Where in the US to live with horses?

[mika0116]

Surprised no one here is saying Washington state…

No you cannot afford Seattle metro areas but you might be able afford within ~2 hours of Seattle. I’d look into Northern WA state near the CAN border – you can be at Thunderbird in a hour or less and to Seattle in about 1.5 - 2 hours with light traffic.

Also no state income tax.

https://www.horseproperties.net/properties/whatcom-county-washington-united-states

Oh shit I see your $600k ask for a farm property … you might find a SFH in WA for that in Whatcom – but yeah if you’re looking for a horse property with house and existing infrastructure for that price I’m gonna say rural south / midwest, or NY state / NH or Vermont maybe?

[LakeEffect]

@canterplease

Can get an updated 3BR/2BA home for under $600K, or a smaller/less updated home with 5 acres + barn at about the same price

I feel like these things are no longer comparable. In my area, you could get a new-build 3/2 for $600k, probably around builder grade or a hair better. Or, you could get raw land and build for about the same amount

To find that “comparable” less house and acreage for $600k, you’d be going way further out, and a new 3/2 there is probably 60% of that.

Land value and just too high AND construction is still expensive.

[hey101]

Can you expand further on “TN is a tough horse market”?

Do you mean people trying to make a living in horses? (In which case I’d submit just about anywhere is becoming increasingly difficult to make a good living in horses )

What about just having one or two strictly for pleasure, maybe boarded, maybe at home.

I’m interested in Eastern TN as a semi-retirement destination in 2-4 years- seems to balance the weather (I don’t want too hot or too cold), no state income tax, I love the mountains, have no interest in showing anymore, happy to mostly trail ride, I WFH, have fam in MD, VA and FL so somewhat well-located. I hve huge equity in my home so I can outright purchase something nice. Can it work (ie is there at least some semblance of a horsey community- can I get hay, vet etc)

[Texarkana]

@hey101

Can you expand further on “TN is a tough horse market”?

Do you mean people trying to make a living in horses? (In which case I’d submit just about anywhere is becoming increasingly difficult to make a good living in horses )

TN is a great place to live and there are plenty of horses in general. But nowhere in the state is there the robust H/J community with extensive boarding options and regular shows that the OP is seeking. There is some competitive activity in the state with some good trainers, but it tends to be spread out and you can expect to have to drive a lot.

People relocating horse operations there from places with really active show scenes, like the locations discussed in this thread, tend to get frustrated quickly and move along if there is nothing else keeping them in the area (myself included).

[NoSuchPerson]

@hey101

Can it work (ie is there at least some semblance of a horsey community- can I get hay, vet etc)

It depends on exactly where you decide to live, how high your standards for housekeeping are, and exactly what you want to do with your horses. And don’t assume, just because you see horses in pastures as you drive around the area, that it’s a good place to keep horses. Seriously investigate vet, farrier, and hay supply options before you make a decision.

Also, take a good hard look at the typical weather there. The amount of rain might take you by surprise.

[nycjumper]

Thanks Sixteenhands for thinking of me!

I’m super happy to chat about Aiken from both a horse and real estate perspective!

We moved here Oct '16. Real estate has appreciated significantly since we. moved here. We bought land and built our farm which is right in town. You definitely can get a 3/2 for under 600. Home with barn under 600 will be a stretch unless you’re willing to be outside of Aiken (those 350k farms don’t exist any more). You can definitely find dry stalls around here in your price range, not sure what you mean by “full board” but if not including training - yes as well. Training board will run north of 1500 but that will include lessons.

On a personal note - I LOVE Aiken. We moved here not knowing anyone (I had never been here before I got off the plane!) and it’s a really darling place. We thought about Ocala but hurricanes and home insurance were too scary for me personally. We generally are in a bit of a weather bubble (excluding Helene) - Aiken is the place people evacuate TO when hurricanes come. It’s a charming downtown, lots of things going on from a social aspect and I love that we’re two hours from the beach, the mountains and the big airports (CLT). We are experiencing lots of growth and with that comes some pain points but I’m super happy here. Internet has gotten LIGHT YEARS better.

I’m super happy to chat about Aiken and real estate - my email is rachelcdv at g mail if you have any questions.

[TheJenners]

So I read this with interest and then did a Zillow search for funsies around WIlmington, OH. Quite a few options but you guys have to look at this one because I’m dying I mean, weird location next to the road but cute enough, not sure what the deal is with the staging including a serial killer???

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3054-State-Route-247-Hillsboro-OH-45133/224209948_zpid/?

I won’t share the one with the mirrors on the ceiling of the master bedroom

[TheJenners]

@mika0116

Surprised no one here is saying Washington state…

@mika0116

Oh shit I see your $600k ask for a farm property …

Yeah the market went absolutely bugshit. I bought and built my farm for probably (does math) $450k give or take 10 thousand or so in 2016/2017, that’s land that came with barn, and built a house, arena, and did fencing with goodly amount of luck wrt contractors. I could probably sell now for…well, not quite double but darned close. It’s cooling some, land is still king so smaller lots are more affordable, I have nine acres.

Skagit Co farther out is probably doable and Starlink reigns supreme for the best Internet for remote workers. North Sno Co, Whatcom, heck even King Co out closer to the Mountains (or Cle Elum area, I know she didn’t say eventing but the Horse Park is busy busy, plus Monroe) might swing it. Weather isn’t awful, people aren’t awful, there are some excellent equine vets and farriers, but hay is costly. My biggest expense is hay, by far, I think my five tons of timothy was just short of $3800? I try to not think about the math.

[Alterwho]

That’s really bizarre! And that person was in multiple photos, sometimes holding a butcher knife. There’s no way the realtor thought including those photos was a good idea.

You know we need the link to the house with the mirrored ceiling…

[TheJenners]

@Alterwho

There’s no way the realtor thought including those photos was a good idea.

I don’t see how they got in accidentally???

Because you asked. It’s such a vanilla listing and then BAM.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6801-Gorsuch-Rd-Franklin-OH-45005/35618746_zpid/

[Alterwho]

I wonder if the home owner insisted on including the photos? That realtor needs to make sure their doors are locked at all times and maybe invest in a good alarm system and a big dog. Yikes.

The mirrored ceiling is umm… interesting. It would have been super easy to crop the ceiling out of the photos. That house looks like a time capsule from the 70s

[OnAMission]

There are some crazy realtors out there, I can see where one of the craycrays would think it was funny and hopefully get shares so I’m mostly surprised their MLS let them through.

[JumpWithPanache]

You might be a relatively low price point in and around horse country that has a decent horse show scene. Southern Pines, NC, Aiken, SC, and Virginia Beach, VA might have things you could look at… although you’ll probably still have to extend your budget. DH and I are building a five acre farm in Va Beach if you want to chat about our area.

[Displaced_Yankee]

I think the OP is priced out of Southern Pines…BUT areas nearby such as Raeford, NC and Sanford, NC are a quick drive. Sanford having more infastructure, Raeford is sort of in the boonies (but still nice). If thinking North Carolina, Greensboro and Winston-Salem are easy drives to Raleigh and Southern Pines HJ events.

[JumpWithPanache]

That’s a good point… the areas around So Pines are good to look at

[pony_grandma]

That’s a pretty strait laced quilt on that bed with the mirrors

[canterplease]

HAHA that’s wild. And terrifying. A bit too out in the boonies for us…

The more I look at options, the more I’m thinking we buy an affordable house without the acreage to start, get a feel for the area, board horses at someplace nearby, then consider buying land and building the farm later on if we really like the area.

[canterplease]

Wow, even without land, still tough to find something nice around $600K? I’ve heard so many great things about SP and know a couple trainers in the area (board is still pretty expensive at their farms, but guessing there are less pricey options around).

[fivestrideline]

Southern Pines is getting expensive. Not Wellington expensive, but a LOT of hobby farms out there are easily $1M or pushing it. There’s not as much industry to support it either, so remote work is the way to go I think! Your budget would likely get a home, especially in the surrounding areas, and there’s great boarding options.

@Displaced_Yankee

Sanford having more infastructure, Raeford is sort of in the boonies (but still nice). If thinking North Carolina, Greensboro and Winston-Salem are easy drives to Raleigh and Southern Pines HJ events.

GBoro and Winston have more options, and you may be able to find a fixer-upper farm for sub-$600k. Depends on your house standards It likely won’t be $600k when you’re done with it though! Getting a nice house would be easy.

[NoSuchPerson]

@canterplease

I’m thinking we buy an affordable house without the acreage to start, get a feel for the area, board horses at someplace nearby, then consider buying land and building the farm later on if we really like the area.

Or even find a house to rent for a year, then buy. Your opinion of an area can really change after living there, even after only a short time. I’ve been in my current area for not quite 3 months and my views on certain areas have already started to shift.

I’m still very pleased with where I decided to buy, but I’ve realized that there were a couple of areas that I initially decided not to look that probably would have been good places to live. Also a couple of areas that have me thinking, “wow, so glad I ended up not buying there.”