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If you’re a Schitt’s Creek fan, you may be wondering if it’s actually possible to buy a town. In the show, the wealthy Rose family loses everything when their accountant defrauds them of their $500 million fortune. The only thing they have left is a town they own called Schitt’s Creek, which provides the family with a place to stay.
The Roses aren’t the only people, fictional or otherwise, to buy a town. In 1989, actress Kim Bassinger virtually purchased the town of Braselton, GA after paying $20 million for 1,691 acres of private land. While you can buy a $1 house in Italy, you can also buy an entire town for as little as $70,000. Here’s everything you need to know about buying a town:
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How and where to buy a town
You can buy a town on eBay, Craigslist and through a real estate agency. In Europe, for example, real estate agencies like Aldeas Abandonadas (“abandoned villages”) specialize in abandoned Spanish villages and homes. You can buy these for as little as $70,000. Every once in a while, an entire town gets listed for sale on Craigslist or eBay auction.
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What does it mean to own a town?
Owning a town can mean you own all the land and sometimes the buildings and roads. Back in 2016, a Colorado ghost town called Cabin Creek was listed for sale on Craigslist. Asking price? $350. That price included five acres of land, two houses, a gas station, motel, cafe, RV park and a shooting range.
In 2013, the town of Seneca, CA was listed on Craigslist for $225,000. It included ten acres of land, three cabins and a bar with a liquor license (a rarity in that particular county). In 2010, the town of Wauconda, WA sold for $360,000 and included a restaurant, store, gas station and four-bedroom house.
When the town of Bridgeville, CA sold for $1.8 million on eBay in 2003, it included 82 acres of land plus ten houses and four cabins. The catch? Most of the properties were already occupied or deemed uninhabitable, making it a less-than-ideal buy.
What you get when you buy a town varies by listing. So read the fine print and make sure you know what you’re getting into.
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What do you own when you own a town?
When you own a town, you normally own the land and buildings. It depends entirely on the terms of the sale. Owning a town may also come with responsibility and added expenses. For example, the sales contract might require you to fix up dilapidated buildings as part of your ownership agreement.
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When you purchase a town, do you own the land?
When you purchase a town, you often own the land along with buildings. However, it’s important to read the listing thoroughly. Sometimes towns are listed for sale to raise money and “ownership” is purely ceremonial.
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Can you own a town like Schitt’s Creek?
You can own a town like Schitt’s Creek. Just check eBay and Craigslist periodically for town listings. Schitt’s Creek was actually filmed in the town of Goodwood, Ontario. While the town isn’t for sale, you can buy the motel featured on the show. The location of the Rosebud Motel is currently on the market for $2 million.
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Can you start your own town?
If you don’t want to buy a town, you can buy some land and start your own town. This is known as municipal incorporation. You’ll need a good real estate lawyer who knows the area’s laws and can file the paperwork for you. You also need s surveyor who can draw up the town boundaries. Lastly, you’ll need to get the town inhabitants onboard. Often, this means at least 51% of voters have to agree to incorporate, though some states have much loser requirements.
If you’re starting your own town from scratch, simply round-up some like-minded friends and pitch in on the purchase of a large parcel of land you can all share. You’ll need to come up with a
- Find land
- Pick a name
- Get at least 51% of residents to sign a petition
- Hire a surveyor to draw up the town boundaries
- Decide on a type of government (mayor-council, council-manager, commission, or representative town meeting)
- Hire a lawyer to file the incorporation documents
Once your paperwork is submitted, you will need approval from a judge or state official before your town becomes incorporated.
Of course, it’s not that simple. There are laws governing the creation of new towns (or incorporated communities). There may be restrictions around the size of your town, how far it is from other communities and other requirements. That’s where a good lawyer can guide you on the process.
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How much does it cost to start a town?
Starting a town can be very expensive, depending on how large it is. You’ll need to buy the land, build homes and businesses and build infrastructure (pave the roads and bring electricity and water to the area). The cost of hiring a land surveyor can range from $350-$700, depending on the property size. A good lawyer will set you back at least $500 per hour and incorporating a town is research-intensive work.
All of these expenses can add up to millions of dollars.
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Can you legally live in a ghost town?
You can legally live in a ghost town if you get permission from the owner. Ghost towns are owned by either private individuals or the government, so you can’t just pitch a tent and lay claim to it. Just because a town isn’t inhabited, that doesn’t mean you can’t live there legally. Changes are the previous owners have listed houses or even land for sale.
In some cases, you can buy an entire ghost town and all that comes with it for a very reasonable price.
Featured image courtesy of Pexels.com.
