Making a
move from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro to a more rural area is a dream of
many city home owners. But the actual logistics of this type of move can seem
overwhelming. As a REALTOR® in the north and east metro, I know there are less
amenities and public utilities in country communities; many of which are often taken
for granted by urban residents. When my family made our move out to Anoka
County acreage, we had to learn this differences first hand and quickly. I have
guided many homebuyers over the years and there are many common questions.
Here are
14 important considerations homebuyers should ask prior to moving to acreage in
Anoka, Chisago and Washington County.
What is a Septic or Private Sewer
system?
Most rural homes have a private
septic system. Not all systems are created equal. They are designed for the
specific property and size of the home. Even a new septic system can fail if
not properly maintained. How do you know if the septic system is working? Since
not all communities require point-of-sale inspection, have your REALTOR®
require the seller to supply certification of compliance from a certified
septic inspector in your purchase agreement. This certification should be no
more than three years old. Also, if you have never lived on a home with a
septic system, it is important to educate yourself on how to best maintain and
protect your private sewer system.
Is there a city water utility or a
private well? Will I need a water softener or other water treatment
system?
Families new to the concept of well
water have many questions regarding its safety. Most buyers will request the
water be tested for bacteria and nitrates in the purchase agreement. This is
usually paid for by the seller. If you want the well test for your property to
include tests for other contaminants, like lead, it must be specified in the
purchase agreement. Annual water testing is recommended for all home owners
with wells.
One question often asked by home
buyers considering a property with a private well is about water treatment
options available. Many homes with private wells have water softeners to treat
the water in the home. Some will go one step further and have a reverse osmosis
water treatment system in the kitchens as a drinking water supply.
Is there a natural gas supply to the
home or will a propane tank be located on the property?
Often people looking at acreage will
have questions about the huge propane fuel tank located near the home. People
from the city usually only see these tanks outside of the gas stations where
they pick up the small refills for their gas grills. In the country, the large
propane tanks are in many backyards as the source of fuel to heat the home and
run appliances. As a fuel source the differences are not noticeable. Propane is
the least expensive cleanest fuel if a home does not have access to natural
gas.
Does the home have access to cable
or high speed internet or will a satellite connection be required? Which
cable services are available to the home? What are the alternatives if DSL is
not available through the phone or cable lines? Do I have to have cable or a
dish to get television reception? Will I have cell phone reception?
A decade ago, these were not
questions that people worried about in the rural communities. Today our
interconnected world brings these questions to the forefront but no worries;
there are tons of alternatives today to keep you connected. From hot spots to
internet cards there are options to keep your family connected even out in the
woods. Even today there are homes in Lino Lakes, Ham Lake, Forest Lake and
East Bethel that have limited cable lines and restricted options for high speed internet available. And there are cell phone dead zones no matter how
numerous or close those towers seem to be. We have one less than a mile from
our house and still have to have a . So if your family is very dependent on their cell phones and cannot survive without a high-speed connection, it is essential ask questions to
figure out how to get the best access and reception.
If the road is gravel or unpaved,
how often is it maintained by the city/county?
Our road was not paved when we first
moved to Ham Lake. We were nearly a mile down a soft, gravel/sand road. When we
moved it was late fall and were very surprised when the spring rains and snow
melt left the road extremely poor condition. It was treacherous at times. The
re-grading was done by the city on a periodic schedule so we had to negotiate
the pot-holed road for days. Our road is now paved but the memories still
remain.
If you are considering acreage, remember
many rural roads are not paved. If the acreage property you are considering is
on a gravel or dirt road, try to visit the property on several occasions and
under differing conditions. It might be a good idea to talk to the city and
county to understand how the road is maintained. Also be sure to ask if there
are any plans to pave the road in the future and what would be assessed per
property owner for the project.
Is there wildlife?
Well maybe not lions and tigers, but
we have had bears and cougars seen near our home in Anoka County. We also have
pheasant, hawks, bald eagles, raccoons, foxes, several varieties of squirrels
and deer. A flock of wild turkeys have made their home in our neighborhood and
continue to nest year after year. And an owl and a hawk have nested in trees in
on our property. I rarely saw blue jays, cardinals or hummingbirds in the city,
but in our Anoka County acreage home, we see them on a daily basis. While
exciting, the downside is sometimes the wildlife comes in. I don't know anyone
on Ham Lake acreage that hasn’t had an occasional field mouse enter their home.
Can
we have a horse? (Or cow, chickens, goats etc.)
If your move to acreage is for
having horses or other farm animals in your backyard, keep in mind that most
communities have restrictions on how many, if any, animals are allowed. Whether
you can have horses, pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, sheep or goats will be
determined by the local city regulations. Even the amount of domesticated dogs
and cats can be restricted on acreage property, just as it was in most urban
communities. So if you plan to run a dog kennel, breed cats or train horses,
for business or pleasure, do your due diligence and make sure it is allowed in
your new rural community prior to writing an offer.
Is hunting allowed?
In some rural areas hunting is still
allowed depending on the amount of acreage, the development restrictions and
city and county rules. It was a rude awakening for us to discover our neighbors
were allowed to hunt….and it seemed right outside our door too! Imagine our
shock that first deer opener when the hunters came out in blaze orange to hunt
in the woods next to our home. The property owner, at our request, posted the
land and the hunters left. The land has since been developed but it is
something everyone moving should understand before buying any acreage home.
Check with the city and county for all ordinances regarding firearms.
Can I ride ATV’s, Snowmobiles and
Dirt Bikes?
In many cases, this is allowed on
acreage but even rural communities can have noise ordinances. Much will depend
on the size of the property, proximity to neighbors and how often the riding
takes place. Take time to learn what the rules are before starting up the
engines and racing around the yard. On the plus side, there are several
snowmobile trails throughout Anoka, Chisago and Washington Counties which can
be just down the road from many homes.
Can we have a bonfire and burn all
this debris?
There are strict states and local
restrictions regarding burning of construction debris and yard waste. There are
restrictions on the size of the fire and what can be burned. Many construction
materials cannot be burned because they release chemicals into the air that
pose an environmental hazard. There are times of the year where burning is only
allowed by permit and sometimes not at all. Before burning it is best to check
the local restrictions as well as the DNR.
Where do we shop? How far to the
nearest corner store, gas station, shopping center and mall?
Depending on how often you like to
shop, this may or may not be a big concern. But it is always nice to know how
far you will have to go for a gallon of milk for breakfast, a propane refill
for the BBQ or gas for the lawn tractor.
How long does it take to cut the
grass?
If your yard is over an acre with
few trees, you might consider a lawn tractor. Many people on acreage only cut
certain areas leaving the rest to grow to a natural prairie. Another
consideration would be whether or not to install an irrigation system for the
sod near the home.
Wow! There are a lot of trees! Do
I have to worry about oak wilt and emerald Ash Borers?
Oak wilt is a big concern in throughout
Minnesota. Many of the communities have information and programs to help
protect and save the oak trees from this disease.
Recently people have been extremely concerned with the emerald ash borer that
has been found in Ramsey County and now Anoka County too. These insects bored
into ash trees and tunnel under the bark eventually killing the tree. There are
programs to control the spread of the insects.
What about emergencies? How far to
the nearest hospital? Where is the nearest fire station? Who provides police
protection?
No one wants to think about these
things when moving but accidents and illnesses do happen. It was a long hour
drive to Children's Hospital in St. Paul when my son fell and needed stitches.
If the nearest fire station is staffed with volunteers and over five miles
away, it will seem like a lifetime during those 5-10 minutes while you wait for
the fire truck to show up to YOUR home. And big fires in dry areas will need
the water trucked in due to limited water hydrants, if any, like in the city.
Many rural communities do not have police officers but are patrolled by the
county sheriff's department. Understand your options before an emergency occurs
because it will likely take a bit longer if you are in a rural area.
With a little planning, and a good
REALTOR®, your move to Minnesota acreage can be a great one!
READY
to Make YOUR Move? If
you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a
professional REALTOR®, give me, Teri Eckholm of BOARDMAN Realty, a
call or visit my website for a FREE Home Buyer Success Guide or FREE Home Value Report. I specialize in
acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities
metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the
Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and
Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2015 www.terieckholm.com
Copyright 2015 www.terieckholm.com
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Paranormal activity runs rampant at this house just north of the lake, but this haunting is only once a year and is all in good fun! 
I took several photos of the festivities that were part fundraiser for the 
If you want to learn more about Chris’ annual event watch the first installment of the documentary originally produced for 
