nose if no one but my wife and I use them. And (just musing out loud here now) if my heirs don't want them, I'll just set up my will so that the properties go to the Nature Conservancy or some such group. Or maybe even to some nice folks that I meet on the road. Heck, as I meet more fulltimers, I may even meet more than the 2 FT couples that I know now that I like well enough to allow them to use my properties.
Oh, and I should say that on the VA property I have, i had friends that lived there rent free while they got back on their feet for a year a while back. So I am already ahead on that score.

[bobsallyh]

Yuma, AZ. RV lots in the Foothills. We own one and of course spend the winter sitting there and since we are fulltimers, move north and shut down the lot for the summer. Most of the lots have 2-50 amp FHU's, one hookup on each side.

[mleekamp]

We actually did this, to a degree. Bought 20 acres in SE Missouri, near Mark Twain Forest. Virgin land, so we cleared about an acre of it. Hard work. In the end, we enjoyed full timing on it for a week or so at a time. I paid around $20k for the property -- yes, 20k. Sold it few years back for around 27k. Never had electricity, utilities of any kind. Was nice. Taxes around $70 per year. No, I didn't forget a zero.

We did not do it to the degree you want -- multiple locals around the country. But yes, thought about it.

I suggest landwatch.com -- they have tons of property from commercial to open land from lots to acres. This is where we found our 20 acre chunk...in the end though, about a year and half went by and we had not been to it. IT was fun, and if I could would do it again...desert this time?

Go for it.

[Bill_Satellite]

Despite the unnecessarily snarky reply, you should have read this part of the post as it is likely going to control what you can or cannot do.

Each locality will be different. We were just in Co. Springs, CO and they passed a law limiting the amount of time an RV could stay on a lot, even if you were the owner of that lot. I suspect you will need to check with each location to ensure you don't end up going afoul of the law.

[valhalla360]

CFerguson wrote:

This is what I am thinking. I still want to travel, but would like to have places that I own for a variety of reasons.

Maybe if you shared those reasons, it might make more sense.

While you may be able to afford it, there is still time and effort involved.

Also, I suspect you are being optimistic about how many friends and family will use the sites.

[js218]

No issues with utilities, Pa. site is 10 acres on a mountain top near Cross Forks Pa., Vermont site is 5 acres on a lake near Norton Vt., Lake Tahoe property is near Incline Village. Shut off the utilities when I'm gone, friends keep an eye on the properties when I'm gone which is almost always.

[CFerguson]

js218 wrote:
Yep, own property in Northern Vermont, north central PA. and Lake Tahoe Nevada, full hook ups at all 3 properties. Use them as layovers when traveling.

This is what I am thinking. I still want to travel, but would like to have places that I own for a variety of reasons.

May I ask what kind of issues you have experienced with the utilities- from initial emplacement to issues you may have had when you weren't present.
Are your sites more rural, semi-rural, etc?
Do you have neighbors/relatives watching over them while away?
Do you turn off utilities or just secure them when you aren't there? (I'm leaning toward the latter)