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Ranch Property Question

9,527 Views | 18 Replies | Last: 9 yr ago by giddings_ag_06
The Lurker
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I've started looking at ranch properties and wonder what additional costs there might be on improvements for some necessities. Any idea what is the cost range would be for:
water well?
sewage?
electricity?
what else am I not thinking of?

Out of curiosity... seems like Rocksprings is less expensive than surrounding areas (Leakey, Vanderpool, etc.), why is that?
ought1ag
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from what i have heard, electricity and septic will probably run you at least 10K. Although it all depends on where the property actually is (compared to existing lines) and in what county.(septic)
Ergo97
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IMO, think about what equipment you want, both to run and enjoy a ranch. This is personal to you. But some common items: Tractor with accessories. UTV or 4 wheeler to ride around in. Something to cut down the grass near living quarters (riding mower or bush hog attachment for the tractor). Deer blind and feeder with a turn crank. Fencing, depending on your purpose. /// and property taxes.
dead zip 01
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One of the first things to look at is the condition of the fencing.
Bitter Old Man
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quote:
I've started looking at ranch properties and wonder what additional costs there might be on improvements for some necessities. Any idea what is the cost range would be for:
water well?
sewage?
electricity?
what else am I not thinking of?

Out of curiosity... seems like Rocksprings is less expensive than surrounding areas (Leakey, Vanderpool, etc.), why is that?

Water Well - $5k-$15k, depending on water depth and Soil Type
Sewer - If you are looking at actual ranches, then Septic will be your only choice. $10k-$20k depending on Location, Permits, and soil conditions
Electricity - Totally depends on where the nearest service is and how far you need to run it to get to where you are.
Property Taxes - Should be minimal if you maintain your Ag Exemption
Ag Exemption - It costs money to maintain it. Totally depends on your place and the type of exemption you run.

Rocksprings is a lot drier and has less topography that Leakey/Vanderpool. Its more of a desert scape than a hill country scape. Also, Rocksprings is a just further west, so its more remote with less area amenities. I'm not sure what they ground water availability is in Rocksprings, but in Leakey there is a lot of good groundwater.
redass1876
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Water will depend on depth
Sewage will likely be septic. This will be determined by your soil type. Too rocky or sandy is bad and will up the cost. Will also define aerobic or lateral lines
Electric depends on how close existing lines are


I just bought a new place. Electric was free. Oncor told me they would do up to a 500' run for free
Septic i am getting a quote on this week but was told to expect ~$8k. Small aerobic system (500gallon). All rock where i am at
SanAntoneAg
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If you are looking for a property in a subdivision that has electricity, a drop from PEC is going to run in the neighborhood of $5K.

Also, if possible, consider a property with Ag tax valuation.
wadd96
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It cost us $1000 per pole to run electricity in Medina County.
Well should have been a lot cheaper than it was, but they hit rock when it should have all been sandy loam.
Septic will vary between traditional and aerobic. Check with county to see what is allowed.

Check your fences.
Barn/shed for equipment?
Equipment?
Livestock and feed?

It all adds up.
All the God's, all the Heavens, all the Hells are within you.
coyote68
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Road, fencing, water, septic, and electricity are your possible big ticket items. They can vary widely from property to property. Property taxes can be exorbitant if you don't have an Ag or wildlife exemption.
whitespikes06
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All others have said it. Check your fences, they get expensive when you start talking a linear mile to miles of fence. Additionally, access roads if not one already. May need county or TXDOT approval. Could be very costly based on type of culvert needed if one at all. Access roads inside property. Electricity is a big one. Depending on where and provider you may need to be granted easement rights by the owner of nearest service pole. They do not have to grant it in which case the service company will continue to move to next pole until rights are granted. Your meter loop will cost $$. Water or access to it and septic. Like others have said find a place with Ag Exemption and keep it! It is more costly to obtain it than retain it (time and energy more than anything). If not property taxes can get out of control.
Long Live Sully
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Check with the local water district and/or someone who regularly drills wells in that area and find out how realistic it is to hit water. The Rocksprings area looks awfully dry to me compared to Leakey.
SharkinAg
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Another option would be a pull behind rv with a generator if you wind up somewhere very secluded.
giddings_ag_06
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I just had a fenceline dozed and redone (only around 1/6 of my place at that) and dropped just over $2k. Should have been closer to $3k, but I got a good deal from a local guy.

Gas to and from your new place will add up quick and you'll most likely be going there often at first.

You'll find a crap ton of stuff you want at your cabin/trailer area. Everything from a bbq pit to water to chairs to a fire pit. You'll discover a lot of work to be done and a lot of little costs that will start adding up.

Rocksprings is a rough area. Running cattle or something to keep the ag exemption will be tough unless you find a local to do the work for you. Feed costs will add up. Keeping the animals watered will add up, especially when you get a leak in the middle of bfe that's been running for a while.

Corn and protein per year will add up quick. Just a rough number, running 3 feeders and protein, you'll spend a grand a year, but that obviously can go way up or be a little less.

Stands and feeders require occasional maintenance and initial costs if you don't own any.

Fences get expensive, especially in that hard and rocky area.

This is just off the top of my head. There are quite a few other costs that just pop up continually.
aggie_2001_2005
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Consider building a barn at least 5,000 sq ft and equipping it with a rainwater catch system. Then you avoid the expense of a well and get a barn in addition to water supply. Higher initial cost, much better long term payoff.
CanyonAg77
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Some of my recent costs and/or estimates:

Six strand barbed wire fence, installed flat on soil (i.e. no rocks) $9880 a mile. If you share the fence with a neighbor, they will often share 50/50. Anything done with the fence should only be done with an agreement. I have dealt with idiots who didn't know that.

Electricity, $1700 a pole from existing line, with a pole every 300 feet or so. (Distance varies to avoid harmonics, but averages 300) Also add cost for transformer, I think that was $900. This was Xcel, I suspect a rural electric co-op would be more reasonable.

Barn, 30x40, insulated, concrete floor, 15 foot ceiling, one large door, one walk-in: $29,000

Well and septic will vary wildly depending on soil, area, depth to water, pumping capacity, windmill, solar pump, electric pump, etc. As said above, check with local drillers and installers.

Also some good suggestions on alternate water/sewer/power. In my case, I decided not to build the barn, as it would have cost $15,000 to run electricity just to the edge of my property, and I wanted to run power tools. But if all I needed was lighting, I could have easily done that with wind, solar, generator or a battery. Toilet, porta-potty or composting toilet. Water, rain collection or bring it in every time you visit.

I think others have good ideas as to the priorities, too. Make sure it's safe and secure, and you can add the rest as you go. Use a generator now, run electricity later. Do rain water collection now, add a well when you build a house or cabin.

One thing I think people need to do as well is assess the property from an environmental standpoint. You don't want to be stuck with the cleanup bill from a dump, old tires, chemical containers, batteries, etc....

levimod
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quote:
Rocksprings is a lot drier and has less topography that Leakey/Vanderpool. Its more of a desert scape than a hill country scape. Also, Rocksprings is a just further west, so its more remote with less area amenities. I'm not sure what they ground water availability is in Rocksprings, but in Leakey there is a lot of good groundwater.


There's an awful lot of hill country around Rocksprings, and most of what isn't hill country is "divide country", which is more level to rolling but has similar vegetation (oak, cedar) to hill country. Farther west in Val Verde County and farther south in Kinney County it gets to be South and West Texas real quick, with primarily mesquite and scrub brush. Although Leakey is marginally closer to SA and most of the rest of Texas, I think a big driver is also the rivers and recreational areas in Leakey(especially) and Vanderpool (better located).
There are also a lot more subdivisions in Edwards County (Rocksprings) as it's about 3 times as big as Real County (Leakey). Within Edwards Countt there's also a big fluctuation of prices from Northeast Edwards (higher) to Southwest Edwards.
Most subdivision tracts out there are not fenced. If there's an Ag exemption it's usually from a lease on the whole subdivision or a big part of it. Good advice to make sure it's in place.
Electricity can be an absolute beast these days. The utilities used to want to bring you power, now they at least are charging you what it costs them, and in some cases it seems like it's a big revenue source for them. Adjoining power lines is a big deal when they're charging $30,000/mile to bring it to you.
CanyonAg77
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Regarding property taxes, most of those are online now. For example, in Potter and Randall Counties (Amarillo and Canyon) they have a GIS search tool where you can use a map to find a property, zoom in, and find out all the info you need. If you know my name or where my little farm is, you can find it, and get the appraisal info, exemptions, taxes paid, etc.

I'd rather you didn't, but it is public info.

If you find an area you like, try to see if the tax info is online.
Ribeye-Rare
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giddings,

quote:
I just had a fenceline dozed and redone (only around 1/6 of my place at that) and dropped just over $2k. Should have been closer to $3k, but I got a good deal from a local guy.


I'm considering the same thing on a certain stretch. How many feet did you get for your $2K, and how bad and mature were the trees/brush on that fence line?

Did they stack it back a ways and leave it for you to burn, along with the with the wire and posts in the pile?

I hate having to do this. I've painfully learned over the years that I've either got to control my vegetation, or it will control me.

Thanks for the info.

Neches21
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quote:
I hate having to do this. I've painfully learned over the years that I've either got to control my vegetation, or it will control me.
90% of work done on my land is fighting back nature.
I have to constantly attack it with a bush hog, prescribed fire, herbicides, brush cutters, hydro axes, and hand tools....and it is still a thicket in many places.

Trying to accomplish what is normally a full time job on select few weekends that I can get away from work and family obligations is tough. I end up throwing a lot of money at it by hiring services. Ready for my boys to be big enough to really help with it.

Without access to a tractor, implements, ATV's, and big barn to store it all in, I dont see how I could accomplish any of it.
giddings_ag_06
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quote:
giddings,

quote:
I just had a fenceline dozed and redone (only around 1/6 of my place at that) and dropped just over $2k. Should have been closer to $3k, but I got a good deal from a local guy.


I'm considering the same thing on a certain stretch. How many feet did you get for your $2K, and how bad and mature were the trees/brush on that fence line?

Did they stack it back a ways and leave it for you to burn, along with the with the wire and posts in the pile?

I hate having to do this. I've painfully learned over the years that I've either got to control my vegetation, or it will control me.

Thanks for the info.




That part of the fence was literally gone in some places so my neighbors to the south and I got with the east neighbor and had a long stretch of shared fence dozed then rebuilt. That way the cost was split for everyone.

For me, I had about 300 feet (luckily my shortest fence) dozed about 30' on each side of the fenceline. Since the place is so thick with trees, the cleared brush was just pushed into the treeline. The old fence was also, but it was so brittle and so broken up that some of the fence was literally grown into cedar trees 6' up. We had him leave as many of the big mature trees as possible.

All said and done for the 300' of clearing and fence rebuilding it cost $2500, which I split with neighbor, so $1200ish to me. I also had some more dozer work done to open up a food plot and clear brush around my trailer. The creek had washed out in 2 places so I had to have that reworked also. All said and done it cost me a little over $2k for the fence and dozer work at $85/hr.

It was all needed work.
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