Off-Grid Property with No Building Codes in New Mexico

Forgive me if this isn't allowed... I tried looking for rules and couldn't figure out if I'm allowed to post this or not. So, delete if necessary.

If anyone is interested, my wife and I are selling some 1 and 2 acre parcels in Socorro County, NM. They're off-grid and have no building codes. (Technically the state has codes to follow, but they are not enforced in this area at all. County has no codes or zoning department or anything). My wife and I have already built an earthbag structure out there. The clay/sand ratio is perfect for earthbags, but you could do whatever building method you want. Some people in the area are just living in RV's, others have built with earthbags, others have built with strawbales, others are living in glorified sheds, and others have full on mobile homes. It's entirely up to you!

$2500 for 1 acre, $4500 for 2 acres. I'd love for these to go to someone who wants to do some natural buildings. Water needs to be hauled in, but I could connect you with a great guy who lives nearby who will let you haul water from his well in exchange for some beer and friendship. We always just hauled water from his house using a 300 gallon tote.

You can find more info at https://www.TuckerLandCompany.com

Tried your link.. it didn’t work for me? Where are you at in Socorro County? I used to own 20 acres in Riley (Santa Rita Ranches), a small ghost town north of Magdalena. I live in Nevada now, just outside of Death Valley. (By the way.. this area used to be the northwest corner of New Mexico.. back when it was a Territory.) I still grow chilis here with seed that I brought from New Mexico.

hmm... the link is working for me. Maybe this will work? https://www.tuckerlandcompany.com/

If not, that's the website if you just punch it in yourself.

We're South of Belen just off of Route 60. It's the Northern section of Socorro County.

Nice! I don't know of Riley, but I do know Magdalena, so I have an idea of where that is. I've only ever been to Death Valley once before though. Is Nevada similar to New Mexico in climate?

Ok.. so you’re in the Rio Grande Estates? Heading east on 60 towards Mountainair? If you took that same road west.. under the 25 and over the old steel bridge that crosses the Rio Puerco, you would be about 30 miles from Riley. It’s a small ghost town.. population of 3 when I was there (and I was one of the three!) Could be an interesting day trip for you around the backside of Sierra Ladron (Thieves Mountain).

The climate here is similar, but I’m at 3600 ft instead of 6500 ft. The biggest difference is that I have lots of water here.

https://permies.com/t/192087/Desert-Southwest-opportunity-person

Yep! Rio Grande Estates! Ok, yeah I'll have to take a drive out that way sometime! Sierra Ladron is gorgeous! I've only been out that way once, but I really liked it. And I love staring at that mountain through the front windows!

That road loops all the way through to Magdalena. You can drop down into Socorro, and visit the El Camino Restaurant.. I would recommend the two breakfast burritos with bacon and red and green chili. Great food in a retro atmosphere, and your coffee cup will never be empty!

Ted Abbey wrote:That road loops all the way through to Magdalena. You can drop down into Socorro, and visit the El Camino Restaurant.. I would recommend the two breakfast burritos with bacon and red and green chili. Great food in a retro atmosphere, and your coffee cup will never be empty!

Hey Ted, Not too long ago we had a brief exchange about your opportunity in Nevada.  

I passed through Riley a couple of times, when I worked at the VLA Jan-Apr 1987 & lived out of my vehicle in the mountains around, + a decade later got turned back by locked gates on very rugged roads trying to get close & hike up Ladron after they created the Wilderness Study Area.  I know the guy who bought the big ranch just downstream on the Rio Salado & is trying to restore the arroyo coming across the plain.  

On the other side of 60, east side of Magdalenas, off Water Canyon Road, do you happen to know anything about the huge apricot trees around a corral near the foothills, or the old orchard with a surviving cherry at an old mining outpost in the foothills, or the raspberry thicket surrounding the ruined cabin just below the peaks, or the couple who worked the fire lookout on Mt Withington & had mastered growing asparagus on arroyo flood benches?

Hey Patrick.. I do remember our exchange on my thread. Been meaning to PM you, but haven’t for reasons. I assume you are talking about the restoration on La Jencia? I lived at and worked for the Spears Ranch for a time (right on the Rio Salado crossing in Riley). For the life of me, I can’t recall the name of the ranch downstream? Must be getting old.. I do remember chasing beeves clear down into Sevilleta. Beautiful and wild country in the shadow of Ladron. Lots of deer, elk, black bears, and thick with long tail cats! I even saw wolf prints just east of The Box. I know nothing of those settlements in the Magdalena’s, but I know there were ruins and old grapevines in the Bears. Did you ever explore the Thieves Cave? Just off the road before you drop into the valley to Riley if you were coming in from Bernardo? So many memories.. in fact, this is the setting for the book I’m writing first. “Land For Sale in New Mexico”

Ted Abbey wrote:Hey Patrick.. I do remember our exchange on my thread. Been meaning to PM you, but haven’t for reasons. I assume you are talking about the restoration on La Jencia? I lived at and worked for the Spears Ranch for a time (right on the Rio Salado crossing in Riley). For the life of me, I can’t recall the name of the ranch downstream? Must be getting old.. I do remember chasing beeves clear down into Sevilleta. Beautiful and wild country in the shadow of Ladron. Lots of deer, elk, black bears, and thick with long tail cats! I even saw wolf prints just east of The Box. I know nothing of those settlements in the Magdalena’s, but I know there were ruins and old grapevines in the Bears. Did you ever explore the Thieves Cave? Just off the road before you drop into the valley to Riley if you were coming in from Bernardo? So many memories.. in fact, this is the setting for the book I’m writing first. “Land For Sale in New Mexico”

No hurries, no worries!  I mostly stayed out of the Bear mountains having once been seen off by armed braves of the Alamo Band.  Forgot names of creek across the plain from the Magdalenas & ranch, though I had looked closely at whether it might support an orchard just above the confluence with the Salado.  Furthest I ever got out there was sneaking across the Strawberry hills & the Tech proving grounds, which was very scary with all the sheer vertical shafts & explosives craters.  Only crossed with wolves one time, cutting Gambel fuelwood along the west side of the San Mateos & camping just south of Apache Kid, when my dogs were out all night yipping/ howling/ chasing/ running with what I had thought were coyotes, until I later read about the pack having been tracked right then into that area from the Black Range.  And closest I ever came to a lion (in North America) was rounding a bend not far behind my dogs in the canyon at Servilleta (above Ojo Caliente) to see a long tail with black tip turn to blur off into the scrub.  Ready to read your book, better yet share some campfire light!

If it was the creek through the plains between the Bears and EMRTC, that is La Jencia. Rejoins the Rio Salado just downstream from The Box. Your tale of armed Alamos brings me perilously close to releasing spoilers from my book. Funny thing.. I was on my way to Truth or Consequences when I stumbled into my current situation. I had about $25k, my 1962 Serro Scotty travel trailer, and I was going to soak in the hot springs there, and spend my days writing my book on the banks of the Rio Grande. God laughed at my plan. This place, the people, and situation is turning out to be another book.. working title: “Life and Death in the Oasis Valley”. For better or worse, I have to live it to write it, as my chosen genre is fictionalized autobiographical true crime tragicomedy. As far as the campfire goes, stop by if you’re ever in the greater Death Valley area. We can talk story with ghosts while the salt cedar burns!

Ted Abbey wrote:If it was the creek through the plains between the Bears and EMRTC, that is La Jencia. Rejoins the Rio Salado just downstream from The Box. Your tale of armed Alamos brings me perilously close to releasing spoilers from my book. Funny thing.. I was on my way to Truth or Consequences when I stumbled into my current situation. I had about $25k, my 1962 Serro Scotty travel trailer, and I was going to soak in the hot springs there, and spend my days writing my book on the banks of the Rio Grande. God laughed at my plan. This place, the people, and situation is turning out to be another book.. working title: “Life and Death in the Oasis Valley”. For better or worse, I have to live it to write it, as my chosen genre is fictionalized autobiographical true crime tragicomedy. As far as the campfire goes, stop by if you’re ever in the greater Death Valley area. We can talk story with ghosts while the salt cedar burns!

 

How the world turns, eh?  The seed of my experiences there & subsequent trajectory was the only desirable job opportunity I conjured after college, and then this big city boy stepped off into wilderness.  I had an old lemon VW station wagon, my city bike, books, futon, five blankets, a pressure cooker.  After astronomical computer work I'd venture as far out & up as snow & front-wheel drive would let me.  I cooked over fire then rolled my vehicle over embers for warmth. Iced windows & herds of elk were my wakeup.  My focus became the Gila & my goto the Glenwood Hot Springs.  Once a week I went into ABQ for Sheaf stout, cannabis, & a course in adobe architecture.  I followed the latter to Cuyama Valley, CA, & got to know backcountry Mojave Desert & Death Valley.  I'll be looking for you out there.  

Hey J, are either the 1 or 2 acres still available? I would love to come look around and am able to pay in cash

Do you have any more of these properties that have no building codes
Roger

Would you be willing to share the info about the water hauling?

Shout out to Ted & Patrick.  On the topic of ranches around Magdalena & Riley.  My wife & I just back to the Pacific Northwest after a week researching retirement properties.
  Had a great afternoon with a rancher/retired rodeo cowboy in the area.  "Johnny" ? (can't remember his last name).  Great stories of the area.
 In fact we were headed out to look at land in the Santa Rita's.  The bartender and this cowboy kinda changed my wifes attitude.
 Interesting to hear you guys talk.

Hey Dave, Heard that shout.  Did you find what you were looking for?  I had so many wonderful & formative experiences in that area over a fairly short time with intermittent revisits & further discoveries.  It inspired & propelled me onward to great lengths & distant places, holding onto a long deep root which always feels like pulling home when I return, & happening upon any memory or reminder releases a nostalgic cascade.  I sure wish I'd been able to organise a group of people to buy that mountain & a half ranch at the north end of the Black Range, that sweet homestead property in Ballinger Canyon, or even the jailhouse place in Glenwood.  Good hunting to you!