I think I may have found a sort of Shangri-La for those of us dreaming of doing anything we want with a piece of property–building what the heck we want without kissing the asses of the building department to push an idea through. Oh yes… This is a really good find I am going to share with you…
This past winter, I drove from California to Florida not only because I am nuts, but also because I love to drive and see what this great country of ours (if you are American) has to offer. On my way, I made it to El Paso from Los Angeles in about 11 hours I believe, but had no intentions on staying there because El Paso isn’t on the top of my list of favorite cities. No, I kept driving. Eventually, I stayed in Fort Stockton, Texas, which is about an additional three hours of driving beyond El Paso on Interstate 10. So unfortunately on the first pass, I totally missed seeing the wonderful would-be Shangri-La for containerists and alternative home builders–it was about 10 P.M.
Two weeks later, my drive back from Florida was different. It was daytime when I drove through it: Hudspeth County, Texas. It was not the Texas we picture when we think of the state. No cows. No flat, ugly brown dirt-laden stretches of land. No tall grasses. No oil rigs that I can remember. No junky homes or trash strewn about. The landscape was rather beautiful. Mountains, clean air, and gorgeous shrubbery and flora. Quite possibly one of the most ideal places to build whatever the hell you want without any worries, and never regret it. No snoopy neighbors, bad terrain, traffic or any of the things that could hinder one’s creative inner builder… oh, and hell yeah, no building inspectors! Hudspeth County, Texas has NO BUILDING CODES.
It that it? Was that all I had to say? Nope. How many places in the U.S. can you get a 10-acre parcel for about $3k? Not too many. You can start a ranch, compound or even an off-grid community. There is so much land for sale there that you can do whatever you want! Hell, start a town and name it after yourself. Grow crops with the abundant underground water in the area. Amenities? Nah. If you had amenities of a normal city, you would likely have codes, so take your pick. It’s not that bad really. You will have to drive a bit to get the things you need. El Paso is near, so there is your answer.
Well, I thought I would just share this with you, the present and future containerists like myself. I love fanning the flames of inspiration. I want to get your imagination flowing with the following link to some land in the area. Have a great time dreaming and wishing:
Cheap Land in Hudspeth County, TX (opens new window)
Here is a sample Craigslist ad for shipping containers in El Paso, TX. The container would be about an hour away from your property if you ever decided on a parcel in Hudspeth County. You could have a container sitting on 10 acres of land you own for about $5000 total.
That is interesting about the price of the land being so cheap and no building codes. Couple of caveats though. Border issues with illegal immigrants crossing your land if you are right on the border or near it and water issues. El Paso is one of the towns that is scheduled to run out of water in less than 20 years. You might want to see how deep a well you would have to dig to be able to get water. You might could truck it in a few times a year and fill a holding tank but that would be costly I suspect. Rainfall is pretty sparse there too as I recall so rainwater harvesting would not be a viable option. Neither would growing crops without some type of irrigation.
I did some research on Hudspeth County a while back but was daunted by the water issue – turns out that wells there are typically 1000′ or more. It’s good to hear that you liked the area, though.
Terry,
I currently live in El Paso. There is a reason land is so cheap in Hudspeth. No one wants it. The water issue is major and also lets face it you are gonna have to work. There isn’t any sizable towns in that county and there are other issues as well. Sandstorms… yesterday we had one with gusts of up to 80 miles per hour, it lasted all day but some can last up to a week. Sure if you want a get away ranch out in the middle of no where with no one around for over 100 miles maybe its your thing. But when rattle snakes, jackrabbits and coyotes are the only thing to hunt, I get the feeling you would be singing a different tune. I passed up on a 5 acre parcel I seen for sell a few months ago for 1k… yes 5 acres for a thousand dollars. Why? I guess I just told you. If you were to purchase such land I would say do so as close to the border of the county nearest to El Paso. Illegal immigrants? They aren’t gonna be crossing out there its a death wish. Personally I think the area of New Mexico just north of El Paso (Otero County) is a lot more beautiful. It is more desert like, has mountains, a beautiful red sand and flora such as sages and shrub oak. But it also suffers from those issues as well except a real city is a heck of a lot closer. Sorry to rain on the parade but containerists are dreamers who also must have realism. Also living somewhere gives you insight that a drive through isn’t gonna let you glimpse.
Dustin,
Well said. I have been doing more research and seems Colorado is more containerist friendly (and there are many desirable plots of land without building codes).
I still find that area of Texas appealing (west Texas). I don’t particularly like El Paso though. Not my kind of town. Too many people there.
I understand there are water issues as well as weather issues. It’s just post about a place of possibility. I appreciate your insight. I agree about New Mexico. As I said earlier, I am eye-balling Colorado. It seems more “me.”
I too live in El Paso and actually own one of these peices of land out in the middle of nowhere. Mine is at a place called “Hueco Tanks” but the land deal is the same as Hudspeth Co. I bought 5 acres for about $15,000.
I collect old cars so I use my land to store them on. I also have thought of building an A-Frame building using two containers spaced about 20′ apart as a base.
Water isn’t an issue really because what you do is buy a polytank and purchase it from people who truck it in. No one digs 1000′ wells really, they just buy the water. It’s hot out here though so you’d better like heat and staring at the same thing forever because nice tree don’t exist out here.
Here’s the real issue here. Poverty. Yep, you are about 20 miles from Mexico at all all times. The area is innudated with illegal immigrants, most of whom are nice decent people looking for a better way of life. However, with them is the 1% who are theives. Last month they stole my 18′ trailer, an antique car, the copper radiator out of my truck and about 100′ of my fence. The Sherrif isn’t going to do anything as they can’t patrol these wide open spaces.
I’m not saying don’t do it, many people do (most live in old RVs) but you’d better warm up to the idea that gun ownership is a good thing – esp. if the drug cartels of Mexico decide your remote parcel of land with a container on it makes a good drop point for their shipments.