Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

I have a couple of questions about purchasing bug-out land. I�ve been looking for the ideal strategic location for some time now, thinking I had plenty of time to be picky as the years passed by, but so far I have not found my ideal land. Now that we're nearing SHTF times closer then ever before, I am thinking of just taking whatever BOL I can get, even if sub-par that�s better than nothing. If I haven't found my dream BOL by now, I probably won't find it, so I may have to settle on whatever is available. Do you think this would be a good decision? Would you rather have BOL that is sub-par than nothing at all? Or keep waiting since it's possible sub-par land wouldn't be that valuable?

Also, other things to consider: I am moving to ID or MT in 2010 and will likely want to buy BOL there too. I may also move to Europe in a few more years down the road and find a place there too. Either scenario, I will need BOL here in the US to come back to. I just don't know if I should have something both here in PA and out west? Or just keep waiting till I get out west since we haven't hit the bottom of the market yet anyway? But then what if things don't work out out west? I really do like PA. So maybe I should I just buy BOL here in PA, then keep it for now in case I want to come back, then just buy more when I get out west? What do you think? What would you do?

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

This very much depends on your requirements. For me, somewhere that isn't frozen solid 6 months of the year would be good. Somewhere not too populated but populated enough for protection, sustainable community etc. Somewhere not too hot (diseases and insects). Somewhere with lots of trees and fresh water.

What do you mean by sub-par anyway? New York?

Maybe this site can help??

This looks good

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

Plenty of clean fresh water. Everything else is secondary.

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

if one doesn't mind earthquake area, s.w. washington state has plenty of water, trees. not too sparcely populated, or conversely, overcrowded. mild seasons, but inceasant raining. flooding in areas. moderately priced. can look in that area with

http://www.redfin.com/search#uipt=5&...market=seattle

or

www.johnlscott.com

while i do search that area, i check mainly east of the cascades, but seasons are more extreme. fire danger. water much scarcer. more to my liking, it's sparcely populated and taxes are lower east

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

I pretty much nailed it down to a) North ID, close enough to Spokane airport, or b) Northwest MT, close enough to Flathead airport because I need to be close proximity to a major airport. Based on wind charts, this region is the safest in the country and the very last to get hit by any nuclear fallout. I have looked at northeast WA, but don’t want to be that close to a nuclear power plant. Flathead airport is the only airport safe enough and far away enough from nuclear power plants, unlike Spokane, which has a nuclear power plant. However the flight times for Spokane flights are much more frequent and flyer-friendly. So I would probably have to stay there until my flight schedule settles down, then I can move to MT. Also guns laws in ID and MT are much better. Although I do like the idea of no state income tax in WA. For that reason, when I first get there I may rent in Spokane while I look for BOL in ID or MT.

As for PA, the property I’m looking at would cost $15,000 for 1.5 acres (is that reasonable?) in the northeast. (I know it’s not much, but it’s the maximum I can afford right now). It is about an hour away from the nearest major airport and two hours away from where I’m at now. Not too bad a drive. As for water, a river is located close by, but not on the property. No perc test yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s rocky, just like the rest of PA. Regarding population, it is semi-rural, definitely not suburban, but not the Alaskan bush either. Although too close to a nuclear power plant for comfort, it is about as far away I can get from one as possible without being too far from an airport in PA (or anywhere else on the east coast for all that matters). It is very close to large tracts of state game lands and state forests, of which I really like being in proximity to.

What I meant by being ‘sub-par’ was I just always wanted something that had the ultimate location and natural defenses. Like being on the top of a mountain and having a lookout that can see for miles and miles. Having a stream or river run right through my property and water rights so I don’t have to dig a well, enough natural clearing space for sunlight, solar power and garden, nearest neighbor 15 minutes away, and bordering massive public land that is rarely frequented by the public. A place that’s hard to find and difficult to get to. Preferably somewhere that snows in the winter and has no sticky, hot, or humid weather.

As for the price, what do you think, is $10,000 per acre the best deal on the market? Or can I get something cheaper? I hear real estate prices have a few more years yet to bottom out, but is that limited to just housing or does it effect bug-out land too?

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

no state income tax in wa. idaho has one, i believe. the wwwjohnlscott.com site can be used to look in idaho. easy and fun to use. uncheck residential and condo and check land. like this maybe?
http://www.johnlscott.com/propertyde...ingID=60005166

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

Montana has no sales tax. That's where my bug out is.


http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/
http://terraserver-usa.com/place.aspx
http://gis.mt.gov/
http://www.missoularealestate.com/in...in/ID/7352fcc8

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

WA's no state income tax - really pops its head up in other areas - I've recently come more aware of this. The per gallon gas tax and cost of liquor are the highest in the nation.

State tax doesn't look so bad if you drink & drive!

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

Thanks for the link to the real estate website,some really nice properties out that way.

To those in the region,what are the pros and cons of the various states as they pertain to living expenses,taxes,restrictive laws,etc?

Also of great importance to us is the climate,a good long growing season is very important to us....as is not being buried under a mountain of snow.

We have VERY thin blood.:wink:

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

Apart from not meeting the requirement for not being frozen half the year,this is a pretty nice looking property:

http://photos.realestateadmin.com/sa...28021358-2.jpg

http://www.johnlscott.com/propertyde...1952481&Sort=0

Re: Which bug-out land should I settle for?
 

eastern washington, idaho, and montana will get you serious snow. if you want mild temp and light snowfall, western wash and western oregon are better. often one can go to a site for a city, town and get all the info they could dream of, from demographics to weather.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Washington.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Idaho.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Montana.html