Noob here.

TaliaDPerkins · 10-19-2019, 09:50 PM

I have the cunning plan of buying some land zoned agricultural in VA, back near the WV border, and living in a skoolie. Plan is to travel when possible and hole up in a barn when not. Barn to get well, septic, solar, etc. Skoolie likely to be a 35'+ up to 40' critter. I will actually use the land for agricultural purposes, anyone see immediate show stoppers?

o1marc · 10-19-2019, 09:55 PM

Sounds like a viable plan to me.

Sleddgracer · 10-19-2019, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomDPerkins

I have the cunning plan of buying some land zoned agricultural in VA, back near the WV border, and living in a skoolie. Plan is to travel when possible and hole up in a barn when not. Barn to get well, septic, solar, etc. Skoolie likely to be a 35'+ up to 40' critter. I will actually use the land for agricultural purposes, anyone see immediate show stoppers?

sounds very good to me

Native · 10-20-2019, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

sounds very good to me

Same here ... especially if you build a BUS BARN.

PNW_Steve · 10-20-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomDPerkins

I have the cunning plan of buying some land zoned agricultural in VA, back near the WV border, and living in a skoolie. Plan is to travel when possible and hole up in a barn when not. Barn to get well, septic, solar, etc. Skoolie likely to be a 35'+ up to 40' critter. I will actually use the land for agricultural purposes, anyone see immediate show stoppers?

I think that it is a great plan.

I plan on doing pretty much the same thing.

I plan on a few full hookup sites for when my friends come to visit.

Sleddgracer · 10-20-2019, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I think that it is a great plan.

I plan on doing pretty much the same thing.

I plan on a few full hookup sites for when my friends come to visit.

..............

..................

TaliaDPerkins · 10-20-2019, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Native

Same here ... especially if you build a BUS BARN.

Did I mention I was a complete noob?

Anything make it a BUS BARN besides being big enough to...hold the bus?

Sleddgracer · 10-20-2019, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomDPerkins

Did I mention I was a complete noob?

Anything make it a BUS BARN besides being big enough to...hold the bus?

ideally it would have room for all the equipment to make hat channel, cranes for doing a roof raise, air powered jacks, motor overhaul equipment and tools - shouldn't take up much more room than a city block - lol

Danjo · 10-20-2019, 12:10 PM

I was kind of thinking the same. Just make sure you are using the land within the constraints of the zoning laws, pay an attorney to confirm before plunking down the cash.

PNW_Steve · 10-20-2019, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danjo

I was kind of thinking the same. Just make sure you are using the land within the constraints of the zoning laws, pay an attorney to confirm before plunking down the cash.

Definitely want to do your due diligence before committing.

You can pay a $200/hr attorney to contact local planning and zoning office and the county recorder to find out for you. Or, you can do it yourself. It isn't rocket surgery.

Researching tittle can take a little time but it's not difficult.

EastCoastCB · 10-20-2019, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomDPerkins

I have the cunning plan of buying some land zoned agricultural in VA, back near the WV border, and living in a skoolie. Plan is to travel when possible and hole up in a barn when not. Barn to get well, septic, solar, etc. Skoolie likely to be a 35'+ up to 40' critter. I will actually use the land for agricultural purposes, anyone see immediate show stoppers?

That's been our plan. A barn with a bus in it.

Down here I can get a HUGE steel building cheap.

Truthseeker4449 · 10-20-2019, 03:32 PM

Whereabouts on the VA/WV border are you considering? I'm up at the top of Virginia, if you end up close enough I wouldn't mind giving a hand or two.

musigenesis · 10-20-2019, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I plan on a few full hookup sites for when my friends come to visit.

I need to start being nice to people here.

musigenesis · 10-20-2019, 03:47 PM

Speaking of cunning plans: a couple of months ago I found a weird piece of property up north in PA. It's a strip of land along the river about 1500' long and averaging about 30' wide. It's between the river and a road and no building is allowed on it, but there are four or five spots where a bus could park (in fact it's advertised as a potential camping spot for an RV). I think (I'm still a bit unsure on the PA legalities of this) that I could purchase the property and legally live on it 180 days out of each year.

I called the city and they were unsure about whether I could get utility hookups on the property (the electric, water and sewage actually run on this property so it would at least be physically possible if not legally). The listing also suggests that you could buy the property and charge for parking for the houses on the other side of the street, a fine way to ingratiate yourself with your new neighbors. I would try trading parking for an extension cord and see where that got me.

For bonus points, this property even has its own concrete dock for boat launching, and it's just across the river from a bike trail. And cheap since there's no real use for it.

My total fantasy is to buy it and convert to a skoolie park, but I can see where the neighbors across the street might resist the idea.

Sleddgracer · 10-20-2019, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Speaking of cunning plans: a couple of months ago I found a weird piece of property up north in PA. It's a strip of land along the river about 1500' long and averaging about 30' wide. It's between the river and a road and no building is allowed on it, but there are four or five spots where a bus could park (in fact it's advertised as a potential camping spot for an RV). I think (I'm still a bit unsure on the PA legalities of this) that I could purchase the property and legally live on it 180 days out of each year.

I called the city and they were unsure about whether I could get utility hookups on the property (the electric, water and sewage actually run on this property so it would at least be physically possible if not legally). The listing also suggests that you could buy the property and charge for parking for the houses on the other side of the street, a fine way to ingratiate yourself with your new neighbors. I would try trading parking for an extension cord and see where that got me.

For bonus points, this property even has its own concrete dock for boat launching, and it's just across the river from a bike trail. And cheap since there's no real use for it.

My total fantasy is to buy it and convert to a skoolie park, but I can see where the neighbors across the street might resist the idea.

big enough to have a 1500 foot long driveway

TaliaDPerkins · 11-02-2019, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truthseeker4449

Whereabouts on the VA/WV border are you considering? I'm up at the top of Virginia, if you end up close enough I wouldn't mind giving a hand or two.

The kids are definitely going to Lord Fairfax Comm. Coll. for their two years, and likely the son to Shen. Conservatory for his 4 year, and the daughter reasonably likely to hit JMU for hers, so someplace about equidistant between Winchester and Harrisonburg is ideal.

I'm haunting Zillow, like every other day. Rule number #1 is no HOA, rule #2 zones agriculture or forestry.

M.ruel55@gmail.com · 11-07-2019, 05:57 PM

My wife's dream too. We just acquired our 8 window. I'll be flooring soon. Then walls, cabinets, etc. she still talks about at land to raise animals and grow food for both animals and humans

PatrickBaptist · 11-07-2019, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomDPerkins

I have the cunning plan of buying some land zoned agricultural in VA, back near the WV border, and living in a skoolie. Plan is to travel when possible and hole up in a barn when not. Barn to get well, septic, solar, etc. Skoolie likely to be a 35'+ up to 40' critter. I will actually use the land for agricultural purposes, anyone see immediate show stoppers?

"anyone see immediate show stoppers?" Ummm money?
Being a noob I have to tell you this, cost for materials for all that is prob going to wind up being more than you thought, if you haven't done it before then there will be many items you didn't plan for that might just dollar and dime you to death. If you need extra help then the labor cost would be another issue.
I work in mechanics and construction, the little things you forget to budget for can add up super fast.
But I understand plenty of people have money or credit to throw around.

MacC · 11-08-2019, 08:49 AM

Steve, your plans are almost identical to mine. I want to have 2 or 3, 3 to 5 acre plats for some hookups and water. If we had 2 or 3 people to go into together we could have some nice trouble free spots for our friends and family. Got some ideas in my head to pay for it. Hair brained I am sure no less. lol

sutphinins · 11-08-2019, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomDPerkins

I have the cunning plan of buying some land zoned agricultural in VA, back near the WV border, and living in a skoolie. Plan is to travel when possible and hole up in a barn when not. Barn to get well, septic, solar, etc. Skoolie likely to be a 35'+ up to 40' critter. I will actually use the land for agricultural purposes, anyone see immediate show stoppers?

If you want to be able to insure and drive the bus, then there are some problems. I don't know about all carriers in VA but I do know the one I can do skoolies with won't do full timers, a roof raise or woodstoves in the bus.

I'd say get the land/barn, finish out part of the barn as your residence, keeping some of it partially finished like an attached garage to park the bus in. Then you could get the barn/liability covered as well as the RV covered (both literally and with insurance).

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