Recently I wrote an article about taking a big risk—a big step outside our comfort zone towards a new life and a new place to call home. So many readers sent encouraging comments and congratulations. We were excitedly throwing caution to the wind and purchasing acreage in northern Arizona. We made an offer and it was accepted.
Every day we went through the photos online and those we took. I made floor plans and placed furniture. Even when discovering that we had more furniture than square footage for it, I did not stop the incessant planning. I reminded myself that when we moved from full-time RVing we had NO furniture. Most of our furniture is so-called “mid-century modern,” meaning it was my dad’s and was in the house when we bought it. We planned how to make a silk purse out of the pink stucco exterior. I learned how to Photoshop white pillars and balcony rails into one of the exterior photos.
My husband scoured Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for a trailer to haul stuff. The inevitable lumber, rocks, dirt, and other stuff. He bought SuperSprings Suspension Stabilizers for his pickup. He started making trips to Harbor Freight and O’Reilly Auto for things like ratchets, jack stands, and a heavy-duty car jack. Every purchase he made came to my email instead of his. I began to have an idea of what kind of expenses would ramp up in buying a property that needed a lot of work.
We researched the area and just decided we couldn’t get hurt or sick. We would refresh our CPR skills. We were delighted that we could get a gallon of milk within 15 miles and that the very small-town grocery made weekly runs to Costco.
We chatted and we dreamed. I knew what cactus would grow and which ones would succumb to low temperatures. When I was concerned about moving north when we were in Arizona for the warmth, my husband kept reminding me that we came from Minnesota. We endured 20-degrees-below-zero temps almost every winter. We could tolerate a short freeze overnight in northern Arizona when it would warm up in the daytime.
We planned to renovate the wreck of a second house on the property and have an Airbnb. Or have a place for our kids and grandkids to visit. Finish the basement. Cut down some trees and spread gravel around the house. We also saw a lot of healthy physical work in our future.
Yet, we forced ourselves to do some due diligence. They listed a well but no pump was installed. We would get the well inspected. We would get the house inspected, and get the little house checked out.
And we did… and the well failed. The static water at 1,100 feet down was nonexistent. Not even condensation showed up on the video camera. We contacted the well drilling company and they told me that the reason there was no pump on the well was because there wasn’t enough water in the hole to draw from and replenish the holding tank. The owner had insisted that there was lots of water just there for the pumping. Thank goodness we did our due diligence instead of spending $25,000 on a pump for an almost-dry well.
So, sadly, we walked away. Our dream dissolved and yet the excitement lingers. We now know that we are willing to get out of our comfort zone and dream big. And we know that we have a whole family of RVtravel.com readers cheering us on. Thank you!
MORE FROM NANCI:
- Our next chapter: Taking an uncomfortable big step
- Rediscovering the camping I fell in love with so many years ago
- Why we had to prove a reader wrong about RVing
- The things we dream of doing… What’s stopping you?
- What to do when the joy of your RVing dream life fades?
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##RVT1198
I hope a camel spits in the eye of the seller who tried to mislead you.
The good news is you get to get excited over a different opportunity that has yet to reveal itself. Keep your hand on the doorknob, there’ll be knocking…..
Smile!
There are more dreams out there to be had. Keep your eyes on the prize and the rainbow at the end.
Wow! Just wow!
Remember when one door closes, another usually opens and sometimes a much better entrance. Good luck.
So glad this didn’t work out you. Good for you that you caught this before it was too late. You guys are smart for doing your due diligence , and you are all the wiser now as you continue the hunt. Have fun.
Sorry to hear Nanci. Sure glad you did your due diligence.
Good research on your part. Sorry it didn’t work out. I’m not sure. Did you lose out after you signed on the dotted line? Or were you able to avoid purchasing the ‘white elephant ‘ and walk away? Try Show Low or Eagar, AZ for their great summers
Got the earnest money back and walked (ran) away!
Wow, that hurts. Reminds me of a property we bought in Southern CO, the seller insisted the title was clear and wanted to do just a “bill of sale and a handshake” as he claimed that’s how he’d always done business. Not so fast! turns out there was a lien on the property after a title search. We were lucky to get the deposit back.
A huge problem all over anymore…water…or lack of. Too many people drawing from aquifers have lowered said aquifers so much that deepening wells is making problems even worse.
We considered settling in Arizona when coming off the road as fulltimers, but realized water was and will continue to be a big issue with the Colorado River at horrible flow levels. Glad you found out soon enough.
Nanci, not sure where you were going to “nest” in northern AZ, but, if you were above the Mogollon Rim, you might try the Show Low area. Sufficient population to have a medical center and big box stores, but small enough to have minimal traffic issues and slightly lower home prices. Surounding areas have trees, hills, and small properties, many with existing houses. Far enough from Phoenix to avoid most of the weekenders and not a major tourist destination like Flagstaff or Williams. Several large state parks and plenty of national forest campgrounds in the area for uncrowded, weekday RV camping, some with lakes for boating, kayaking, and fishing.
Thanks- will look.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Nanci! Congratulations on discovering the absence of water while you could still back-out of the deal! I wish you well as you search again, whenever that is. Meanwhile, have a great week and safe travels!
We recently moved to S. TX & went thru a similar situation. First we looked for a house w acreage. After losing a bid on one we decided we are too along in years & it could possibly leave one of us to take care of it alone. So, looking in the small town of 857 we knew the town had 3 water wells. We had well problems in Oregon before moving. The recently renovated cute house accepted our proposal w a contingency that it pass a professional inspection. Thirty typed issues later (electricity and plumbing) we backed out. We got our $5,000 earnest deposit back. So, we bought a lot, took 3 prices and built, after recommendations. Best decision for us. Good luck Nancy!
Nanci, I am sorry that your real estate plans (for this property) did not work out but must tell you I believe it for the best – not so much because of the property risk, but because of the risk you would have taken to age in place in a remote area. I speak from experience, as we have traveled for years, and once one of the travel partners reached early 80’s found we need to be near healthcare facilities – regular MD appointments, labs for drawing blood, emergency or Urgent Care facilities, and ongoing cancer treatment centers. All of this was not evident in our 70’s but in our early 80’s we fell into health challenges that could not likely have been met from a location such as yours.
Thank you Janet- we thought about that but tried to push the reality of 2 hrs to health care to the back of mind. I so appreciate your comment.
Nanci and Jimmy,
Sorry this adventure did not work out for you’ll. With your due diligence and God’s guidance, you were saved from a disaster. But I’m sure there is another adventure waiting to be discovered.
Blessings,
Paul & Diane