Hi Knuckle
i took a look, but unfortunately that is listed at 51000. Anyway, it is still relatively cheap. Alternatively you could look at buying land in unorganized townships like Port Loring Ontario near north bay...and building something small. because it's unincorporated the taxes are really low.

Oh crap, I missed a 0....

Sorry for that folks. I was thinking too quick to double check I guess. Trailers have gone for cheap here in the past because it cost too much to move them and they have to sell as is. I know of 3 bedroom houses here for $70,000 so a trailer for $51,000 would be high.

This is $38,000 http://screalty.on.ca/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=1246 .

They sell lots here for a little as $500. Many bought up land figuring they could resell it later at a good profit. It is a means for the town to collect taxes on a piece of bush.

Heres one for $15,000 in Ignace. http://www.latitude50.on.ca/Ignace/Ontario/Homes/Ignace/Agent/Listing_106008282.html

Seems that whole town is going cheap http://www.latitude50.on.ca/homes.aspx?tabid=1652594&__ts=1406765913206

Many of these northern towns are logging and mining. Shut down the logging, this is what happens. For those who can live cheap though, this could be a great opportunity still. I hope I redeemed myself somewhat by following through with other examples to enlighten others to good deals. If you see something that might benefit other preppers in creating a backup plan, maybe post it here just in case....

Some municipalities have zoning bylaws which prohibit living in a business or dropping a mobile home on your property. It's better to check first.

Hi Knuckle
i took a look, but unfortunately that is listed at 51000. Anyway, it is still relatively cheap. Alternatively you could look at buying land in unorganized townships like Port Loring Ontario near north bay...and building something small. because it's unincorporated the taxes are really low.

I agree, BlackRaven, and the land we`re looking at buying jointly is just south and east of port loring, also unicorporated.
Are you looking in that area yourself.....
villager

Hi Knuckle
i took a look, but unfortunately that is listed at 51000. Anyway, it is still relatively cheap. Alternatively you could look at buying land in unorganized townships like Port Loring Ontario near north bay...and building something small. because it's unincorporated the taxes are really low.

I agree, BlackRaven, and the land we`re looking at buying jointly is just south and east of port loring, also unicorporated.
Are you looking in that area yourself.....
villager

So why not list some of the cost attached to going this route? Like power hookup, septic, etc., so others can estimate if this is a viable alternative compared to their other options. The more numbers thrown in, the better picture folks could perceive compared to that which they are presently following.

I see the $38,000 as a starter house for some and a potential fallback for others. I have met enough people these days that have to start over in their later years because they were too overextended in debt. I expect this to become the norm as hyperinflation is already starting in my area.

We often tend to only see as far as our nose leads, and later hear of some deal after were already committed. The old "If I only knew" reasoning may not always be the answer if we knew where to look. I can't think of any other things to mention yet, but I'm sure there are others that could fit this thread.

Hi Knuckle
i took a look, but unfortunately that is listed at 51000. Anyway, it is still relatively cheap. Alternatively you could look at buying land in unorganized townships like Port Loring Ontario near north bay...and building something small. because it's unincorporated the taxes are really low.

I agree, BlackRaven, and the land we`re looking at buying jointly is just south and east of port loring, also unicorporated.
Are you looking in that area yourself.....
villager

Sorry, that should read ``unorganized``, rather than the misspelled unincorporated.
(I had just been talking with a friend about the costs of incorporation on my mind.)

Whatever the variable local costs of hydro hookup, septic and well drilling might be, they will be less per shareholder, when shared frugally, by more people. This alone , plus neighborly mutual assistance , makes it more feasible for more participants to build a modest dwelling, or hedge their bets with a tiny house on wheels.
The costs of accessibility for limited mobile units have to be fairly shared also, and any longterm physical or visual impact considered.
For some space relief, and multifunctional benefits, a larger common building is good mutual investment too.
This can all be done still, without building permit.

Personally, i would encourage composting toilets at least till the specific terrain is thoroughly explored onsite for the most appropriate system of eventual blackwater treatment for each unit or grouping.
I have used a urine-separating , rotating barrel system on an bi-ennial basis, which after a year of digesting is suitable for composting bushes ,nut- trees. In keeping with the precautionary principle, i will not use directly on same-season vegetables.
Starting this way, in the warmer season, spreads out the more costly investments over a longer time, but demands thorough scrutiny of all the factors of a specific area. A comprehensive vision grows out of shared perspectives, onsite.
Well before this should be developed a principled vision of mutual conduct, based primarily on personal honour , respect...with contingencies and consequences in place.

Sorry Villager, if you thought that was a poke at your own proposal. What I was suggesting is that if folks had numbers to crunch, even an example given, it is still something to work with. Say some folks have been thinking about just purchasing a piece of land and slowly developing it. What would be the costs of going alone versus maybe going in with you instead. What if they need something closer and within travel of their job and can't do your option.....

This thread is just an idea that folks could come to for prices and unforeseen hidden costs. Many of us have had experiences that cost us in the past. If one shared a way around this hidden expense, another may yet profit from your experience. I like to believe that this forum has the potential to provide a vast variety of knowledge that folks won't likely find elsewhere. But first we have to feed it that knowledge and not horde it as prepper's often do by nature.

Hey Knuckle, ...not taken that way at all. I just wanted to register those unknowns of my situation....although the neighbor
had a quote of 10k for a 300ft. well.
You bring a lot of useful info to the table.

Here are some really rough numbers from a project my wife and I are doing in Nova Scotia.

Septic tank and field - $9000
Well without pump (410 ft deep drilled) - $8500
8' X 20' shed to house solar system - $2500
Solar system (15 panels, inverter, batteries) - $20 000
Structure... completely up to you
Land - free as it came from my father-in-law

Oh, plus 15% HST because it's frickin' NS.

Great numbers Antsy. Can you separate the solar system further. Like # of watts produced per panel, battery cost, best kind to buy, inverter costs, maybe even where you'd buy next time, and what you'd do different. Thanks again.

Great numbers Antsy. Can you separate the solar system further. Like # of watts produced per panel, battery cost, best kind to buy, inverter costs, maybe even where you'd buy next time, and what you'd do different. Thanks again.

I don't have as many details for the solar as yet. We have the structure fabricated and weather tight. Our plan is to get the shed in place early spring and the solar system right behind it as I want the power for the well pump and for tools to do the interior in late spring / early summer. We talked to a Cape Breton company called Apple Seed Energy about the solar requirements and they will do the install. Batteries average $400/ea and I expect that we will have 15 - 20 of them. I don't have spec's for the panels. I had the place wired as if it were a typical stick frame house. Wood stove for heat (primary) and propane baseboard in the basement as a back up and for winters while we are away. Stove will also be propane, instant hot water, and we will forgo a dryer and potentially a dish washer. I'm guessing that most folks will not even notice that we are not on the power utility. As I'm trucking in Propane, I don't make the claim to be operating "off grid". Instead I will say that if the flow were to disappear, it would be a small step to self sufficiency. I think the "lessons learned" post will still be a couple of years away.

Antsy

I have been working on a spreadsheet for solar panel figures too. It is far from done but it does the basic calculations required so far if you need it. Also have you checked into making your own panels to save money?

I have been working on a spreadsheet for solar panel figures too. It is far from done but it does the basic calculations required so far if you need it. Also have you checked into making your own panels to save money?

I will post to the solar section on the board when I have details for what we have done. I will know much more in the spring.

Hi Folks, I decided for a cheap way out by buying a piece of mountain property in SE Asia on a tropical Island at the almost end of a rural country road. With a generator and a Jackhammer I proceded to dig out a Cave Home Apartment large enough for my family (2 kids). It is a fairly inexpensive way to make a home and the material is already there, now starting organic farming and with small animals for meat and eggs source, we have fresh spring water all year ( not stopped in the last 5 yrs.) We are 13km/8miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and at 1500 Ft high, witch should be sufficient in case of Tsunami, City for shopping at 1 hr.drive so no looters expected when SHTF, living there for 2 yrs. and feeling safe as it is easy defendable? Caveman Joe