Are we crazy???

We had found a homestead we really liked but found out from our realtor that one of the owners really doesn't want to sell (the dad) so in light of that we started looking yet again. I asked our realtor to check on a farm that we have had our eyes on for over a year but the price has been prohibitive and a year ago when we checked on it, they werent very motivated to lower the price much. We knew it was a long shot but we are also running out of possible options here. Apparently a year makes a difference because now the owners (older folks) do want to retire and are willing to be very negotiable. We went there yesterday and the farmer who owns it gave us a grand tour. The farm itself is pristine, right now he makes hay and raises cows on most of it - he used to raise yaks. He has 35 acres of water rights and all the irrigating equipment will be included in the sale. He is also willing to include all of his haymaking tractors/equipment. Most of the land (105 acres) is in alfalfa and oats. There are extensive, albeit old, outbuildings. It has a large seasonal pond and the water for the house and land is spring fed. The farm used to be a dairy up until the 1950's and still has all the old cow stanchion spots and milk cooling room in an awesome old barn. In addition, this farmer leases 450 acres of state land for dirt cheap that he said we can take over (he has 5 years remaining on the lease). The downside is the farm house is very old and small and needs completely redone. We did something similar in NC but this will take more work. It has great bones and is very charming however. We are having a gentleman go out this afternoon to give us an estimate on adding on to the house. The location is prime for the type of business we want to run so we have to decide - buy something that wont take as much work to overhaul but is farther away and wont be as successful for a business or take on something that will be painful for a few years but could be exactly what we want long term....we will see what God has in store.

Til next time-