Re: Erie County (New York, Lancaster, Alden: houses, school district, taxes)

[sorryduck]

My family lives on Grand Island and I am relocating to the area. I am looking for at least 5+ acres and a home in a safe rural area. No kids, so school is not an issue. I cannot begin to stomach the taxes on the island. Can anyone give me advice?
Thanks

[devoneri]

I think what you'd be interested in isn't Erie county at all. Check out Niagara county. I have driven all over through Wheatfield, Sanborn, Pendleton, Cambria and I think this is what you'd be interested in. If you're looking at a map, the area south of 104 and west of 78 is where I am talking about.

None of those areas are more than 15-30 minutes from G.Island and Wheatfield is closest to the bridge. One perk is you're closer to the Tuscarora reservation so you can get cheap gas (& cigs if you're a smoker).

Any other questions?

[homeward bound]

Devoneri is giving good advice here.

Also check out Genesee County, a bit to the east. It's still a pretty easy drive to Grand Island from there, and it has a lot of lovely farmland and some great deals on old farmhouses/country houses. Generally, lower taxes than Erie Co., too, if you live outside a village, city, or town. Up in Niagara & Genesee Counties, you're also close to some very nice Lake Ontario towns, villages, and beaches. And it's an easy drive to Toronto. Also, some of the towns in these counties are themselves very quaint places that are well worth exploring.

Do note that both Niagara & Genesee County are pretty flat. So if you like more rolling hills, look to the Southern Tier Counties. Although it's a bit of a drive (probably about an hour, hour-and-a-half) from Grand Island, Allegany County has some of the best deals on farmland/farmhouses, lots of really pretty rolling countryside, forests, wetlands, etc.--and VERY low taxes outside the villages & towns. It would seem a world away from Long Island in all the best ways....

[GoldenCrow]

Ditto to Homeward Bound's advice about Genesee County, if you like rural areas. You may also want to check into the southern part of Erie County, towns such as Angola and Eden. Chautauqua and Cattaragus Counties have some very nice areas - and both offer bargin prices on land & homes.

Check out the thread "Tips on moving to rural New York State" for insight from some of us who've moved to rural areas. Good luck!

[itSmellsBAD]

Originally Posted by GoldenCrow

Ditto to Homeward Bound's advice about Genesee County, if you like rural areas. You may also want to check into the southern part of Erie County, towns such as Angola and Eden. Chautauqua and Cattaragus Counties have some very nice areas - and both offer bargin prices on land & homes.

Check out the thread "Tips on moving to rural New York State" for insight from some of us who've moved to rural areas. Good luck!

If you are moving to Eden, note that the factory farms are all expanding due to record high milk prices. The stench can be overwhelming. The illegal farm laborers used to work and go home, now they STAY and are a serious drain on local resources. Thank your local dairy or vegetable grower for that.

[FedupWNY]

Agreeing with GoldenCrow, the southern tier is a good place to look for acres of property.

[bmd69]

Wyoming county right outside of marilla

[itSmellsBAD]

Originally Posted by bmd69

Wyoming county right outside of marilla

Do a GOOGLE search under "marilla contaminated well water E coli dairy" and see what you get. Wyoming county has the largest concetration of factory farms in NYS. The stench can make your eyes water and ruin not only your Summer but your well water also. Do the GOOGLE.......

[bmd69]

I've got friends who live there and their on County water.

[BuffaloTransplant]

Originally Posted by sorryduck

My family lives on Grand Island and I am relocating to the area. I am looking for at least 5+ acres and a home in a safe rural area. No kids, so school is not an issue. I cannot begin to stomach the taxes on the island. Can anyone give me advice?
Thanks

What do you want to spend an acre? you can get lots of acreage for low cost in the southern couties. You can go out to the east and do the same. I live on 4 acres (its in both Alden and Lancaster) and I love it -- but 1 acre lots in Lancaster now go for $25K and up. Alden is cheaper. (We have been here over 30 years and land was about $3K an acre; with our house, we paid under $22K total)

If work travel is not an issue, do some school district research on the NYS Education website for rural towns and then come home and drive them. If you truly like small town, places abound south of Erie County and you'd get more acreage.

BTW, a few posters post solely to make WNY look a lot worse than it is.