Well, we've been looking for some land in central Mississippi. We picked this area because we have good friends there, it's centrally located for my work (I cover the whole country) and also for getting to our family members. The cost of land there is also still reasonable compared to most other places = like around $2000 per acre - or less depending on what you purchase (timber value).
We found a very nice place with everything that we wanted - 19 year old pines and mature hardwoods in the bottoms - has a creek coming on and off on one side too. Very pretty. Lots of deer - and this area has turkeys, dove, along with squirrel, rabbit, and all kinds of varmints. Didn't see any sign of hogs but they say they are coming...
Here's an arial shot of the land:
![Image](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/5727206104_b6d7069242_b.jpg)
We're going to have a 15' wide road cut all the way around the property along with a home site cleared, pond site and several food plots - probably around 7 or 8 acres of clearing - and we may have the pines "thinned". This should generate some income back to cover the down payment on the land. This is a pine farm - in agricultural exempt status.
We will then have the electric, water and phone run to the property - this is all free beleive it or not - we just pay for the "on-land" hook-ups which is minimal. The county also installs a culvert at your entrance - also free. I guess they like getting new tax payers to move there...
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
I want to look into solar power, my own well, etc. - after we get other things out of the way.
We are very excited and making our plans. The pond should be about 20' deep - there are some nice deep ravines to utilize for this. I'm looking at construction methods to utilize for our house = I want to "pay as I go" on this and build it myself. I will probably use the compressed styrofoam blocks that you install yourself, insert rebar and then have cement pumped into the cavety in the middle - forming an insulated 4 or 6" thick cement wall.
We'll probably build a small "guest house" that we will convert to a shop and garage space later before we start on the house = this will give us the opportunity to start with something easier/smaller and see how it goes and what it really costs...
I'm pumped though!!! Can't wait to get it closed (three weeks) and the improvements underway.
And I really can't wait for hunting season this fall
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I have a great wife!! She decided to come out and look at the "finalist" properties with me and help decide which one to go with - very good feeling to see her all excited along with me.
Closing is in three weeks.