Welcome to Deerhill Farm

For a good number of years, acquiring rural recreational land was a major item in our bucket list.  During the fall in 2007, we started an active search for a suitable affordable property,  Our criteria was simple; within 3 hours drive from Edmonton, at least 160 acres, west or north, lot's of bush and wildlife, close to crown land, accessible, remote if possible, did not have to be on water, had to be within our budget and had to have the right feeling.  Our search was mainly online using Realtor.ca, Land Sale Listings, a couple of outdoor forums and all the local Realtor office websites in northern Alberta.  Google Earth was our friend.

We very quickly discovered that while there were properties listed that met most of our criteria, the vast majority were way outside of our budget.  We did view a couple of properties in early fall that were almost suitable.  However, they were north of Valleyview, over 4 hours drive.  A bit discouraged but not giving up, we kept looking through the rest of 2007 and into 2008.

In the new year, we made the decision to expand our search into the Peace country and north of Grande Prairie.  It became quite obvious we were going to have to likely drive up to six hours if we were going to buy our dream quarter.  And, I was within 10 years of retirement after which the drive shouldn't be too much of an issue.  Expanding our search paid off as every week there were a couple of listings that were close to meeting our criteria.  They were for the most part agricultural or relatively inaccessible but we kept looking anyway.  In mid-January, we even took a drive to look at a couple of quarters west of Grande Prairie.  Not quite what we were looking for but we were encouraged.

Finally, in mid-February, I came across a listing on Realtor.ca that looked perfect.  It was a full bush quarter bordering agriculture land on two sides and crown land on the other two sides.  And, it was well within our budget,  The down side was the land was north of Fairview AB, a 5 1/2 hour drive for us.  We decided to take a look anyway so away we went for a drive.

Stopping at the real estate office in Fairview, we got directions to the property.  It was 14 km off the pavement but on good gravel road and was love at first sight when we got there.  Because of the amount of snow we had to view from the road but it was quickly evident the quarter was perfect for us.  It was very well priced as well.  Satisfied we had found our land, we took a bit of a drive around to area to get a feel for it.  It felt right.  We also noticed there were a couple of other properties close by that were for sale but we felt the quarter we drove up to see was the one.  So, back to Fairview to put an offer in.  That done, we were told by the realtor he would present the offer to the seller and call us within a couple of days.  Back to Edmonton that same day.

Two days later we got the call.  Evidently, another offer had come in the same day so both were presented to the seller.  Supposedly both offers were virtually the same so we were given the opportunity to up our offer.  As we really wanted the property, we added a couple thousand to the original offer.  The next day, the realtor phoned to tell us we were outbid and the seller accepted the other offer.  Damn!  However, when I had the realtor on the phone I asked him about the other close-by properties that were for sale.  Turns out it was a block of six-quarters all in a row.  Two quarters bordered the road to where the road turned east and cut through the block.  The other quarters continued north with crown land on the west side and a creek cutting through two quarters up.  Not at all interested in dealing on six quarters, I asked if the seller would consider breaking up the block and sell me the two quarters north of the road and up to the creek.  He said he didn't think so, but he'd ask.  To show him we were serious, I made an offer on the two quarters.  This was sight unseen except for a quick drive by on the side of one of the quarters.  Again, Google Earth was our friend.

Got the call back the next afternoon.  The seller agreed to split the block and he had accepted our offer!  We were now the proud owners of 320 acres of prime pasture, poplar & spruce forest and muskeg in Alberta's north.  The adventure begins!  Enjoy the narrative, with pictures, we've put together in the pages that follow.