Northeastern MO (Hannibal, Kirksville, Bethany: real estate, homes, buy)

[CRS2010]

We're looking into moving to the northeastern quarter (or even north-central) of Missouri. We've spent the past six years in Oklahoma but lived in MO before that. The southeastern quarter of MO, where we lived, is beautiful but not what we're looking for these days.

Schools don't matter as we're homeschoolers. Jobs don't matter as hubby will be traveling for work. What we'd prefer is an uncrowded place where we can buy several acres outright and build our home & outbuildings with minimal outside interference from permits & approvals, etc. (We do everything ourselves, from pouring the slab to wiring in the final light.) We'd like land that's decent enough to grow our large garden and raise our meat animals, yet plenty of woods to supply our woodstove. Low taxes & affordable real estate are, of course, a Good Thing. A decent water table so that we can have a well drilled is a necessity.

We're pretty self-sufficient folks in a lot of areas but eventually do come up for air, to rub elbows with civilization. We'd sure like our six kids to have some decent friends but we really don't give a hoot about Tupperware parties and meeting for tea every other afternoon. We don't want to be close to KC or STL, nor in a flood-prone area of the Mississippi (or anywhere else, for that matter).

We're all thrilled to be getting back to a real four-season climate! The kids want to just drop everything and go now. LOL We're aiming to be there (wherever that may be) about mid-2010 if all goes as planned (and it rarely does).

I'm doing a lot of thinking out loud here -- writing it all down for someone else's reading always seems to firm up some loose thoughts for me. I'd love to get others' input on possible areas and things we may not have considered (or just forgotten to type out here).

Nice "meeting" you all!

[ShadowCaver]

Welcome to the forum, and potentially to Missouri, no matter what area yas end up in

Questions - you mention that your husband travels for work: does he require relative closeness to airport and/or interstates? You also indicate that interested in "several acres": what is several to you? 3-10, 20, or more? Esp. if looking at tillable, pasture, and forested land?

Sorry don't have suggestions nor advice, as that part of the state I've not seen much of. However, keep posting your thoughts and questions, and more knowledgeable people will be here to help yas.

[CRS2010]

Thanks for the welcome.

Any location in MO is near enough an interstate for hubby's travel and no airports are needed.

As far as land, we would like 25-50 or so acres but it's dependent upon the individual characteristics of the property, of course. We do need a good stand of wood to feed the woodstove without wiping it out. We're not farmers so don't need acres upon acres of tillable land but certainly wouldn't opposed to it. We do need enough unwooded land for housing, outbuildings, large gardens, and livestock pasture (hogs, sheep, possibly a cow-calf pair, plus chickens).

Now if the stinkin' economy would knock it off, we could sell off our 24 acres here, tie up a few loose ends, and beat feet.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by CRS2010

Thanks for the welcome.

Any location in MO is near enough an interstate for hubby's travel and no airports are needed.

As far as land, we would like 25-50 or so acres but it's dependent upon the individual characteristics of the property, of course. We do need a good stand of wood to feed the woodstove without wiping it out. We're not farmers so don't need acres upon acres of tillable land but certainly wouldn't opposed to it. We do need enough unwooded land for housing, outbuildings, large gardens, and livestock pasture (hogs, sheep, possibly a cow-calf pair, plus chickens).

Now if the stinkin' economy would knock it off, we could sell off our 24 acres here, tie up a few loose ends, and beat feet.

NE Missouri is nowhere close to any interstate highway. The closest interstate is 72 east of Hannibal. Kirksville is the largest town in NE Missouri and is home to Truman State University. This town has a good bit more shopping and resturants. Even Kirksville to Bethany on I-35 is a 2 hour drive.
If you are looking for isolation in NE Missouri you will find it, but it is a fairly long drive to an interstate highway or a larger city.

[CRS2010]

An interstate within 4 hours is "close" to us.