Rural Maryland? (Frederick, Hagerstown, Cumberland: for sale, house, schools)

[aphahorse]

We are currently in NJ but we are looking at multiple states to figure out where we want/should move to. While we do have an opportunity in TN, we are also keeping our options for other opportunities open and tring to "do our homework" for other areas...

What we are looking for is

1) rural - farmland; we want 10-20+ acreas. We have horses, and want to raise our kids in a rural/farmland setting. (We do not have any kids yet)
2) small town feel, we would like to be somewhat close to the foolstore, target, etc, but we don't want to be close to any large malls. We are ok with driving 30+ minutes to get there.
3) decent sized house, low taxes, with a house budget of maybe 250,000 or lower
4) decent schools (for when we do have kids)
5) milder winters (than here in NJ)
6) lower cost of living than NJ

Any suggestions on areas?

[North Beach Person]

The Eastern Shore, and your number is low (very) if you want the acreage.

TN is likely your better bet.

[goldenage1]

I was going to say the same thing as North Beach Person- the Eastern Shore is about the only place you will find 10 acres or more. Maryland is too developed for the life the OP imagines at a budget of $250,000. Tennessee sounds better, and maybe you should check northern Mississippi or Alabama.

[(-)]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

I was going to say the same thing as North Beach Person- the Eastern Shore is about the only place you will find 10 acres or more. Maryland is too developed for the life the OP imagines at a budget of $250,000. Tennessee sounds better, and maybe you should check northern Mississippi or Alabama.

Eastern shore and Western MD (Mountains), though you acreage may be hilly/mountainous.

[heather3]

Eastern shore (like Wicomico or Worcester County) or even certain areas in Frederick county, especially areas like Myersville where you can get a farmette with the amount of land you'd like!

[westsideboy]

I doubt you can find 20 acres and a house in Frederick County for 250k.

Western Maryland (Allegany and Garrett) is an option at that price point. If you stay east of the Allegheny Front (roughly Frostburg) than the winters won't be that bad most years. Also, the land is very mountainous, but in the 10-20 acre range you can find a patch of moderately flat land.

[GraniteStater]

Scenery wise, I like Garrett and Allegany counties very much, but winters there would be similar to NJ or NY. However, the other seasons there would be milder than NJ due to the higher elevation. Land prices would be moderate. For the Eastern Shore I would look in Caroline county for lower prices.

[heather3]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

I doubt you can find 20 acres and a house in Frederick County for 250k.

Western Maryland (Allegany and Garrett) is an option at that price point. If you stay east of the Allegheny Front (roughly Frostburg) than the winters won't be that bad most years. Also, the land is very mountainous, but in the 10-20 acre range you can find a patch of moderately flat land.

You're right, I missed the $250K budget....

[htownterp]

Rural Allegeny County might have something along those lines. Cumberland has some shopping, and Winchester and Hagerstown are an hour away and have a little more.

[mrcountryboy]

carroll county avoiding the southeastern part far western howard county (rt 94 west) frederick county avoidind frederick, urbana, tuscarura even parts of montgomery county around poolesville, damascus, whites ferry i know of a farm for sale in mount airy on the frederick county side on woodville rd witch is back in the country with 50 acres more set up for hogs or creeper calves but its a good piece of ground for $250k