When looking at a place

Brent Zappe · Dec 3, 2015

I have been looking at a another place to live. It is getting interresting on what I can find in my price range that i feel comfortable to be in. It does not help when I have to leave a home because of progress (City is growing). I want to pay cash with the house I have to leave because next year I will be retired.I want to move to is just as much or more (Bishop California). Right now I have looked homes on 1 acre lots. with septics, and some have a well but some have what they call community water. My question: is it best to have a well one the property or community system? I should had bought a propetry I saw last year two 1/2 acres but at that time I did not have to sell and move. I had look at just land thinking I might be able to build a house , spetic, wells for less money than buying a spot that was already done. I have been finding out 300,000.00 to 400,000.00 does not buy alot of any thing here where I live in california.

Trkr · Dec 3, 2015

Do you live in Bishop?Always thought that was a very nice town.One of my favorite trips was LA. to Reno,and beyond via US395.

coshoo · Dec 3, 2015

Well and septic is certainly a lot cheaper than community water and sewer. We've lived 25 years at our present place with well and septic. In that time, our repairs and maintenance on the systems has been about $500, and if we pay $20 per month for electricity for the well, that's another $6,000. City water and sewer at $75/mo (which is on the low side- probably much higher in Cal.), would have been $22,500 for that period. Have a friend who had to give up growing a garden, because he couldn't afford to pay for the city water to irrigate it.

Look at manufactured homes, to put on a lot you buy in the country- probably the least expensive way to go. On the bright side, if you are being forced out by city growing around you, it should mean you'll get some pretty serious $$$ for your old place. Maybe pull up stakes and move to Idaho, and live like a king!

ss55 · Dec 3, 2015

You should be able to request a water test report from any water supplier, most have pamphlets printed up with their test results.

Unless there is some unusual reason not to, I would sign up for any public utilities available like: "community water", sanitary sewer, storm drainage, natural gas, electricity, etc. over having to supply them myself. For me, having my own well, septic system, LP tank, and drainage have been more expensive and higher maintenance than using a public utility.

The rules for septic systems can change fast. Often septic systems must be updated when you want to sell a property.

paul · Dec 3, 2015

Your own well and septic is much cheaper over the years, unless you can't find good water.

A lot of town folk moving out to their small kingdom will not be familiar with such, and might shy away from a property - they aren't looking for inexpensive, that are looking to take the city out to the country with them.....

Paul

hd6gtom · Dec 3, 2015

If the elect does not go out due to storms etc you might consider just a well and septic. about 10 years ago we signed up for rural water and would not want to be without it now. well is still used for those filthy darn goats and watering a garden.

Dick2 · Dec 3, 2015

Lots of variables to consider. Had a young fellow at work that lived out of town with a private well. Because of the depth, the well driller told him that it could cost $10,000 for a new well, or $5,000 to fix the old well. Guy could not afford a lump sum like that so sold the property and moved back to the city.

On the farm, we had our own well that was 87 feet deep. When rural water came in, we were one of the few who declined getting connected. The monthly charge from the water company was $30 back then; now it is $120 a month from the water company for just a household, so we're way ahead having our own well.

rossow (mn) · Dec 3, 2015

You asked: "My question: is it best to have a well on the property or community system?" I'm probably dense, but do you mean a well shared by a group of neighborhood houses rather than a well specific to only your property, or do you mean a municipal-type of water system that is a public utility? Just asking for clarification, because the two types of water systems are quite different.

flying belgian · Dec 3, 2015

Ah, the old "rent verses own" equation. How long do you anticipate living there? As with any object it is always cheaper to rent in the short run and own in the long run. Now there are exceptions to the rule-say if the well pump fails in year two.

dcarp · Dec 3, 2015

Collect the money and get out of California. You can find lots of good places to live for a lot less than that and not have all the stupid regulations that you have there.

Larry EC-OH · Dec 3, 2015

This may be time to really consider all your options. Are you really tied to California? That much money will buy a lot more in the midwest and the cost of living will also be less. Sometimes, we need to look at all options, not just the ones we are comfortable with.
Larry

wfw · Dec 3, 2015

another thing about a well, we have two places, one has good water from a well, but not a lot incoming to the well.about 1 1/2 gallon a minute. The well is 400 feet deep. We have run a house for years on this well. we are now living on the coast of NC, have a well and county water. do not know how much water is coming into the well. you cannot drink the well water, it is full of iron. fill up a white plastic bucket and the water looks yellow, leave it sitting and you will have rust on the sides and bottom. I like the well we have in the western part of the state. the county water is full of calcium.

GlenIdaho · Dec 3, 2015

Assuming you are looking to stay near Bishop, I would consider the drought situation in California. As you probably know in the San Juaquin Valley many wells have dried up. Probably the same on the eastern side of the Sierra's. And, you know of the amount of water that heads south to LA. With a city well they would provide the water and find another source if needed. With your own well or community well owned by the HOA you would face the cost yourself or share it with the community if you had to drill deeper or relocate the well. I have my own well and in 12 years had to pull the pump once when a check valve failed. Though our drought is not as bad(yet) I do have concerns about the aquifer. Farmers also pump a lot of water out of the ground. My neighbor just spent 10 grand for a new pump and control. Well was about 15 years old. If you locate a place you like make sure your research the water situation with the seller and county as well as some local well drillers as they usually have a good handle on the water situation.

The idea of relocating somewhere more affordable is worthy of consideration. But, Bishop and the eastern side of the Sierra's in general is a pretty nice place to live.

Pitch · Dec 3, 2015

You never described what community water was. Considering the long term drought in the West how much of a chance do you stand for being rationed in the future? You may have more freedom if you own the well.

CLYDE MASON · Dec 3, 2015

$300,000.00 WILL BUY THE BESR HOUSE IN FAYETTE CO IND

MY SISTER MOVED HERE FRON NEW JERSEY AFTER SELLING A HOUSE FOR $600,000.00 COULDN'T FIND A HOUSE IN THAT PRICE. END UP BUYING AND PAYING TAXES ON WHAT IS LEFT

Traditional Farmer · Dec 3, 2015

There are places in Tenn and WVA you can buy beautiful places for that kind of money
and you won't be living in Calf.

Loren in MN · Dec 3, 2015

Would you consider relocating to another state? It's sad when you must move and don't want to.
I lived in Fresno,CA for 5 yrs 1974-79, loved it there, but when I decided it was time to buy a place, I moved back to MN where most of the family was located. Back then, land out side of Clovis,CA in foothills was selling for $5,000 an acre while land in MN was $750-800 per acre. If you bought 40 acres in MN at that time, you could pay $15-20,000 for all. I purchased 20 acres of high land -no swamp for $11,200. Sure beats the hard clay found in CA. I built a new house(cost me $55,000)in 1984 that I'm sure if I was still in Fresno,CA would have been $350,000 back then.

Anyway, I'm still on the same place, 60 miles north of Minneapolis, house has 12" walls plenty of insulation and ready for winter.

redforlife · Dec 3, 2015

If retiring, I would consider relocating out of California. A lot cheaper places to live, and cheaper real estate too. But to answere your question about the water, I know of someone who is on community water (as in 5 households on 1 well and split expenses) and that is not all roses. They have a shortage on water at times. But on the other hand, community water as in city water or rural water might be more expensive in the long run but you wouldn't have near the headaches. I have a well I don't use and am hooked on to rural water. Probly more expensive than using the well but I don't have the worries of well maintenance.

Loren in MN · Dec 3, 2015

Forgot to add, while I had moved from CA back to MN, as a cheaper alternative, a few years back the wife wanted us to sell and move closer to our son, then living in western NY state. Housing was cheap. The son bought an older home in Hornell,NY for $15,000 in 2005. Many very nice homes could be bought for $50,000 , but the kicker was "TAXES". A person could retire there, nice town, nice people, beautiful countryside, but if you had $200,000 cash, bought a $50,000 home, then tried to live off your saving, retirement, etc., your savings could very well be gone in a few short years. Wife wanted me to sell our place -say $200,000 then move to NY. I told her lets wait to see how the kids like it there, that's when we watched the son struggle to pay- school taxes, property taxes, and a few others. Told the wife, if we had moved, our excess money from selling out would have gone to pay taxes, then if we had wanted to move back to MN we would have only had the $50,000 house to sell. Not much to start over on elsewhere. Housing prices haven't gone up much in western NY since. Son moved back to MN a year ago.

showcrop · Dec 3, 2015

Just think about what that land in CA is going to be worth after it falls into the ocean. And even before that happens think of the inconvenience that earthquakes are. If I had a golden opportunity like you have I would be getting out.

pete 23 · Dec 3, 2015

I was going to mention that here in small town in MN there are two beautiful houses for sale at $250,000 each. One the bank pres built a few years ago and other a lawyer sold to Dr. who is leaving now. Kind of thought a person from California would not be interested, but since others mention moving to a different state just throwing that out there. I know, I know, -20 for 9 months of the year but actually about 40 degrees today. We had a Dr. build a half mil dollar home here about 20 years ago and when it sold a few years later, it was on the market for about two years and sold for less than half of that. Me, I could not even buy the front door.

FBH44 · Dec 4, 2015

This answer might be easy; go find the 'community water' office, ask to see the latest annual water report, might be called the Consumer Confidence Report, the CCR, or Water Quality Report, or some such name. They are Federally-required to give you one. Get a copy, that will tell you the 'community' water is tested, is safe, is bacteria-free for the most part. If there is no such office, no such report, if this is just some shared well where several people share, you need to do a LOT of investigating as to where the water comes from. Your own private well is OK, but is can be problematic, possible bacteria, possible pump / motor issues, lightning strikes, etc etc etc. I'd think in CA. you would be OK. Probably lots of regulations on wells.

W_B · Dec 4, 2015

(quoted from post at 20:22:00 12/03/15) This may be time to really consider all your options. Are you really tied to California? That much money will buy a lot more in the midwest and the cost of living will also be less. Sometimes, we need to look at all options, not just the ones we are comfortable with.
Larry

Amen, get out of Cali when you can. Your cost of living is way out of bounds compared to the rest of the country and will only get worse, especially compared to the midwest. Just don't take the California brand of politics with you.

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