Land Trust?

[rod anode]

weasel no im not fine with it ,are you originally from here weasel ? your kin ,how many generations? just wondering cause not that many years ago things were under control 80`s and things were affordable ,im just waiting for the older people to start getting kicked out of thier homes because they cant afford it anymore then you might see someone want to do something about it

[GamingWeasel]

weasel no im not fine with it ,are you originally from here weasel ? your kin ,how many generations? just wondering cause not that many years ago things were under control 80`s and things were affordable ,im just waiting for the older people to start getting kicked out of thier homes because they cant afford it anymore then you might see someone want to do something about it

Hehe.   My prediction:  Next thing, we'll hear that anyone who hasnt been here for 10 generations are "flat-landers".  This isnt even a reasonable discussion (or much of a discussion at all) anymore, it's just getting silly.   It doesnt seem that you have anything more to add that's informative or thoughtful.  So, looks like it's about done for me.

[Stand Alone Defense]

If you were not born in VT it does make you a flatlander though LOL !!! just thought I would add that 

[cedarman]

Flatlander here.  Back home in Northern NY (as close to Canada as we are in Fairfax), the cost of living was more affordable because housing cost were and still are a LOT lower.  My parent's house was $35K for a 3 bedroom home on 3 acres (NO, I didn't forget a zero) in 2002.
Tax rates are higher, but overall, for someone buying a home on a mortgage, the overall cost is MUCH lower due to housing prices being half or less of what they are here in Fairfax.  Cost of renting a 3 bdroom house there is a lot lower too. It is not uncommon to find 100+ acres over there for $50K or less.
I think the fact that the state doesn't pay people to NOT develop land really helps keep housing cost lower.  NYS does have some land management programs to help land owners develop higher value forest, and a program where owners get paid for trails on their land, but any trails created under the program are considered public access (for those who know where to find the trails).

[Stand Alone Defense]

I would give my right arm for housing prices in VT to be what they are in NY.  I have a lot of friends I work with that live in NY, it's crazy how low the cost of housing is across the lake.  I have been thinking of buying a camp in up state NY and I have found nice camps with 10-20 acres for the price you would pay for an acre of land in Fairfax!!  Ed is right though it wasn't always like this in VT, in the 80s even early 90s housing was very affordable in VT.

Ed I blame it on the Massholes LOL

[rod anode]

weasel im just trying to figure out your angle on this either you work for the school or someone you live with does or you have more money than GOD

[GamingWeasel]

weasel im just trying to figure out your angle on this either you work for the school or someone you live with does or you have more money than GOD

Nope, nope, and nope.   Apparently anyone with a different opinion than you must have an "angle".   That's an interesting thought process...and a bit revealing about yourself.  Last comment from me to you Rod.  I agree to disagree.

To everyone else:  So why the great difference in housing prices across the lake?  Josh mentioned people being paid to not develop their land, and out of staters driving up prices (with McMansions probably) so that is a couple things, but I dont think those could be the sole reasons.  Anyone have other ideas?  Taxes are apparently higher in NY, so that doesnt sound like its part of it.   I always wondered why this was the case.

[Stand Alone Defense]

Who knows??? please share it sure as hell isn't all the good jobs!! Vermont is probably one of the biggest unfriendly business states in the USA.  One would think NY has a lot more to offer therefore it would cost more to live there HMMMMMMMM? 

[rod anode]

i thought so ..........i  just cant figure why anyone would want to pay more in property taxes it just boggles me

[Stand Alone Defense]

Ed that baffles me to.....LOL but hey to each their own I guess???

Some people like to hang from rafters by their nipples...... I don't, but if thats what they like more power to them as long as they don't expect me to like it myself.

[rod anode]

who likes to do that josh? ide like to see that YYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW

[cedarman]

I think the anti-flatlander sentiment is a result of changes in VT as more wealthy people from out of state buy land / houses at high prices and add to the rising cost.  In many cases, those individuals bought property here because of the rural nature of the area, and now that they have their piece, they want it to stay exactly the same.  Since these individuals have more money than the average "native" working VT'er, they tend to have more time to play in politics in an effort to prevent changes to the "rural character" of the land around their new homes - except the farms because they are dirty and stinky.

This reminds me of a co-worker's question: "What is the difference between an environmentalist and a developer?" . . .  "The developer wants to build houses on the hills with nice views, the environmentalist already has one."

All of this leads me to believe the rising cost is about supply and demand.  If you have a group of people who create roadblocks to development, it creates a shortage and drives up the prices.  IF VT had fewer roadblocks to development of property and the ability to build new homes, MAYBE, housing cost wouldn't be so high.  That won't happen because nobody (the people who already own houses - many already overpriced) wants to see housing prices decline.  Ed probably doesn't want to see housing prices decline either because towns would just have to raise tax rates to make up the difference (like in NORTHERN NY).

I emphasize NORTHERN NY because it is far different that "upstate" or "downstate".  Housing cost rise significantly as you move south of Glens falls. 

That's just my 2 cents on why I think housing cost are so high (and rising like the flatlander resentment).

[mkr]

Well said Cedarman.  Not too shabby for a flatlander! LOL!!

[dvallett]

Josh, happy reading: http://www.vlt.org/land-protection

[Stand Alone Defense]

Josh, happy reading: http://www.vlt.org/land-protection

Thanks Dave!!  I have been looking at some land in the NEK that is in land trust. I just want to put a deer camp on it for me and my brothers things are getting to crowded around here for hunting!!