posted 1 day ago
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this or not. Please feel free to move it!
We acquired some pretty nice land, and built (but did not finish) a very efficient house. But as they say, location, location, location! We reconnected with wife's side of the family and my family moved to town. Now we'd like to be a lot closer.
This property is in Benewah county near Emida, which is not even really a town. Very remote, but on a county maintained road. Not one that people normally use snowmobiles on in the winter.
Ideally, we would trade for a place on 1/4+ acre in Moscow, or 1+ acre within about 10 miles of Moscow. It'll be a setback in terms of homesteading, but proximity to family is more important at this point.
Now we'd have to get pretty lucky for such a trade, so it might end up being a sale. We have a realtor in mind, but with the compost toilets thought that Craigslist and Permies would be a good first attempt.
And regardless, as far as timing goes, we'd probably want till spring. We've had a moisture issue in the basement (which is the living area with bedrooms) that we're hoping may be resolved now after significant grading + drainage work, but we're not confident yet and want to put it through the test with spring rains. Maybe you're particularly adventurous and feel willing to tackle the property regardless, though.
We've been in contact with a realtor who suggested listing the property for $600k, IF we finished the house, installed a septic, and converted to flushing toilets. But I would rather not go down that road and have someone more permaculture minded take it over.
I feel that this property can easily meet its own lumber+firewood needs. Has a pond and a creek. The well head is even a Bison hand pump. Over 1 acre is fenced for our goats. 20x30 pole barn (with a loft) for them.
Well pump is solar powered, cistern pump is solar+battery powered, hot water is propane. Wood stove for heat. We used less than one cord last season! Granted, it was a mild winter, but we think we'd never be over 2 cords, at least with the heat level we find comfortable.
Vented attict, R45 Rockwool batts in the ceiling. R23 Rockwool in the walls. 8' on center post frame (dry set brackets) without studs. We designed the house around the principle that power shouldn't be essential. It is convenient being on-grid with Clearwater power, though. We've only been billed 9 cents per kw/hour. It does go down from time to time, so you have to be prepared out here.
Some negotiable things that might help make this more of a turn-key homestead of sorts: 1991 Ford F-150 4x4 4 speed manual, Suzuki 4-wheeler with snow plow and water sprayer, Ferguson TO-30 tractor, goats, chickens, temporary fence panels (as seen in photos), IBC tote(s,) rough cut lumber, and other building supplies.
Anyway, many more details are available. Have a small selection of photos to share here.
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