Looking for land

[Puddle Pirate]

I know theres a lot of you guys from western VA and I hope someone can help. I'm looking at a piece of property right along route 60 just east of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's on top of a mountain and backs up to the national forest. I've kinda familar with the area but am looking for some local knowledge.

Does anyone have advice on buying property in that area?

 

[apg]

I know theres a lot of you guys from western VA and I hope someone can help. I'm looking at a piece of property right along route 60 just east of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's on top of a mountain and backs up to the national forest. I've kinda familar with the area but am looking for some local knowledge.

Does anyone have advice on buying property in that area?

Get an appraisal....

Find a local appraiser and pay his fee. Think of it as cheap "insurance" against paying too much. And if you do buy the land, you can use the appraisal report to get financing.

 

[Azdiscovery]

A pirate lookin for land?!?

Ahoy.. Its the seas for me!

 

[Roverlady]

County?
Name of the Mountain?

 

[jackp]

County?
Name of the Mountain?

I'd guess Amherst County if it's east of the parkway and off Rt. 60.

What kind of advice?

What are you looking to do with the land and how much land is it?

 

[Roverlady]

I was going to say Amherst as well, but wanted to double check. Doesn't Route 60 run straight into Richmond though? That is all east of the parkway! Amherst County, Nelson, Buckingham...

My family has land off the Parkway near Montebello...

 

[jackp]

I was going to say Amherst as well, but wanted to double check. Doesn't Route 60 run straight into Richmond though? That is all east of the parkway! Amherst County, Nelson, Buckingham...

My family has land off the Parkway near Montebello...

Montebello is on Rt. 56 (and home of a VDOW trout hatchery)- That whole area of Amherst / Nelson county is beautiful.

We spend a lot if time in the fall at the Mt. Pleasant National Scenic Area.

When I was younger, before it became a National Scenic Area, it was THE place to take your 4x4 in Amherst County. 13 creek crossings with miles and miles of trails. Now, most of that is off-limits to 4x4s - but it's a fun place to take kids and dogs to camp and hang out. The AT crosses there too. There are some beautiful, but small streams that look like they might have some brook trout....

Rt. 60 runs straight into RTE

 

[Roverlady]

We actually go up through Vesuvius to our property most of the time, but when we were in Lynchburg we came up the other side of the mountain. Sometimes we go through Reeds Gap. It's closest to Montebello, near Whestone Ridge. Private land backed by the National Forest property.

Have stopped at the Montebello store many times, and of course my husband has been going there since he was born. We were out there on Easter morning actually...was 16degrees! My father-in-law knows just about everyone up that way. We went up for a few hours this past Sunday, actually.

 

[Puddle Pirate]

I knew somebody here would know the area. It is on Brown mountain in Amherst county. It's a 15 acre plot that is right along the top. Right now I just want a place to camp and hunt. Maybe one day when the kids are out of the house, if I'm lucky I could actually live there.

I do love tis area. since the Spring rally two years ago I've camped at Montebello several times. We also make day trips to Crabtree Falls and of course Shoe creek.

 

[jackp]

Is there a driveway, or road access?

I have a friend who bought property in Amherst County. Now, he's landlocked and can't get permission/easement/right-of-way from surrounding land owners for a driveway, or utilities. I think he'll end up in court to get it. It borders the James River, so we laugh as he loads his wife and small baby in his jon boat upstream from Ruesen's Dam and rows over, and we crack jokes about how long it would take to build a house using the jon boat:smilelol: This guy and one of my employees kayak Shoe Creek when it's running big - I think they have a death wish.

 

[Roverlady]

Is the property surrounded by national forest or other private land?

Jack brings up a good point about access, etc. Our land is about 70 acres, but it's 2 miles deep from any road and we pass other private lots on the way in...my father-in-law has seen it chance dramatically over the years as more and more people come in there and build. The 'road' was once no better than a washed-out stream bed and now there is a couple up there who live full time and drive a Lincoln to their place!

 

[apg]

Is there a driveway, or road access?

I have a friend who bought property in Amherst County. Now, he's landlocked and can't get permission/easement/right-of-way from surrounding land owners for a driveway, or utilities. I think he'll end up in court to get it.

Indeed. I think it is illegal in Virginia to sell land that does not have legal access. Don't know the actual citation from the Code of Virginia.

This guy and one of my employees kayak Shoe Creek when it's running big - I think they have a death wish.

Oy! Either very brave or very stupid.... Where do they put in? Piney River (below Shoe Creek) is Class 5...I can't imagine what Shoe Creek is in big water.

 

[Puddle Pirate]

Well just heard back. The owner is going to give it to his son. So now I can afford to go to MAR.:applause: There is one for sale right along 60 that I might make an offer on. But if anyone knows of something out that way let me know. I would like to find just a couple of acres that I can enjoy.

 

[jackp]

Oy! Either very brave or very stupid.... Where do they put in? Piney River (below Shoe Creek) is Class 5...I can't imagine what Shoe Creek is in big water.

They drive (or hike) up past the Piney, into the GWNF on the Shoe Creek Trail and run the big drops on Shoe Creek. It only runs for a few hours after a really, really big rain.

They run the upper 'cascades' section of the Piney - upstream of the confluence with Shoe Creek.

Shoe Creek.

Shoe Creek description from a paddler's perspective.

And, Staton's Creek, around the mountian from the Piney:

Staton's.

The guy in the picture owns the 'land locked' land.LOL.

 

[jackp]

Well just heard back. The owner is going to give it to his son. So now I can afford to go to MAR.:applause: There is one for sale right along 60 that I might make an offer on. But if anyone knows of something out that way let me know. I would like to find just a couple of acres that I can enjoy.

Probably just as well, the sound of "dueling banjos" in the night might make for an uncomfortable camping trip

 

[jackp]

Not in the mountains, but it has great views and you could HOST MAR

http://www.montaguemiller.com/propertylisting/detail.php?mls_acct=438399&datasource=CAAR+MLS

 

[garrett]

Indeed. I think it is illegal in Virginia to sell land that does not have legal access. Don't know the actual citation from the Code of Virginia.

correct. most US states won't allow the sale to happen, but in the case you do have ownership of land that does not have public road access you can go to court to aquire a right of way/easement through adjacent properties.

 

[noee]

correct. most US states won't allow the sale to happen, but in the case you do have ownership of land that does not have public road access you can go to court to aquire a right of way/easement through adjacent properties.

This is, in fact, true in VA. Part of our purchase here was a deed search on the access into our property as we do not have direct access to a public road, similar to many of the properties in this area.

I remember this distinctly, as it was one of the issues that held up our closing. Apparently, each property that the easement crosses had to be checked. In addition, I'm told, the original "prescriptive easement" notation had to be located and recorded with our deed, whatever that means. I'm curious as to why it was not there to begin with and I never received a satisfactory answer to that one.

Bottom line, they weren't going to proceed without all this shit, so any closing lawyer worth his/her salt should have this on their checklist.

 

[Puddle Pirate]

Not in the mountains, but it has great views and you could HOST MAR

http://www.montaguemiller.com/propertylisting/detail.php?mls_acct=438399&datasource=CAAR+MLS

If I had that kind of money I would be driving a new Range Rover with spinners and a system..

 

[bigred]

Bottom line, they weren't going to proceed without all this shit, so any closing lawyer worth his/her salt should have this on their checklist.

And make sure to pick up an Owners Title Insurance policy just in case.