Found this on the landwatch website, looks like harsh country but might be worth a look?

http://www.smile4uinc.com/listing.php?listingid=333&state=CO&type=listing

^thanks for sharing if i had 7500 to spend i'd consider it

Looks cool. However, water, water, water. Is there water and can it be had?

That one sold but smile4uinc.com has some great deals on land in southern colorado. I browse landwatch.com frequently and have found numerous deals in so co. I plan to buy at least 5 acres there next spring. I figure if the perm experts can green the desert then I can green up the land there, anyways I've been there and it's not that bad. LOTS of sunshine! Anyone want to join me? Heres my plan: 1) Buy land with good southern exposure, and hopefully a well. 2) Camp on land to get a feel for where things should grow. 3) Select building sites, pond site, cistern site, greenhouse....etc. 4) Build outdoor kitchen, privy, and solar shower. 5) Build cistern and plan water systems. 6) Dig pond, terraces, foundations, and cold cellar. 7) Plant pastures, first trees (foundation plantings for living fences and windbreaks) Build greenhouses, barn, chicken tractor, coops, paddocks... 9) Build underground dome home and solar panels. Obviously I could use some help anyone interested?

Sounds like a good plan Lyla. Before you get too eager, and invest your money there, I suggest that you investigate Colorado Water Rights Laws. They are some of the toughest in the west.

http://water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/SWRights/Pages/RainwaterGraywater.aspx
http://water.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/SWRights/Pages/default.aspx
http://water.state.co.us/DWRIPub/Documents/DWR_RainwaterFlyer.pdf

lyla moore wrote:That one sold but smile4uinc.com has some great deals on land in southern colorado. I browse landwatch.com frequently and have found numerous deals in so co. I plan to buy at least 5 acres there next spring. I figure if the perm experts can green the desert then I can green up the land there, anyways I've been there and it's not that bad. LOTS of sunshine! Anyone want to join me? Heres my plan: 1) Buy land with good southern exposure, and hopefully a well. 2) Camp on land to get a feel for where things should grow. 3) Select building sites, pond site, cistern site, greenhouse....etc. 4) Build outdoor kitchen, privy, and solar shower. 5) Build cistern and plan water systems. 6) Dig pond, terraces, foundations, and cold cellar. 7) Plant pastures, first trees (foundation plantings for living fences and windbreaks) Build greenhouses, barn, chicken tractor, coops, paddocks... 9) Build underground dome home and solar panels. Obviously I could use some help anyone interested?

I would love to get in on that. I don't know how water rights work, so that would be an issue, but I've been wanting to buy land in southern CO for a number of years now.

[size=12]Hello Lyla and Todd,
Lyla you have an ambicious plan and a good one. I would love to participate in an adveture such as this one. May I make a sugestion, lets do a plan. Each one of us writes a plan then we send copies to the other participants and merge the plans and refine until we have working document. We then split a section of the plan to each participant to research his or her section and present the findings to the others. We will cover more area in less time. Lyla your idea to use permaculture to green up a small part of Colorado is great. I was doing some reading on HUGELKULTUR. This form of farming uses very little water which would be ideal in Colorado. In terms of a home I was planning to get 3 or 4 acres for my self and build an integrated earth shelter. They are easy to build and also cheap. At this moment in time I need to conserve cash for things I can not get for free. To continue I sugest a quick three way call to get to know each other. We would send to the others a one sheet with our bio and a sugestion of the next five steps to take in this quest. As we refine the plan we would have a great plan in half the time and fully researched done by a small group with a vested interest in the succesfull outcome of the project. My contact email is gonacopo1946@hotmail.com. At the moment I an living with my sister in Maryland, I am helping her to recover from a heart attack and stroke. Each one of the siblins is taking a turn being here in Baltimore. The phone here is 410-433-2336. I live in New jersey. Since I am retired I take longer tours. This is my second time here.
If this plan is agreable to you Lyla and you Todd send me an e-mail with 3 possible dates to set up a three way call. What do you guys think??
Keep on smiling,
Frank

Thanks John. I have an uncle who lives outside of Denver and has been on the local water board for years. I have also been to these water sites, and studied them. While they are a challenge I dont believe it to be insurmountable. The land I'm interested in is the southern plateau and foothills between the mountains. Frank and Todd thanks for your interest will send email with bio.

Hi,

I have browsed this site for a while and just stumbled onto this post. I actually own 40 acres in Southern Colorado and am going to sell it. I own a few parcels and really only need one. If anyone is interested please post back. It is in Conejos County Colorado 1.5 miles from Rio Grande. 40 acres for $9200.
Thank you.

Can you give us more info Wolf ? Any water in the area? Gullies that have runoff? Wells that you know of. Any of your neighbors growing anything etc. Listed anywhere that we could see a map ? Thanks.

Check the fracking maps !

N New Mex and S Colorado are turning some areas into moonscapes, no water table to trap and diffuse methane from leaking up....


http://www.naturalgasforums.com/natgasSubs/natural_gas_maps.php

Hi, The 40 acres I have for sale are actually 1.5 miles west of the Rio Grande. This area is virtually untouched by the fracking that has plagued the rest of the state. The closest area with the highest concentration of wells/sites is just west of Hwy 34. These properties are actually much more expensive per acre. Essentially there you are paying to be in a forested to slighted forested and elevated area.

http://www.lappintech.com/Colorado.htm

I am attaching a few images to show location of my property. Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

Sorry for quality of my last images, I will try a few more. If anyone is interested I can email them as well.

Looks like the newer images I posted came out much clearer. As you can see the property is also very close, 1.25 miles from the San Antonito River as well as the Rio Grande on the East. Wells in this area are relatively close to surface as opposed to most Colorado moutain property. Here is the link to the Water Resources page of Colorado: http://water.state.co.us/DWRIPub/Documents/wellpermitguide.pdf

M Wolf, a couple of questions. How do you get on to the property, is there a road or an easement?? What are the taxes per year?? How in the 40 acres zoned?? What kind of title do you have on the property?? How far is the nearest fracking well from the property?? can you provide directions to come and see the property and name of the nearest town regardless of size and the name of the nearest town of 15,000 people at least. Thank you
Regards,
Frank

M Wolf, a couple of questions. How do you get on to the property, is there a road or an easement?? What are the taxes per year?? How in the 40 acres zoned?? What kind of title do you have on the property?? How far is the nearest fracking well from the property?? can you provide directions to come and see the property and name of the nearest town regardless of size and the name of the nearest town of 15,000 people at least. Thank you
Regards,


Hi Frank,

The property is accessible through an easement recorded with Conejos County on warranty deed, January 27, 1971 in Book 246 at page 540.
The taxes are $150 per year. The 40 acres is zoned Residential. I have free and clear title. I have a copy of Owner and Encumberance report I paid for last year through Title company in the county. I am not aware of any wells for fracking in the area. In fact Southern Colorado in general has been selected as an area to roll out progressive solar initiatives.

http://www.5280.com/blogs/2012/07/26/colorado-tapped-governments-new-solar-energy-zones

I could give you directions to the access road to property but because the cost of new survey is around half the price I am asking for the property you would have to use GPS along with county records to determine boundaries.

The closest town is Manassa about two miles. The larger city Alamosa has is just under 10,000 and that is about exactly 30 mins north. Bigger cities than this you have to head south to Taos, NM due south or out to Pueblo, Co through La Veta Pass to the East.

Hope this helps.

Hi! M Wolf, thank you for a quick response. I take it that you are from the area. How hard is it to change the zoning from residential to agricultural?? The information you sent was very helpful, thank you.
Frank

Hi Frank,

I am actually not from the area. I have visited numerous times, but unfortunately have not moved there. My family plan was to move to grow potato and wheat, however I am unfamiliar with what requirements you would need to meet to change to agricultural zoning. I think the other guy at top of page might be from area. Smiles or something has sent message also about the agriculture questions. You can visit the county site or try speaking with someone at this page: http://www.conejoscounty.org/Webpages/land_use.html

Matt

@ Frank,

I cant speak for Conejos County, but in Fremont County (a few hours north) to get agricultural status, you must prove to the county that you have made $1000 on the property. As i understand it, you have to prove this for 3 years, then your property is converted to AG status.
this will be our first year dealing with the county, so i am not to familiar with the process and whether the $1000 is net or gross.

In the area that M Wolf is selling, i doubt you will have any issues converting it to AG land.
FWIW - i have seen 40 acre parcel taxes at $4 a year for AG status (in the trinidad area)

hope this helps.

Devon Olsen, I have an opportunity for you. You indicated in your post that you may be interested in land in southern Colorado if you had the money for it. well, Lyla More and I are looking to form a community of like minded persons to buy a large group of acres. With each member buying a share of the land and establishing a sustainable COMMUNITY. Would you be interested in something like this.
Please respond to me at gonacopo1946@hotmail.com.
Thank you,
Kikoman

Frank ,look for an e-mail from me. I might be able to pitch in too.

i do most appreciate the offer frank, i will email you on details however i am generally speaking more interested in buying land on my own as my interests will likely take me in a different direction than intentional communities

Hi, Happy New Year to everyone! I know a few of you were asking questions regarding the 40 acres I have for sale in Southern Colorado for $9200. If anyone is still interested please let me know. I was trying to find a buyer on my own, but living in Atlanta it is kind of difficult. By end of January I will be placing it through a local realtor in Colorado, that I purchased it through back in 2005. Once I do this I will not be able to solicit anyone by myself or I am forced to pay the realtor the commission so kind of defeats the purpose. Thank you kindly for your interest.

Hi! Matt, I trust you had a good Christmas and a wonderfull New Years holiday and 20 13 has started with a bang for you. Sorry it has been a while since I contacted you via this forum. I was taking care of my
younger sister helpping her to recuperate from a series of miny strokes. She is doing better now so I am home in New Jersey picking up my life and moving forwards. Is the land you had offered still available.
If so I wowld like to make an offer. We can continue using this forum or we can talk on the side my phone number is 732-350-8772. I think you have my e-mail address as it was on one of my earlier post in this
forum. Hope to hear from you soon.
Frank

Hi! Wyomiles, Are still interested in joining us in starting a permaculturecommunity in Colorado. I did not get an e-mail from you and I have been very bussy with family matters. Can you drop
me a line at gonacopo1946@hotmail.com. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding what we are planning to do. Hope to hear from you soon.
Frank

if you guys get the property, please do make a project thread, im certain you can make quite the difference compared to current conditions, it amazes me how much difference a 6ft hugelkbed can make in snow collection with jujst one storm! imagine 40 acres of highly textured land...

M Wolf Does your property extend up those hills in the background or is it all in front of them?

Busy month for me too Frank. I am hoping it will slow down next week. If you go with M Wolfs land is there other land around his that is available?

Hi Everyone, sorry for the delayed response. As it turns out I have found a private buyer who has agreed to purchase my land from me. I apreciate the interest that I received from everyone. I originally purchased the land from Colorado Realty in Alamosa. Their website is: http://www.colo-realty.com/
They currently have a few larger parcels/listings available, exampleobstaff-MLS#666777
You can search their site on left side where it says lots and acreage.

Also I am not sure if anyone has ever visited www.unitedcountry.com but that site is great and they allow you to search the entire country or just state. Currently in Colorado they have some nice larger parcels available East of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains in Walsenburg, CO.

This area is alot more green on you would experience a less extreme low temp threshold during the winter vs. being in San Luis Valley.

I hope this helps everyone. Good Luck! I will be glad to answer any questions if I can help.

Matt

Hello, I just happened upon your neat site as I was checking for other listings in Southern Colorado. Pardon my intrusion but I have a piece of land very near (if not the same access road) as M Wolfs land. This is 40 acres with water rights and access easement. I do own 50 percent mineral interest but, that does not convey. I moved back east,I live in( Benson NC) and I will never use this land. taxes are about $211 per year. Nearly the same exact views as M Wolfs estate. I have a price in mind as per a talk with a realtor about the property but send me a private message or email me aptreasurehunter@aol.com or, go to the Santa Fe Craigslist and type in 40 acres in Manassa. I would just keep it but I want to offset the cost of an addition to the house as I know have 2 kids and the wife wants more! Thanks for your time I hope I am not being inconsiderate by posting this. I do not have pics as I have not been there in almost a decade.

Thanks!
Aaron S. Popple

Hello Everyone!

I know it's been a while since this post has been active, but I thought I'd share a link with you.
I noticed that the original property in question has sold so here are our current Colorado listings.
http://smile4uinc.com/property.php?stateid=6&type=listing
If you have any questions about Colorado land or anything along those lines, please feel free to send me an email: sales@smile4uinc.com

You'll want to always ask about HOA's, Water restrictions, and/or any COVENANTS that may be attached to the property. We have had some close calls in the past when we were ready to buy in Colorado
and found out just in time that there are several covenants that would prevent us from doing what we intended on the property.