I bought the farm!

Hah, I always wanted to say that! :lol3: I don't even know if I should say anything so I don't jinx it (I just put down the earnest money but the assessor still needs to take a look), but I'm excited!

Not a real farm, but an acreage. 6.4 acres and the house is a converted barn. So my kitties will all be barn cats :tongue2:. It's on the highway so no freedom for the kitties, even supervised, but I am going to build a super-huge enclosure, for sure!

http://www.homes.com/listing/190455060/46494_Hwy_46_Unkn_BERESFORD_SD_57004

The seller accepted my first offer, which is considerably lower than the asking price (I thought we'd have a little back-and-forth!). It is written into the contract that I keep the cat who lives there, LOL. She's an older lady, and I guess he doesn't want her moving to town with them. Ah well, what's one more? But I do think it's funny that he actually put it in the contract.

I'm such a sissy about being alone in the dark in the middle of nowhere, but I guess I'll just have to get used to it. And not watch too much Criminal Minds! I have a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd mix and I'll have a gun by then, and there's not much crime around here anyway, especially not violent crime against strangers. . .just trying to talk myself into it :tongue2:.

And I will definitely get chickens. And maybe a goat to keep the lawn trimmed.

Cute place! I'll bet you'll want to wrap those support posts with sisal.

OMG, it looks amazing. I really hope it works out for you.  Mind you, unless you have a few goats you could be cutting that grass forever more! What lucky cats you've got buying them a place like that, and with ready made floor to ceiling scratch poles too. mrblanche is right, get that sisal out now (or what ever your crew's chosen material happens to be)! 

Congratulations! I love the beams & posts, plus the big bathroom. The Rottweiler and Shepherd mix should be able to scare off potential evildoers. :lol3: Can you fence in part of the yard for them? Is the white house the neighbors' place?

I love it!!!  Absolutely love it!!  The pictures on the link you sent seem to show 2 different styles. One of the "barn" that was converted, and images of a more traditional home with an updated kitchen, empty rooms etc.  Are there 2 hours on the property?

By the way, I checked it out in Google street view!  Amazing location, great looking lot and I seriously hope this works for you.  IMHO it is an amazing find!
 

Wow!  What a great house for a great price.  I doesn't look like you have a lot of work to do to move in either (other than build an enclosure) 

It has 2 houses. . .but honestly, the old house isn't very livable. Probably take it down eventually. The property can't be split into 2 separate properties for selling but I could rent the other house out if it can be made livable. Not sure if I want renters but I can use it for storage.

And, yeah, when I saw the support beams I immediately thought they should be wrapped with sisal :tongue2:.

A fence for the dogs will be put up before I move in. I might have the loft finished before moving in too (depending on how much that costs). The cat enclosure will probably have to wait until spring.

Well done you! 

Looking forward to the 'moved in' pictures.

And I love the fact that the cat was in the contract.

..and the fact that the estate agent's name is Woody Houser   (I may be more amused than most as they are both unusual names in this part of the world)

Congratulations! What a great house! I'd love to see pictures once you're moved in.

I love the kitchen with the skirt around the sink, etc. So homey looking. Actually were part of the pictures of the inside of the other house. It doesn't look too bad. Maybe a second place to rent might not be too bad, You would be close enough to keep an eye on what was going on there.

Personally, I would look into renting the house.

There will be lots of work required to maintain your property: Snow shoveling in the winter, cutting the grass in the summer, odds and end fix ups etc.  You could rent the second house to a couple whose husband is handy, at a reduced rent in exchange for doing the heavy work like clearing snow and mowing the yard.

Natalie_ca said:

Personally, I would look into renting the house.

There will be lots of work required to maintain your property: Snow shoveling in the winter, cutting the grass in the summer, odds and end fix ups etc.  You could rent the second house to a couple whose husband is handy, at a reduced rent in exchange for doing the heavy work like clearing snow and mowing the yard.

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What, not the Cat Site users' cat friendly holiday home? Darn, I was al set to get my flights booked!  (Says   she who's in the UK and hasn't had a passport for about 5 years!) 

What a beautiful home! Congrats on your new place! I especially love all the lilacs.

Natalie_ca said:

Personally, I would look into renting the house.

There will be lots of work required to maintain your property: Snow shoveling in the winter, cutting the grass in the summer, odds and end fix ups etc.  You could rent the second house to a couple whose husband is handy, at a reduced rent in exchange for doing the heavy work like clearing snow and mowing the yard.

Click to expand...

Great Idea Natalie, I agree.  That could be a BIG help!  Congratulations, & yes, I am excited to see what you do to it when you move in too.

Ooo I love it!  How neat!  And i love that bath tub! 

Congratulations! How exciting. It's a gorgeous house. So warm and homely. I hope you have many happy years there.

Congrats!!

Seeing how cheap the houses there, compared to here in NY.. I am in the wrong state!

I am SOOOOOOOO jealous!! 

Congratulations! 

Houses where I live are so expensive.  That land, and the 2 houses would go for about $750,000 here.

You're going to find a tractor with a bucket, a mower and maybe a snow blower will be your best friend; you can get a small tractor {.35+45HP) with attachments fairly cheaply used. If you love your vehicles and hate chasing things, no goats - they climb on everything; check out a few hair sheep - no need for shearing and they don't climb.
Congrats!!!
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