Here's the basics, my s/o and I are looking to move when he gets back to the States (next year). We are looking for a REMOTE area to live, preferably in Idaho.
I have lived in Montana (in a cabin 41 miles from the nearest town, no electric/indoor plumbing), he has lived in similar situations. So neither of us is a novice to wilderness living.
We want to build our own homestead and be self-sufficient. Both of us are in good health. Both of us have experience in farming, livestock, etc.
Now...it has boiled down to "WHERE?"
After much discussion and debate (punctuated by such comments as "West Va? Are you frickin' NUTS?!?" and "New Mexico...ya gotta be kidding me, right?") We finally settled on two...
maybe three states.
Number One: Idaho
Number Two: Wyoming
Number Three...sorta (tied): eastern Washington or Oregon...way east. Snuggled up to Idaho, lol...
Now...what I need to know from all ya'll Idahoans (Idahoians?) is a few things:
1) Best places to live for us anti-social types...remote is a GOOD thing!
2) Cheapest area to buy land in Idaho...10 to 200 acres.
3) When you buy property in Idaho, is there much of an issue with water rights? Do you have to purchase *water shares*, etc?
4) My s/o was born in Cali, but wised up and got the hell outta there at the age of 16 months...ya'll aint gonna hold that against him, are ya?
5) Best Realtors to deal with? Or should we go for dealing with owners of properties directly?
I can't think of any others, but I am sure I will later..
My s/o is currently stationed (US Army) out of the country, but will be back next August. He has a bit more to go after that to make his retirement, but we will probably want to buy property as soon as we can and improve it in fits and starts until we are there full-time.
Oh...and he doesn't like a lot a sand. He is reeeeaaaaaallllly tired of sand.He says he has seen enough of it to last him a lifetime or two.
So places that are sand free preferred, lol!