Relocation: Montana, Wyoming

[cashflyer]

I accepted an offer on my home this past week, and am trying to decide what I want to do next. Primarily, I want land. Enough so that I can't see my neighbors.

Are companies like this legit?
http://www.rockymountaintimberlands.com

Does anyone here live in remote areas of Montana or Wyoming and want to offer any insight or advice?

The parcel I have inquired about has power, a well already on the property, and county maintained road access.

[Moses]

Do some research. Montana is fantastic, but if you buy up near Whitefish you might think you're living in Siberia after a while. The Bitterroot Valley on the other hand, is paradise. I'd move to Hamilton in a heartbeat.

There are quite a few Pelicans that live in Montana. Hopefully a few will check in.

[Tim Hancock]

Wow Cash, does this mean your business is caput?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

A very close friend of mine lives in Jackson Wyoming. It's about as expensive to live there as SoCal. Housing is extremely expensive. If you move a couple of hours outside of there, prices & cost of living drop dramatically in price, but you're also in the middle of nowhere and will have a very hard time getting resources.

[MT930]

Cashflyer:

PM sent to you.

[cashflyer]

The parcel I mentioned is in Niobrara county, Wyoming.
According to the Niobrara website:
NO Corporate Income Tax
NO Individual Income Tax

Not too crazy about the 51" average snowfall, though.

Got to keep priorities straight, too.
My wife already asked me this morning, "But where will we race at??"

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Wow Cash, does this mean your business is caput?

Not entirely. Right now I'm paying a mortgage and paying for a leased building. My business does not currently bring in enough revenue to cover both. Part of my hope is that I can build a workshop on my own property somewhere and continue what I'm doing, and in the process to cut my overhead.

[Superman]

I grew up in north Idaho, and am familiar with Montana and Wyoming. I've never been a big fan of Montana. I prefer Wyoming, but both states are somewhat prairie-ish in most places, which is not my cup of tea. I don't care if I ever see another sagebrush plant or tumbleweed. Dry and brown is not my favorite panorama. And as stated above, you would quickly learn about life below zero degrees. If you want to experience 60 degrees below zero, there are good places in both those states for that. And 100 degrees in the summer.

If you want a climate range closer to -5 degrees to +90 degrees, look on the West side of the mountains that separate Montana from Idaho. Much more mild. More trees, too. Not as much prairie. Just depends on what you want. Coeur d'Alene Lake is fantastic. Trust me.

[TechnoViking]

My wife already asked me this morning, "But where will we race at??"

Mapquest says 4 hours from Lusk, WY to Byers, CO...

http://www.highplainsraceway.com/

[Jim Richards]

Good ol' Lusk, WY:



My new buddy in Lusk. He thought my little car must get real good gas mileage. I refrained from making him familiar with the joys of MFI.



Wyoming has some decent roads

[911boost]

Southern Wyoming near Cheyenne isn't bad, and you are close to Colorado, a couple hours from Denver etc.

If you are considering Wyoming, make sure the wind doesn't bother you....

Bill

[Superman]

Near Sheridan, WY there are gates on the freeway onramps. When it's -40 degrees F and the wind is howling at 50 mph, the snow drifts on the freeway can be forty feet high. The gates are closed during those times. I've heard of people tying a string to their front porch and holding it when they go out to get something from their cars. Apparently, you can get lost thirty feet from your front door.

Motor oil is virtually a solid at those temperatures. Diesel is a gel.

[Moses]

The Biterroot river runs through Hamilton. Hamilton is south of Missoula in Montana's "banana belt". The mildest weather in the state. I REALLY wish I lived there.

Downtown Hamilton:



The Bitterroot:



Flyfishing on the Bitterroot:

[Burnin' oil]

I love Wyoming. I lived there for a few years and think about moving back every summer. Be prepared for BRUTAL winter conditions, like consecutive days of -20 as the high and wind all the time (the snow in Laramie doesn't melt, it wears out). And "remote" really means remote. But the (few) people are great, the wide open country is great, the summers are great and the outdoor activities are awesome.

[Jim Richards]

That sure looks like a nice place.

[Burnin' oil]

[Eric 951]

Our hunting lease is around SheridanWY/Decker MT--30,000 acres. It is really beautiful, but can be desolate--esp. in winter. Housing in Sheridan isn't cheap. If buying land, water rights are a big deal, as are mineral rights. Unfortunately as in most cases mineral rights have been purchased long ago, and if the coal seams are deemed too small for excavating, tapping them for gas has been really popular. Something to be aware of. If you like wide open spaces, wildlife, and are self-reliant, it could be right up your alley.

[MT930]

Montana It's Heaven

[Superman]

Moses continues to exhibit superior judgement. The Bitteroot area is unique and beautiful. Indeed, the area I am suggesting is a part of that which stretches into Idaho. That entire corner of Idaho/Montana/Wyoming is a rather nice place. Much more so than Southern Idaho, Central Montana or Southern Wyoming. In response to Moses pictures, here are pics from the Idaho version of that mountain range. Nothing more beautiful than Tamarack trees in the Fall.










The Route of the Hiawatha trail was created between Montana and Idaho recently. It converted a railway into a bike trail. In a steep area with plenty of breathtaking vistas, tunnels and trestles. It is where Breakheart Pass was filmed, which won an Oscar for cinematography.

[Jim Sims]

Montana is a good place to live as long as you don't need to make much of a living off the local economy. Cost of living is high; long distances and cold winters with the rising cost of fuel may become problematic - there is also a longterm drought underway. Much of the more active part of the economy was real estate development driven - it will be interesting to see the effect of the mortgage financing crisis and rising cost of fuel on that sector of the Montana economy. Isolation and weather get to some people - there's a reason it is also called "Big Crazy Country" and is part of the "empty quarter". I suggest wintering over there before investing in real estate and committing to the move. I have a certificate somewhere attesting to surviving one winter in Montana when the daily high did not climb above 20 F below zero for 90 days.

[sammyg2]

Wyoming wind sock: