Am I insane to buy this land?!

margali

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The county told him that he had to allow fisherman right-of-way river access to those walking the river bank.
That is crazy. Sorry your grandfather had to deal with that.

I didn't even think of that because about a block over, another creek runs through a park. It has nice smooth banks, bathrooms, picnic tables, and is stocked with fish. I think we caught and released about 50 fish in 2 hours.
 

catjac1975

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That is crazy. Sorry your grandfather had to deal with that.

I didn't even think of that because about a block over, another creek runs through a park. It has nice smooth banks, bathrooms, picnic tables, and is stocked with fish. I think we caught and released about 50 fish in 2 hours.
The last thing I would worry about is an occasional fisherman walking through my stream. If it looks untouched it probably is. I live on a river. The land on the riverbank is mine with a road between the house and river. The old deed says we own to the middle of the river. We have photographers and fisherman stop in. Todays fisherman last about 10 minutes before they leave out of boredom. Rarely do they leave any trash . I rather like that people enjoy my property.The flip Side of my oceanfront town is little alcoves can keep you from access to the ocean. That goads me that people can "own the ocean." I guess you can walk the beach to high tide. I have heard the these residents are rude and miserable to anyone doing so.
 

flowerbug

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The last thing I would worry about is an occasional fisherman walking through my stream. If it looks untouched it probably is. I live on a river. The land on the riverbank is mine with a road between the house and river. The old deed says we own to the middle of the river. We have photographers and fisherman stop in. Todays fisherman last about 10 minutes before they leave out of boredom. Rarely do they leave any trash . I rather like that people enjoy my property.The flip Side of my oceanfront town is little alcoves can keep you from access to the ocean. That goads me that people can "own the ocean." I guess you can walk the beach to high tide. I have heard the these residents are rude and miserable to anyone doing so.

i'm pretty sure that all of the real-estate advertisements for beach front property in the north rarely show them being packed with strangers...
 

margali

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:( My bank said they couldn't finance it because of the floodplain. Apparently 2.2 acres aren't enough room for a house... They would only fiance front parcel not the bank. Told seller and they took a cash offer. Sigh...

On to the next prospect...
 

Zeedman

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The last thing I would worry about is an occasional fisherman walking through my stream. If it looks untouched it probably is. I live on a river. The land on the riverbank is mine with a road between the house and river. The old deed says we own to the middle of the river. We have photographers and fisherman stop in. Todays fisherman last about 10 minutes before they leave out of boredom. Rarely do they leave any trash . I rather like that people enjoy my property.
Most of the fisherman who came through followed the bank. Of those that parked & walked the pathway to the river, he knew most of them. It was the complete strangers who drove in which bothered him. I believe his problems stemmed from the fact that his land was listed as forest crop; and the county insisted that in that status, he could not post his land. Grandfather felt that the county was pressuring him to change the land to "recreational", which was a higher tax rate - and he may have been right. He owned 280 acres, so any tax increase would have been substantial.

I personally never minded the visitors. My brother & I were always finding things lost or left behind by fisherman. I found my first two jackknives there (one a Scout knife) which I still have.
 

Artichoke Lover

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The biggest problems with waterways are possible wetland restrictions (as covered by @Ridgerunner ), flood plains, and use restrictions (such as minimum offsets). Additional problems can occur if the waterway is considered to be navigable... and surprisingly small creeks can be classified as "navigable". Part of my Grand Father's difficulties were that the stream adjoining his property was navigable. The county told him that he had to allow fisherman right-of-way river access to those walking the river bank. But because his driveway was the only road access to that part of the river (and perhaps because the county plowed partway in) he also had to allow access through his property. That meant he had to allow strangers to enter his private drive, park on his property, and maintain a pathway for them to the river. It was basically a government-sanctioned open door to trespassers. :mad:

All that being said...
It sounds like the property you are looking at has a lot of potential, @margali , and you have already done a considerable amount of research. I look forward to updates.
All we are required here in Alabama is to allow access to a limited section of the bank I’m not sure just how much. Also in my county you have to be nuts to walk on someone’s property without permission. Even if it isn’t posted. This is especially true on my road since there are a lot of drug houses.
It took over 6 months are several rounds of notes taped to the mailbox to get our mail person to bring packages down the driveway instead of marking them undeliverable because of how risky it can be to set foot on the wrong property here.
 

ducks4you

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There is always something wrong with an available property and always something right.
When I bought MY 5 acre (IL property, where we never Really have a drought, or Really have a flood) I had been on the hunt for 14 years.
I had a short list of particulars and I STUCK to them, horses in the back yard.
1) fencing + barn with hay storage
2) REAL HOUSE!!! ( too many horse owners move from nice house to a trailer ) WTFudge?!?!?!?
3) AG zoning that isn't adjacent to a suburban housing development WHERE MY ZONING COULD/WOULD BE VOTED OUT eventually
I looked at lots of properties.
I FIRED 5 female real estate agents.
EVERY one of them got angry with me, mostly bc I
1) wouldn't settle for a property with lots of problems
(2nd floor of the house bounces, holes in the barn roof, no fencing, tiny house, stuff like that)
2) didn't reveal a bank account with $100K extra, that I was ready to pull out for a purchase
20 years ago, many fluff brained women were real estate agents, and not serious about being your advocate.
PLEASE create a list of what you really want.
Don't SETTLE for a problem property that will become an everyday headache for you.
Be willing to walk away from a place that won't work.
What bothers me is that this is a "city property."

That much land should really be outside of city limits.
 

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