Rural Kentucky (Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro: for sale, homes, buyers)

[ArizonaRanch]

We are looking into relocating from New Jersey. We are discussing Az, Tx - and now Kentucky.

What we are looking for is a small rural western/farming style living. We want a lot of acerage (70+acres) for horses/cattle/etc. Maybe around 30-45 minutes to shopping, etc.

We don't mind the heat, but want to get completely away from the snowy cold winters. No more shoveling or freezing temps.

And, if possible a school that has FFA and/or rodeo teams.

Are there any towns that you can recommend that might possibly fit our wants?

[teebird1012]

You might look into western Kentucky, but you will be much further than 45 minutes from a large shopping center. The "triangle" (Lexington- Louisville- Cincinnati) will be more crowded and the amount of land you're looking for won't be as easy to find. I really don't know of any schools off the top of my head with a rodeo team. Hopefully someone else will know.

[Off Topic]

I agree with teebird, but land may be a little easier to find now than usual with the housing slump. We didn't get hit as hard as others, but it's still a buyers market. Make sure your realtor doesn't let you overbid just so their commission is higher.

I think you should be able to find what you are looking for in Oldham or Shelby Counties, which is less than 30 minutes from great shopping and well less than 45 minutes to the downtown area. Also the Franklin County area, near Frankfort and Lexington. Lots of beautiful farms for sale.

Also, it still gets darn cold here in the winter months - usually December through February. We've been lucky lately, but you will still have to deal with it on occasion.

Check us out!

[kygman]

In western Kentucky the "big cities" are Paducah, and Hopkinsville, with Clarksville, Tn not that far away. Not putting down any other towns but if you're wanting something 30-45 minutes from a major shopping area, you could just about be anywhere in western Ky. Check realtor.com for housing and land in the area.

[unclechisr]

There is bowling Green in westen KY as well as traveling up to Evansville Indy....also Owensboro...al with major shopping, good land prices within 45 minutes...good luck with the rodeo team though...

[tomocox]

One of the very best rodeo's of the year happens at the North American Livestock Exhibition held each November in Louisville. I would contact the agriculture school at Murray State University which sits west of Kentucky Lake about possible area rodeo's.

Oldham County won't have 70 acres of ag-priced land, but you could do well in Trimble, Henry, Owen. Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Nashville are the only really party towns 24/7.

In my 55 years of Kentucky weather, I have seen 22 below, 106 above, but a typical Kentucky year has four full seasons. We'll see a couple of weeks of single digits to mid-teen lows with five or six snows per winter with 2 to 6 inches typical. I have seen two huge 20" plus snows. I have seen water in late winter early spring which closes flat land roads for a few days. I have also experienced super dry summers and as a younger man laid asphalt on days with over 100. So, if you come to Kentucky and don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes, it will change.

[Toria]

there is an active high school rodeo organization in Kentucky (they held the state championships at the Horse Park in Lexington last spring:

http://www.kyhsra.com/

they could probably give you info on which towns have more active teams, etc....

[healthcaresafety]

Check out Mayfield KY in Grave County. Only 25 minutes from Paducah - and much much cheaper, lovely homes and lots of mini farms - 20 acres with a nice house. Acres are cheap in Graves, higher in McCracken where Paducah is located. two hours from Nashville - three hours from Memphis airports

[Davart]

Originally Posted by healthcaresafety

Check out Mayfield KY in Grave County. Only 25 minutes from Paducah - and much much cheaper, lovely homes and lots of mini farms - 20 acres with a nice house. Acres are cheap in Graves, higher in McCracken where Paducah is located. two hours from Nashville - three hours from Memphis airports

Agreed, Paducah will meet about 99%+ of you shopping needs, plenty of large animal doctors here, much cheaper than central KY.

Depending on what you want to spend there are many small farms and land for sale, property is cheap over and a easy drive to metro areas.