Mulberry/Ozark area questions? (Van Buren, Hope: mortgage, budget, for sale)

[vrussell]

We really appreciate all your replies from the last time I posted regarding AR - some good information out there!
We are making another trip to visit parts of Arkansas next week. This time we are heading to Ft. Smith area next week to look at property in the Mulberry/Ozark area. I've been reading posts for the last several months and keeping up with my research, but haven't seen much regarding this area lately.
Has this area been effected by the lastest housing/mortgage issues? Husband will be looking for some part-time backhoe work and I'll be searching for a teaching/counseling position. No kids but still would like to find an area with good educational values as I will be working!
We aren't extremely social as most our time is taken up with working and our equine, but we do like to eat out occasionally or go to a movie. We have found a few horse properties in the area that sound very promising. Any information you have - good or bad - would be appreciated! Thanks!

[bchris02]

The Ft. Smith area might be a good fit for you because it caters to people who want to live a slow, rural lifestyle and would rather keep to themselves. Life here moves quite a bit slower than it does in the rest of the US. Alma school district is considered one of the best school districts in the area. Alma is about 25 minutes east of Ft. Smith. It has a Wal-Mart and some fast food restaurants. Nearby Van Buren has a movie theater.

[eric1]

land is relatively cheap in Mulberry and Ozark, I think you can still find land for $1,000 to $2,000 per acre. They are both nice quiet little towns.

[Capt. Dan]

Since neither you nor hubby are locked into a job yet,you might cosider the Waldron, Arkansas area. It's about 60 miles south of Ft. Smith on US Hwy71. Plenty of equine land at relatively cheap prices. My grandchildren attend school in Waldron and they are excellent. This area shows potential for future growth so it could be a good fit for a teacher/counselor and a heavy equipment operator. Good Luck!!

[vrussell]

Thanks for all your replies. We will be there in 2 days and we're looking forward to checking out the area.

bchris02 - Thanks for the information about Alma. One of the places we are looking at is near there. It's always nice to hear good things about a school district.

eric1 - We're looking for a place that is finished horse property - house, barns, arena, etc. it would be wonderful if we could find some pricing similar to what you mentioned

Lt. Dan - We're planning to visit the Mena/Waldron area to look around, but haven't found any finished horse property in that area that's within our budget. Not seeing too many job openings there either BUT I will keep looking! Thanks so much for your input!

Hope to hear more from others. Any information at this point is greatly appreciated!! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!!

[vrussell]

Hi all!

We just got back from our short trip to the Mulberry/Ozark/Alma Arkansas area. We stayed in Alma and spent most our time around Mulberry, but got a chance to drive to Ozark, up 71 to West Fork, and over to Shady Point, OK. Very nice country!

We looked closely at 4 different horse properties and drove by several others. Met some great, friendly mule folks and talked to several other "horsie" folks. Maybe found a place that will work for us.

Questions: Are there are many teaching/counseling opportunities in the area? It looks like there's a number of schools around but is there much turnover or growth at this time? For you horse people, is there a need for boarding facilites in the Mulberry area? Anything specific - good or bad - that we may need to know about this area?

Thanks again folks!

[Logger]

Have you tried Charleston or Lavaca? Just East of Ft. Smith on 22 Hwy?
Both are within 15 to 20 min. of everything you said you are looking for and there are alot of places for sale in that area. It is across the river from where you were at Mulberry and Ozark. Most of the places are set up for horses around there and have good pasture land. I would think you would like the area around Charleston,Vesti,Cicel,Arebuckel Iland and Countyline. This hole area is with in 20 to 45 min. of anything in Ft. Smith.
Charleston and Lavaca schools are adding on all the time as they grow with the area and there are always someone looking for a good operater for a backhoe part time and some full time.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!

[vrussell]

Thanks Logger, I've been looking but haven't been able to find anything in that area in our price range. We will keep looking though