Escape from the Empire! (Springfield, Poplar Bluff: real estate, property taxes, cul-de-sac)

[Rustic1]

June 2008 we will be in south central MO looking for home. Have a couple properties in mind, one in Oregon Co, and one in Douglas. Any local info would be greatly appreciated. Wife and I are self employed, so job market is not a concern. Just want a quiet rural place, working class neighbors, low taxes, no big urban areas nearby. Living in the Empire of NY is just way too hard!

[mamagator54]

Rustic1,
I can only speak for Douglas County. I moved here (outside of Ava) a year ago. We have 25 acres and last year the taxes were under $10.00. Right now there are no building codes or zoning codes. (might be in Town but not out here in the sticks). The views from our "mountain" are awesome. We can see for miles. The people are friendly and helpful.
Where in Douglas County is the property?
Good luck and I know you will love this state.

[Rustic1]

mamagator54,

We are considering wooded acreage near Gainesville. We did a bit of online research on topics including cost of living, climate, crime, taxes were a big item. MO seemed to rate very well in all these areas, southern tier counties in particular. Our visit last June was a genuine pleasure, laid back, polite people everywhere.
We have 7 acres now in the foothills of the Adirondacks, modest home and shop, on a dead end country road, this year the property taxes will top $5000.00. NY state leadership has never met a tax or fee they didn't like or could not use. So we have to move in order to survive. Our business is rustic furniture and lighting, most of our income is from stores that we ship to UPS, so we can be located anywhere.
For much of our lives we have grown our own veggies, raised beef, rabbits, chickens and pigs, looking forward to a longer growing season and warmer winters. Hot summers maybe not so much...
I'll stop rambling now!

[ShadowCaver]

Rustic1 - either one is very nice, given the very rural experience. However, personally, I like Oregon county more, probably cause I'm more familiar with it, given the time spent there hiking, caving, canoeing, etc. Douglas will of course be closer to Springfield, and all it offers, whereas Oregon gets you closer to Memphis and Cape and Poplar Bluff.

Here be some sites to maybe help your selection - good luck!
Visit the Ozark Foothills Region: Wayne, Butler, Carter, Reynolds & Ripley Counties - more to the east of your choices, but some info nonetheless...
Welcome to Oregon County, Missouri
City of Ava Missouri

[dfiddler]

Wow, NY and NJ must be having a race to see how bad they can make things for their residents .... we've got the highest taxes , worse politics and politicians ( how about our top-shelf governers making the headlines, huh ? )
Here's one for ya ...

Just spotted a real estate ad in NJ ... this land's pic looks like a farmer's field that got parcelled up ...

ALEXANDRIA TWP. NJ
3 lots in "THE HAMLET"
3 Lots left in The Hamlet, an 8 lot cul-de-sac
Lot 1: 2.18 acres at $239,900;
Lot 2: 1.65 acres at $239,900
Lot 3: 1.5 acres at $269,900

Hmmm - $ 269,000 for 1 and 1/2 acre of land ..... real bargain, huh ?

Man, when can I get out of this hamlet ??

[tambre]

Hi Fellow sufferers in the Garden and Empire States,

We are also moving out of NY due to the taxes and cost of living and increasing division between working class people (us) and the rich (them). Poor people are s..t out of luck in Orange County, NY. The local food banks here have seen a major rise in middle income people needing help with feeding their families. Our house is on 4.3 acres, and we would be paying $8,000, except we have the star exemption and we have been renovating so they dropped us down to $6,000, until the construction is done, at which point they will jack it up even higher. Quite a few of my friends have houses (2,500-3,000 s.f.) and are paying an absurd, outrageous and ridiculous, $11,000 a year! For what, please explain?

With gas being $3.27 for 87 test, a fill-up cost $43. That is the highest I have ever paid for a tank of gas. Diesel is even higher. My husband works in the trucking industry and figured it would cost about $1 a mile to run a big truck, for fuel alone. Guess what that's going to do to the cost of goods/services!

Regarding the Governors...hmmm, sure wouldn't want to be married to any of them. One comes out of the closet while in a supposedly heterosexual marriage, one pays for high price hookers, and one's a cheater. Great bunch, such wonderful role models

Well, can't wait to move out to Missouri! Good luck to everyone on your property searches, and say a prayer for our houses to sell.

Take Care,

Tambre

[Rustic1]

I think that NJ has a slight lead in the Governor competition...BUT!! We in NY have the combined talents of Chuck Schummer and Hillory Clinton! Beat that NJ! Bedpan goes to NY!!!

Anyway, we hope to be out of the Empire this year, before the State of MO starts requiring references for folks from the Northeast.

[Lake Junkie]

Originally Posted by Rustic1

I think that NJ has a slight lead in the Governor competition...BUT!! We in NY have the combined talents of Chuck Schummer and Hillory Clinton! Beat that NJ! Bedpan goes to NY!!!

Anyway, we hope to be out of the Empire this year, before the State of MO starts requiring references for folks from the Northeast.

I'll give you a reference...We'll get you in ...

[tambre]

Originally Posted by Lake Junkie

I'll give you a reference...We'll get you in ...

Hey ((((((((((((((((((((((((L.J.)))))))))))))))))))))) )),

You are so kind! At least one Missourian will accept us Northeastern types.

Luv Ya,
Tambre

(pssst...hey guys, she even put it in writing...maybe we can get her to sign it and notarize it, before she changes her mind

[Rustic1]

Escape planning is still underway! We have 4" of snow today, temps in the 20's.
Is Myrtle (Oregon county) as remote as it seems to be on the map? That may not be much of a problem for us, but we are curious. There is some property down there, and also some near Alton that we will be checking out this spring.
Thanks,

Rustic1