Relocation to Rural North Dakota (Bismarck, Minot: loans, house, place to live)

[PhilJohnson]

I am thinking of taking a road trip to North Dakota this May to look at some possible places to relocate to. I want to stay away from the major population centers and oil fields for that matter. My job isn't too location dependent so the local job climate isn't too important to me at the moment.

What I am looking for:
1. Very cheap land, maybe something with an abandoned homestead (a house in an ghost town would be cool too)
2. Rolling hills, I rode through ND on a train and I must say I am a big fan of them
3. Enough rain fall or a decent well to support a small garden

I don't like the idea of loans so if possible I would like to find somewhere under 20,000. Five to ten acres is all I am after but it seems like most of the land in the more remote areas is all in large tracts.

[PhilJohnson]

So any one have any advice on where to look in North Dakota that would be what I am looking for?

[ssgoodman]

being from Upham i am kind of bias but i know its a cheap place to live. land is still cheap but its an hour drive to a major town with shopping so could be expensive to drive. i know glenburn about 30 miles away have some oil pumps but nothing that close to upham and them wells were drilled decades ago. also check out bottineau or rugby, i know both have pretty cheap housing in the city not sure what land prices are there though.

Sutton

[roundball]

Originally Posted by PhilJohnson

I am thinking of taking a road trip to North Dakota this May to look at some possible places to relocate to. I want to stay away from the major population centers and oil fields for that matter. My job isn't too location dependent so the local job climate isn't too important to me at the moment.

What I am looking for:
1. Very cheap land, maybe something with an abandoned homestead (a house in an ghost town would be cool too)
2. Rolling hills, I rode through ND on a train and I must say I am a big fan of them
3. Enough rain fall or a decent well to support a small garden

I don't like the idea of loans so if possible I would like to find somewhere under 20,000. Five to ten acres is all I am after but it seems like most of the land in the more remote areas is all in large tracts.

You may want to get a hold of a realtor in Moint or Bismarck. If you're looking for rolling hills you're going to want to stay towards the western part of the state. I wouldn't go any further than one of these two towns for convenience reasons. My mother lived outside of Minot (Velva) for a number of years and it was a nice place with everything you're looking for. Was still 15 min from minot so you could go to the supermarket/ wal-mart/ menards without having to spend $150 in fuel.