How EXPENSIVE Is It To Maintain LARGE Acreage?

In this video, I take on a question I have been asked several time recently. Isn't expensive to maintain large tracts of land? While it seems like a strange question, there is a way to answer it. I go through step by step things to consider and use real data from our farm to show how much money I have spent the last 24 years to keep our 100 acres maintained.
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[@brentiers]

I actually laughed out loud when you read the comment. There's no maintenance costs on a forest lol

[@calebdoner]

Grew up on 76 acres of timberland in Oregon. You are 100% correct. We had to mow the front lawn just like everyone else, but the forest was just a forest. We had some access roads we would mow once a year and walk over with a shovel after a big rainstorm to refresh the water bars, but there was no real hassle because it didn't need anything. The problem comes when people think they need to keep the entire property in "front yard condition.".

[@patriot1182]

Land is freedom from people! Your own playground!

[@51rwyatt]

I think maybe the fellow was thinking more along the lines of a 43 acre golf course. Now that would require some maintenance. I have 54 acres of woods in Maine and what I spend on maintenance is whatever my lazy butt gets around to doing. And $300 property tax a year, so nothing significant.

[@kevinblevins2612]

Couldn’t have said it better

[@x1777-x]

95% of the earth has no human maintenance done to it

[@frictionhitch]

Yeah. Like the Saharah.

[@mrpete9958]

Great points! In doing genealogy research on my family, I found that family members that farmed in the 1800's, per the Agriculture Census - which is separate from the regular census, would only farm part of the land. So if they owned 80 acres then they would only farm 40 acres. I would like to add that treating your farm as a business can help with offsetting taxes since equipment is a business expense and can be deducted. As the equipment depreciates with age it can help with reducing future years taxes as well. So, don't forget to scan equipment receipts into your computer as they will often fade.

[@keithbrigman5179]

Here in rural Tennessee we’ve had an influx of people moving in from the city wanting to be a homesteader.they’ve seen all the homesteading KZbinrs so they show up with a car full of farm animals and a tiny house. Before you know it there undeveloped land has kicked there butt and they throw in the towel. The property beside our farm has sold six times in ten years. Hate to see someone have to give up on their dream. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU TAKE THE LEAP

[@raggamuffinmcgee]

In rural TN my family owned the same 200 acres for over 200 years now. It's been split a few times to where we have 40 acres remaining. I'm wanting to buy back a portion from another family member but land prices are booming. My family member is asking us for $450,000 for our old portion with about 60 acres. Land is good if you have it but it's so expensive. Anyone in our county has been priced out of it. Only outsiders can afford to buy. Sad to see it go to some asshole from California or up north.

[@PeaceIntheValley]

that price per acre is a good price compared to up north. $7500/acre - ours here in Ohio is going 20-25000 per acre and we are very rural. I bought land in KY by the TN line because I love the area, the price was great, and I completely agree with you, Outsiders have driven the price up. to where the people who sell first are actually harming themselves. Unless you are very wealthy, take out a forever loan, or inherit, no regular joes can get land anymore.

[@TN-Land-Manager]

Always love the land management videos. Really enjoy it when you start diving into tree identification, management of them in relation to canopy and mast production. Water mitigation of watersheds and roads maintenance are enjoyable too.

[@genes883]

I don't know about West Virginia but the value of the land has increased much more than any costs associated with "maintaining" it.

[@deanrambler9006]

Your wealth of experience and expertise on this subject is evident in this in-depth look into this subject. You brought to light many things I had not thought of.

[@markp6062]

Great analysis! Having purchased 40 acres of pretty much wild land, the biggest cost has been time going out to clear the old logging roads and knocking down the undergrowth. It's been a lot of fun AND work, but it has been very rewarding that I can now go and wander at my leisure, enjoying The Creator's gift. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[@shannonswyatt]

I saw some of those comments as well and was scratching my head in wonderment. We have 10 acres of rural land, and the only expenses that were dedicated to the property was some gas and a $90 that I used to keep the area off the road clear. We have had it for over 15 years, and for the last 5 years I don't think I have done 5 hours of maintenance total, knowing that I will need to bring in a forestry mulcher or dozer to think out the woods near a building site. I don't remember the yearly tax bill, but it is less than $100.

[@suddenlycaprice]

Returned to WV a couple of years ago…within the first year they reassessed our property. Our taxes more than tripled. We could have our taxes reduced by filing as a homestead. We were advised by locals that they will come out and inspect the property and count our critters if we do. Went to renew our vehicle registration and they said in order to renew they needed to see our receipt verifying we paid our property taxes.

[@LittleCabin]

We have 61 acres in SW Virginia with the VAST majority being wooded. We are part-time residents at our cabin, averaging maybe a few days per month. I regularly maintain about a half acre around the cabin (mowing, weed eating), another acre of cleared area where we intend to build our retirement house (brush hog maybe 3 times a year), roughly 2 miles of trails (brush hog twice per year), and about a mile of gravel road/driveway (box blade). My main expense (not including my mortgage) has been my tractor and attachment purchase, which I did finance (5 years, 0% interest). Add in the occasional chainsaw activity for downed trees, and I think that about covers it!

[@PeaceIntheValley]

down by Cumberland Gap?

[@LittleCabin]

@@PeaceIntheValley Bland County.

[@PriceOfLibertyEternalVigilance]

Great video, Troy! A lot to think about and very eye opening in regards to how much more taxes are up here in PA vs. West VA. Awesome breakdown. I appreicate all the work you put into your videos.

[@rtubed2471]

As always Troy, thanks for sharing your advice and experience. I look forward to catching up when we finally get to our land there in Clay next year. Thanks again for checking that out for us! Take care brother.

[@genes883]

Many states have an agricultural exemption on land used for farming, including timber tracts. I live in Florida and pay very little in property tax on 70 acres of timber land.

[@CliffsideStables]

Same here in TN if you have a minimum of 15 acres. Tim

[@CzechSixTv]

It's commonly used as a tax loophole by wealthy people in NJ. For example, if you've got 25 wooded acres and claim(not prove) you sold $510 worth of timber the taxes on those 25 acres is cut by 96%. Celebs with large estates in NJ board horses and a bunch of other BS to avoid property taxes while the average resident is paying $8K+ on modest homes.

[@FreeAmerican-mm2my]

We have 80 acres in North Alabama. 60 clear & 20 in trees. I have cows on the open land and bush hog it yearly. I am using a chainsaw to open up the remainly land as silvopasture. Not a huge cost.

[@MaconLightning]

One of the best solutions for what to do as a landowner on land that you won’t use for an extended period of time is enrolling into a NRCS Conservation Reserve Program. CRPs are great ways to help wildlife be provided with adequate resources and be paid for doing that (more or less to pay off the land taxes so two birds with one stone!)

[@joshuapreusser2265]

Had a conversation similar to this with my wife not that long ago so I'm understanding both the comment and your commentary in this video. To my way of thinking the maintenance costs/concepts on a large rural property next to other large rural property owners is quite different than maintaining a few acres in semi-rural suburban sprawl. Since with the latter situation (which is how we're living now) the entire property may need to be treated like zone 0/1 to keep the neighbors from making a fuss (rightly or wrongly so), but with a larger rural property and with neighbors that are also on large-ish rural properties there's not as likely to be as much fuss -- assuming everyone stays neighborly and respects property boundaries. If a person starts getting in large undeveloped properties closer to urban areas then there can start to be other issues (something my parents have seen on the property where I grew up) that drive up costs ..... namely dealing with trespassing and/or illegal dumping. Glad to hear that my thinking & experience isn't unique or entirely unfounded.

[@crayrat1]

Troy I like you show what you said about not cutting fields or grazing them was spot on my father bought his Uncle's property when I was 5 yrs. old and never did anything to maintain the property or the house for 50+ years used it for hunting camp and hunting land, today the house is falling down the fields are so thick you can not walk though them to get into the woods to hunt the dirt road is almost impassable do to mud holes even when dry... He passed away in 2020 and today his wife wants a fortune for the 68 M/L acres that he never had surveyed...

[@stephenblack8804]

We have our 1,200 acres in Greenbelt, which greatly reduces property taxes.

[@jaygobolos9302]

A tractor for a 40+ acre spread is a hefty chunk of change if you're gonna keep a portion of your land cleared. Not gonna lie. But, if you're just planning on letting your land grow back to forest, you're just looking at property tax + driveway/access road maintenance.

[@WeSRT4]

It costs a lot! Especially the further you get south... everything grows like wild!

[@bradjenkins932]

What?

[@WeSRT4]

@@bradjenkins932 Time is money! Equipment is money! What’s not to understand? Your question tells me that you have no experience in the matter. I have 30 acres on the gulf coast. I can’t keep up with the property due to how fast everything grows!

[@bradjenkins932]

@@WeSRT4 #1 That sounds like a personal problem. #2 I have 123 acres. 44 acres in hay and the rest in pasture and woods.. Plus 14 brood cows.. I don't have any problem taking care of it..

[@WeSRT4]

@@bradjenkins932 You probably don't live in a tropical climate...

[@bradjenkins932]

@@WeSRT4 Then sell it if it's too much work for you.

[@victoryhomerepair7340]

Troy, you missed down trees in the fields that are open... Every year I have down trees in my field..... Very common here in the Appalachians for fields to be surrounded by trees... Good job on analysis...

[@fionam3554]

Depends if you picture a house in the woods, or the gardens at Versailles.

[@boonskyler]

On the spot on property management cost. Only thing missing is gravel costs to keep up the road.

[@keithbrigman5179]

All depends on the type of land you have and your plans you have for it. We have about 80 acres half timber half pasture. There is a a cost other than taxes for sure

[@crazychickenladyhomestead6918]

I have no clue if this is nationwide or just in GA, but anything over 12 acres, in GA at least, can qualify for a CUVA exemption. It has to either be farm or conservation or both to qualify. Takes about 60% off of our taxes each year. Just something to look into if it's offered in other states.

[@ropehnd]

Excellent explanations! Useful info, thank you.

[@farmyourbackyard2023]

🎉🎉🎉 you are absolutely right. I have 27 acres agricultural that is mainly wooded with about 10 acres cleared. It has a creek and a couple of Wells. My property taxes are $45 a year. I’ve made about $300,000 in increased value since we acquired the property. My first piece of advice is don’t take financial advice from broke people.🎉😂 besides maintaining the fence and gates at the front of the property I have no maintenance costs annually except mowing or brush hogging every other year. I can do that in trade for hunting rights in the fall.

[@johnthompson6656]

I wish the modern Internet had been around when I bought my 20 acres in eastern Oklahoma 40+ years ago. I made all the mistakes. That being said land taxes on my property haven't ever been high enough to worry about. A lot depends on how much effort you want/are able to put in to it. IMO 23:02

[@SheratonParkFarms]

Great discussion.

[@h6hfelie]

You could also plant trees on the land that you know you will harvest in a few years for firewood.

[@aovoonthefarmsouthernillin3687]

This is such an important video

[@martinparmer]

Hey Troy, that guy that made that comment about it costing a ton of $$? Maybe he was talking about downtown Dallas..... LOL

[@trancenow904]

Thank you for sharing these videos!

[@jeffpeters1014]

I maintain 57 acres in Ny with a cabin on it keeping the logging roads open and mowed are the biggest jobs. Every 12-15 years we have it logged and the loggers refresh the roads. Not that difficult . The taxes on the other hand are ridiculous.

[@DeanFamilyAcres]

Great recap, the retreat sounds like a great time!

[@musicgroopie1]

Texas has agriculture exemption on taxes land. I pay 78.00 dollars for 38 acres. If I build a house they automatically square off one acre and house value and tax me separately. Don't build a mansion in the country or you'll attract the tax man and piss off your neighbors.

[@KayleighWest-s4i]

very good

[@tradermunky1998]

Pretty short sighted comment. I'm guessing he was equating the thousands of dollars spent on taxes and keeping everything pretty to keep the city off your back to country living. Trees need trimming or felling. Grass needs to be cut. Ridiculous taxes. Potentially HOA fees. Need licensed contractors to do anything, at 300 bucks an hour. I've even been cited by the city for an overgrown vine, so you gotta stay on top of it all. I spend about 6-8k yearly on a quarter acre and a 1400 square foot house. Much more than you!

[@davidgrimshire6671]

Troy you are a romantic. That's not a bad thing but it does influence your decisions. You've picked sole ownership instead of creating a corporation or having your church buy and you lease from them. You live on your land so you have the extra upkeep of a house and yard. If you are paying six percent interest on a mortgage you sure want to get some income from the land. What you see as maintenance I see as capital costs, you only buy your tractor once. I like the idea of homesteading lifestyle and what you're doing. So I'll keep watching.

[@h6hfelie]

They want manicured lawns with no insects.

[@videogames9972]

thanks for this informative video im interested in buying land

[@MiddleRidge40]

That is why I got my 40ac in Blue Ridge Mtns of Va and only 3.5 are in fields, rest is wooded and in land management conservation with county with reduced taxes. If I ever select cut timber all I have to do is inform them. I didnt want the upkeep of 40ac of fields. Its all in what you want, need and can afford to do I guess. Love your channel.

[@jayjay6804]

liability insurance is likely a household expense but if it is a remote property it may be additional cost.

[@aovoonthefarmsouthernillin3687]

I pay $250 a year for vacant land insurance.

[@crayrat1]

Troy I have 74acres in Clay, WV, my Great Uncles timbered some of it about 60 years ago so far I can not find a buyer for my timber 16' up... The local mill [Pierson's] is not interested yet they came in twice in 2 years to clear cut the neighbors next to mine...

[@Press1for]

Age of tree, condition of trunk, height, diameter, species,bug infestation damage? Finding the profitable contractor that will perform the cleaning, machinery, trucking,and then the mill that can find a buyer,then the manufacturer that can use said lumber for production that ends up being Mc mansions for Cul De Sac neighborhoods

[@ledzepcleo]

My taxes for the quarter are a little more than your taxes for the year. Wow! About 1/8 of an acre?

[@Iussa]

Howabout timber property as an investment?

[@jeffhochheimer7135]

I'd add insurance as another mandatory minimum expense

[@dhill7173]

I bought 246 acres of WV land in 2014. The property was raw land that was select timbered in 2011. Since then, I would say I have spent $50,000 in clearing and grading 10 acres, putting in three culvert crossings (one is concreted with 3 culverts) and graveling 1500 feet of right of way. Yearly maintenance on all that after spending that amount is around $2000-$3000 a year. However, I bought land when it was cheap. Now my land with the improvements since then has tripled in value and my property tax is very low compared to my house in Florida. If fact, I'm astonished how much land prices in WV has increased in 10 years. I really believe there is a quiet land boom in WV nobody is talking about especially in southern WV around the newly made national park.

[@Press1for]

Then keep it that way. ..

[@jagsfanrick]

Biggest scam ever...property taxes

[@Sue-ec6un]

And then they put restrictions on how I use the land I PAY to live on...I HATE THE GOVERNMENT MORE THAN IT HATES ME!

[@mooneymakes359]

bargain price for security.....

[@MiddleRidge40]

in the end we just rent from the county

[@Wakeywhodat]

NPC

[@josephpostma1787]

I dont think that you are a Georgist.

[@rochrich1223]

For a topic, I'd like to hear your opinion of how to go about making money off hunters. Often enough you hear vague suggestions of adding hunting or farm tourism but examples or analysis are rare enough.

[@user-vm6ck7lt6v]

Most people just want to talk about it. Very few, get out and do the work.

[@joonyer77]

The S.T.U.N. method! Hahahahaha! Now yer talkin'!

[@georgelstuart]

People like that have a control compulsion that motivates them to mow and weed it all

[@justsumname]

10 acres of cleared land is a lot of work. 40 acres of forest is not a big deal

[@kapperoutdoors]

Wow I can't believe how little you're taxes are for your home and land!! Wow!!

[@RedToolHouse]

Move here to paradise and you could pay the same!

[@stephendemille5424]

Some electric net fencing and some goats would work perfect for this land….

[@stoamnyfarms]

That comment was hilarious. Must be spoiled rotten.

[@jessecreegan9451]

Wherever I see comments like this I assume the perspective is biased. For example if you where to take this same 100acres and move to California it would hundreds of millions to maintain, even if someone where to take my 5 acres with the lakefront it would be tens of millions. Personally I think these are examples of people that are stuck in their own bubble.

[@RedToolHouse]

Why would 100 acres in ca take millions to maintain? Is it a golf course? That doesn’t make sense.

[@jessecreegan9451]

@@RedToolHouse essentially yes. All 100 acres would be manicured to perfection daily.

[@jessecreegan9451]

@RedToolHouse my parents know people that would take your annual budget and blow through it in four to six months maintaining a half an acre or less.

[@KevinHillier-ru5pp]

I just let the part i dont use grow up. Im never selling so i don't care about resell

[@anandrew6641]

Ideally you have an acre or two next to blm or forest service land. You pay tax for your property and use the entire public lands...

[@bryancondrey6457]

Look out for unrealized capital gains tax coming down the pike, otherwise known as "pay for ukraine money laundering tax".

[@powrguy1696]

Well said, Sir!😀

[@Sue-ec6un]

Won't happen because that would tax the investors in the national corporations who, like it or, write all the tax laws.

[@powrguy1696]

@@Sue-ec6un There, as always, will be loopholes for them, but not for the average people (aka: the peons/middle class)

[@frictionhitch]

Good luck to the chances of your families survival if you have less than 5 acres. Peak oil is here Global warming is here inflation is here Soil loss is projected at 90% in the next 25 years Starvation is coming If you haven't purchased land and started building those soils then you better soon

[@frictionhitch]

The corporations will let you starve. Build your soil. Build your security.

[@CzechSixTv]

"2 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴" BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!! The commenter must be living in a McMansion with a hedge maze and marble walkways that need to be cleaned all the time. I'm currently on 1.5 completely landscaped rural acres and spend an average 2 hours a week on maintenance(mowing/weed-whacking/raking driveway stone) plus another 1 hour per day taking care of the hens and garden. The only piece of equipment I own is a 47 year old Bolens HT-20. My grandfather maintained the same sized area surrounding their home, with that same Bolens, well into his 70's and left the other 23-ish acres to nature other than harvesting a few downed trees for firewood. I've also got a significantly larger tract of land in east TN and haven't spent a dime to 'maintain' it. I've spent money cutting in a road and leveling a home site, but also made money off timber in the process. Property taxes now, before the house gets built, are under $300/year.