Rural Retreats - Dreaming of Green Acres

By: Christine Litavsky, B.A.

Many people yearn for a rural retreat.  This personal Eden would be close to cows and far from cars.   It would be a place to see stars at night, and red tail hawks by day.  It would be a home where, turning into the driveway after a stressful week in the city, one’s blood pressure would pleasantly plummet.

 

Yes, a second home is a dream for many of us.  The good new is the economy may make owning a rural retreat more viable than ever before.  The current economy has many real downsides, but there is a silver lining for real estate buyers.

 

Bargains for Buyers

 

Many people who already own a home shrug their shoulders and believe they can’t benefit from the glut of affordable real estate.  If you’ve never dreamed of owning a vacation property, this may be true.  But if you’ve ever -- even after a glass or two of wine -- dreamed of having a get-away property, this may be your time. 

 

There are incredible values to be had, and no where are there more bargains than in rural areas.  Many rural areas struggle with a small job base even in a strong economy, and in the current downturn jobs in rural America can be harder than ever to procure.  If you’re a full time resident of these hard-hit areas, this is discouraging news to be sure.  However, if you’re planning on being a weekend resident, or if you already work remotely, purchasing a second home will help both the seller and yourself. 

 

Reaping the Benefits

 

My husband and I bought some property five years ago, after years of yearning, planning and dreaming.  Unfortunately, we bought at the top of the market, but I never regret the purchase.  Christened Shiloh, our eight acres with a one room cabin has been a source of unending delight for our entire family.  Here’s why:  we spend time together. 

 

We aren’t distracted by telephones, televisions, doorbells or the internet.  None of these are invited or wanted at Shiloh.  We have only cell phones for emergencies and a radio to catch the occasional Cubs game.  We spend our days hiking, playing board games, catching frogs, and picking black raspberries.  All three children play together, building forts and memories in the woods. 

 

We sit on the deck at night with our heads thrown back to see the stars.  They shine so brightly they seem to jump out of the sky.  After our star search, we sleep with our windows wide open, inhaling the crisp, fragrant air that’s better than any perfume. 

 

While at Shiloh, I feel the stress trickle away.  I have time to think, read and ponder.  I literally feel my heartbeat and breathing slow. It’s my honest conviction that the right retreat home could add years to your life. 

 

A caveat:  Shiloh is far from perfect.  The bugs are enormous and we fight with mice.  We’re sometimes blocked from pulling into our long gravel driveway by a fallen tree.  And during the winter, we have a hard time even reaching our cabin on the hill, despite our four wheel drive truck. 

 

We still love it.

 

Planning Your Purchase

 

Some final advice from someone who’s been there:  start your search with realistic expectations on how you will use your Eden.  If you’re already pressed for time, don’t buy something more than a few hours away.  You’ll find it very hard to get there.

 

Be honest with yourself about how much money and time you want to spend maintaining the property.  For instance, we debated on waterfront property, but decided the expense and work of a boat, dock, and all the water toys would diminish any stress reduction we were seeking.  Another trap to watch for:  acreage with numerous outbuildings.  While initially romantic, these outbuildings need to be maintained.  If they’re not, they need to be torn or burned down (rural fire departments often use these abandoned outbuildings for practice).  Any way you slice it, these buildings represent more work.

 

Understand your limitations before you invest in a retreat property.  After all, the right place should help you relax, not stress you out.

 

Soaking Up the Silence

 

Our lives are surrounded by noise.  A retreat property will help you find silence, and therefore, yourself.  Your stress level will drop, your breathing will steady, and you’ll have time to examine your thoughts.  Even more importantly, you’ll rediscover the joys of playing with, or just being with, your family.  Nothing is more important than that.