[Bruce123]

I have tentatively been offered a very good job working out of Jay. I have been through the Jay/Grove area, but just visiting.
I live in Fayetteville, AR. now, so the area is not entirely strange to me.
If I took the job, I would want to find a nice piece of land somewhere in the area, not on the lake, where I could run a few cows, have some space.
Jay looks very run down, poor, which is not a deal breaker, but what are the living conditions like? Crime? How do locals treat outsiders?
Any tips on good real estate agent?
Any and all info about the area would be greatly appreciated.

[briansgi]

Since no one has responded I thought I'd help you out. I live on the south end of Grand Lake which is around 30 miles from the Jay area. I cannot vouch for these guys but this looks promising for a realtor that works with acreage:
United Country Hendren & Associates, Inc - Homes, Farms, Ranches & Land

How do people react to outsiders, well since you are close by I don't think you will have any issues. Now a Yankee might be a different story. Not sure about crime, but I never hear anything over that direction. I've got to think most of the state's meth lab's have gone away since we passed that law a few years ago limiting the amount of sudafed or whatever drug has that main ingredient to brew meth. The area itself is gorgeous, course you are coming from an area of the country that has few competition in that department, Arkansas is gorgeous! Just south of Jay the terrain starts getting really hilly and many pine trees. If it was me I'd look for property south of Jay or east over by the state line. With Grand Lake close by, you will have plenty of leisure activities as well since our lake is huge and has much development. Rand McNally named the Grand Lake area the top retirement site in the US a couple years ago!

[linicx]

I am a yankee. I lived in the area for many years and had no problems. Jay is an Indian town. It is dirty and poor. It is also the county seat. If I were you I would live in the county north or east pf Grove because the storms are not as bad. And critical services are nearby. There is a lot of land east of Grove to the MO border. If you want a lot of trees for shelter, I would look north of Cherokee Street in Grove. The only problem you run into are unpaved roads. And if its virgin land, you will have to drill a well, have the county do a perk test for a septic tank, bring in power and also propane if you need it. You want to be careful where you move so you are on rural power and not AEP as rural electric co-op is much cheaper. I have had both and I much prefer the elecric co-op.. Here is the number: 800-256-6405. And Grove is not a bad place to raise kids and the schools and weel supported by parents.


Do some .