Selectamatic
Member
- Location
- North Wales
Ladies and Gents,
I happen to be sat here watching 'Escape to the Country' (I say watching, its on in the background, while I'm doing something constructive) and its frustrating the hell out of me! A couple in their 50's ish, are trying to find a new home in Herefordshire, with £700,000 to play with they manage it...lucky buggers.
There's a smallholding near here, going on auction soon, guide price is £600,000, what do you get for your money? A small farmhouse, which you could live in, but could ideally do with some restoration and rework, some basic old farm buildings, a few byres, a granary, stable, in relatively good fettle. There is also a shed, that has seen better days, would be no good for much other than pulling down and weighting in really, and 22 acres of some fairly heavy, wet, but not extreme land, that could certainly be used to grow some good stuff and keep some livestock.
Now, my partner and I, both 30, with a modest amount of savings and full time jobs would kill for the chance of this place, I am a farmer in everyway other than actually having a farm, have some knowledge, have the kit, and am keen to get on with it. The other half is not from Farming stock, but has a dream of keeping a Farm Shop. Between us, I'm sure we could make a good little enterprise.
Problem is, the numbers just dont stack up, do they...? By some miracle, if some bank funded our wish, and we could afford this little 22 acre holding, unless you grew illegal drugs on it, or turn it into a brothel, it will never, ever pay for itself, will it? If tomorrow I win £600,000 on't Lottery, I still wont be able to make a living from a very modest 22 acres, will I? Even if the produce is sold for a premium through the Farm Shop...!
No problem, I have still a profession to draw a living from, and my other half is not shy, she could find some work I'm sure. But how to get a foot on the ladder when the first rung is so far out of reach?!
Not sure what I'm after here, other than somewhere to vent my frustration by beating up the keyboard! But any comments, suggestions, ideas, etc always welcome!
I happen to be sat here watching 'Escape to the Country' (I say watching, its on in the background, while I'm doing something constructive) and its frustrating the hell out of me! A couple in their 50's ish, are trying to find a new home in Herefordshire, with £700,000 to play with they manage it...lucky buggers.
There's a smallholding near here, going on auction soon, guide price is £600,000, what do you get for your money? A small farmhouse, which you could live in, but could ideally do with some restoration and rework, some basic old farm buildings, a few byres, a granary, stable, in relatively good fettle. There is also a shed, that has seen better days, would be no good for much other than pulling down and weighting in really, and 22 acres of some fairly heavy, wet, but not extreme land, that could certainly be used to grow some good stuff and keep some livestock.
Now, my partner and I, both 30, with a modest amount of savings and full time jobs would kill for the chance of this place, I am a farmer in everyway other than actually having a farm, have some knowledge, have the kit, and am keen to get on with it. The other half is not from Farming stock, but has a dream of keeping a Farm Shop. Between us, I'm sure we could make a good little enterprise.
Problem is, the numbers just dont stack up, do they...? By some miracle, if some bank funded our wish, and we could afford this little 22 acre holding, unless you grew illegal drugs on it, or turn it into a brothel, it will never, ever pay for itself, will it? If tomorrow I win £600,000 on't Lottery, I still wont be able to make a living from a very modest 22 acres, will I? Even if the produce is sold for a premium through the Farm Shop...!
No problem, I have still a profession to draw a living from, and my other half is not shy, she could find some work I'm sure. But how to get a foot on the ladder when the first rung is so far out of reach?!
Not sure what I'm after here, other than somewhere to vent my frustration by beating up the keyboard! But any comments, suggestions, ideas, etc always welcome!