real estate listings, homes

Real estate listings and homes for sale - RELO National Home Search Real estate listings and homes for sale - RELO National Home Search Search 2 million mls listings from The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World U.S. State Search U.S. Map --- Quick Search -- select state -- Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming International Assignments: Cost, Benefits, Issues Explained Have you ever thought about moving your family to Europe, Asia, South America, or Australia? The more you think about the possibilities, the more questions come to mind. The discussion with a spouse won’t be quite the same as one about a move across country. … >> Click to continue Zip Code Home Search: County Search: Jump to State: Alabama Alaska Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut D.C. Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Search by Metro Area: New York Chicago San Francisco Los Angeles Washington DC Boston Save 15% on your FICO credit score. Enter promo code "RELO" to redeem your discount. RELO National Home Search helps consumers find real estate listings, homes for sale or real estate agents. The tool enables consumers to search 2 million local real estate listings and homes for sale. Before buying a home, search mls listings and homes for sale to find a real estate agent through RELO National Home Search. According to the National Association of Realtors, 72 percent of consumers look for a residential property online. RELO National Home Search provides moving assistance to relocating consumers and second-home buyers. RELO Home Search links over 600 RELO members' websites together, the majority offer local mls listings in their area. Further, RELO provides relocation assistance services and international relocation through the RELO network. Whether you are buying a home, considering moving to a new city, considering a second home or selling a home, use RELO National Home Search to tap into the country's largest network of leading independent residential real estate firms across the nation and around the world. All RELO real estate companies focus on relocation and home buying help. © 2002 – 2003 RELO ® All Rights Reserved. | Terms and Conditions | Bookmark Page | Read Real Estate Articles

Buy Home

Amazon.com: Home Alone: DVD: Macaulay Culkin,Joe Pesci,Daniel Stern,John Heard,Roberts Blossom,Catherine O'Hara,Angela Goethals,Devin Ratray,Gerry Bamman,Terrie Snell,Hillary Wolf,Larry Hankin,Michael C. Maronna,Kristin Minter,Daiana Campeanu,Jedidiah Cohen,Kieran Culkin,Senta Moses,Anna Slotky,John Candy,Chris Columbus Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! Top 10 Best Christmas Movies : A list by "mjp260" Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 64 used & new from $11.00 Available for in-store pickup now from: $14.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Home Alone (1990) Starring: Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci Director: Chris Columbus Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $19.98 Price: $12.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $6.99 (35%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Tuesday, January 3? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 64 used & new available from $11.00 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (DVD) List Price Price Other Offers: DVD Home Alone/Home Alone 2: Lost in New York $29.98 2 used & new from $59.99 DVD Home Alone Better Together Buy this DVD with Home Alone 2 - Lost in New York DVD ~ Macaulay Culkin today! Total List Price: $39.96 Buy Together Today: $25.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought Home Alone 2 - Lost in New York DVD ~ Macaulay Culkin National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) DVD ~ Chevy Chase The Santa Clause (Widescreen Special Edition) DVD ~ Tim Allen A Christmas Story (Full Screen Edition) DVD ~ Yano Anaya Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Video , and in Music Storyline Genres: Comedy , Crime , Family Tagline: A Family Comedy Without The Family. Plot Outline: An eight year-old, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars. Plot Synopsis: 8-year-old Kevin McAllister is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season. Once he realizes they've left him home by himself, Kevin learns to fend for himself, and eventually has to protect his house against bumbling burglars Harry and Marv, who are planning to rob every house in Kevin's suburban Chicago neighborhood. Kevin's mother Kate is frantic when she realizes that she and the family have unintentionally left Kevin behind in Chicago, and she tries to make it back to Chicago as fast as she can, getting help from a polka band leader named Gus Polinski. Plot Keywords: Blockbuster | Burglary | Christmas | Family | Home Alone | Kid Outsmarts Adult | Kids And Family | Famous Score | Booby Trap | Title Spoken By Character | Chicago Illinois | (Show all 97 plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci , Daniel Stern , John Heard , Roberts Blossom , See more Directors: Chris Columbus Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, Ntsc, Widescreen Letterbox Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: Studio: 20th Century Fox DVD Release Date: October 5, 1999 Run Time: 103 minutes Average Customer Review: Based on 142 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: English Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B00000K3CL Amazon.com Sales Rank: #243 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: November 16, 1990 MPAA: Production Company: 20th Century Fox USA Box Office: $286 Million Worldwide Box Office: $534 Million Budget Estimate: $15 Million Filming Locations: 656 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, Illinois, USA| 671 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, Illinois, USA| Chicago, Illinois, USA| Evanston, Illinois, USA| Grace Episcopal Church - 924 Lake St., Oak Park, Illinois, USA| Haven Middle School - 2417 Prairie Ave., Evanston, Illinois, USA| Highland Park, Illinois, USA| Hubbard Woods Metra Station - 1065 Gage Street, Winnetka, Illinois, USA| O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, USA| Panera Bread Company--formerly Hubbard Woods Pharmacy - 940 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, Illinois, USA| Paris, France| Trinity Methodist Church - 1024 W. Lake Ave., Wilmette, Illinois, USA| Wilmette, Illinois, USA| Winnetka, Illinois, USA Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Now and forever a favorite among kids, this 1990 comedy written by John Hughes ( The Breakfast Club ) and directed by Chris Columbus ( Mrs. Doubtfire ) ushered Macaulay Culkin onto the screen as a troubled 8-year-old who doesn't comfortably mesh with his large family. He's forced to grow a little after being accidentally left behind when his folks and siblings fly off to Paris. A good-looking boy, Culkin lights up the screen during several funny sequences, the most famous of which finds him screaming for joy when he realizes he's unsupervised in his own house. A bit wooden with dialogue, the then-little star's voice could grate on the nerves (especially in long, wise-child passages of pure bromide), but he unquestionably carries the film. Billie Bird and John Candy show up as two of the interesting strangers Culkin's character meets. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are entertainingly cartoonish as thieves, but the ensuing violence once the little hero decides to keep them out of his house is over-the-top. --Tom Keogh Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Home Alone 3 DVD ~ Alex D. Linz It's a Wonderful Life DVD ~ James Stewart Miracle on 34th Street DVD ~ Maureen O'Hara The Santa Clause 2 - The Mrs. Clause (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Tim Allen Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Video Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 8 of 11 people found the following review helpful: Christmas Alone is a Laugher , February 9, 2004 Reviewer: rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews This Christmas classic is so enjoyable, due to the engagement between Kevin and two superb burglars (ala Pesci and Stern). In my view, these two burglars make it the great comedy that it is. There expressiveness in being duped by the redhead protecting his family home is creative and simply good comedy to enjoy. The neighbor with the shovel is another outstanding character that pops up in key spots in the plotline. Candy is so-so as the polka king. The mother played by O'Hara is authentic too in her concern, and the rest are just support cast in this. The plot is possible due to the setup of the busy family preparing for the trip with all the chaos and Kevin being somewhat of a sore-thumb in all this. The results are a howl! Enjoy watching this periodically over the years. Too my way of thinking, this makes a movie truly great, its ability to have lasting power. This might be one of those that endures the fads and all that make many flicks ok, but would one buy them or rent them or watch them again? Likely not. But this, this one I've did all three, finally purchasing a copy for our own collection. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 8 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Be Careful What You Wish For! , October 31, 2002 Reviewer: L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews This review refers to the VHS(20th Cent Fox) edition... Second grader Kevin McCalister(Macaulay Culkin) is having a REALLY bad day. His family(including cousins, Aunt and Uncle) is getting ready to leave on a Christmas vacation to Paris. There's lots of activity, he is the youngest. He feel's picked on(and he is),and brushed aside. He has to actually do things for himself, unheard of in his 8 yr old world.His older brother scares him with stories of the neighbor being "The Shovel Murderer". He wishes they would all "JUST GO AWAY". The next morning he awakes to discover his wish came true. Jubilant he immediatly preceeds to do all the things he's not allowed to. Meanwhile, halfway across "The Pond", to Paris, his parents make the grim discovery that they have accidentally left him behind. Panic sets in! With the feeling of worry and guilt only known to parents, his mom(Catherine O'Hara) makes a hasty retreat back to the states, hitting road blocks all the way. Kevin settles in to life alone, waivering between being a kid and the responiblities of the household chores.Lurking around his house though, are two bumbling cat burglers(Joe Pesci/Daniel Stern).Kevin must protect his domain. He goes about setting his plan into motion,using whatever available means to thwart the bad guys.He also gets a little help from a surprise source. What follows is very funny, kind of three stooges action, as the burglers fall into every trap he sets for them. Kevin learns several lessons in his time alone. One is that he really loves his family,that he can take care of himself, and not to judge others. The music by John Williams,including lots of seasonal classics, will leave you singing Christmas songs, whatever time of year you watch it. Directed By Chris Columbus who really makes you root for the good guys. The supporting cast includes,John Heard, Roberts Blossom, and Hilary Wolfe.Look for the wonderful John Candy as "The Polka King". "Home Alone" will have you laughing throughout.It is a funny,sometimes poignant story, that will be enjoyed year after year by the whole family. There are 2 sequels,the first has most of the same cast returning to do it again, this time in New York City! The VHS has a very good picture. It is in Dolby Surround Stereo,(nice for the soundtrack). Have fun...........Laurie Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. Never knew Christmas could be this fun! , December 26, 2005 Reviewer: Kirs Mabitad "AnGeLkirs" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews First of all, the main thing about this movie is the irresponsibility of the parents. It angered me to know how they could just forget about their son like that. Overall, I thought McCauly Culkin was really great. He acted very naturally for a 9-year-old boy. The whole plot is fun for all ages. The music was very nice too. It gives you a christmas feel but at the same time, it makes you feel the cunningness of Kevin. I found it a very interesting movie...watch it! Kirstie Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Being Left Alone is like a Christmas Gift! , December 24, 2005 Reviewer: Massacre "Weird Al" (Dracut) - See all my reviews Way Better than the 4 and 3! Two Burglurs that break in a house of a 8 year old smart cookie boy is just funny Enuff! Get this for Christmas if you don't have it! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) HOME ALONE IS A HYSTARICALLY FUNNY MOVIE , December 6, 2005 Reviewer: BENJAMIN SANTINO FILIPPI "BENJAMIN" (BRECKSVILLE OHIO USA) - See all my reviews HOME ALONE IS A HYSTARICALLY FUNNY MOVIE DANIEL STERN AND JOE PESCI ARE HYSTARICALLY FUNNY YOU COULD OWN IT ON VIDEO CASSETTE AND YOU COULD OWN IT ON DVD IT'S VERY FUNNY PLEASE EMAIL ME bsfilippi@sbcglobal.net BENJAMIN SANTINO FILIPPI BRECKSVILLE OHIO Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 0 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Its a fun christmas family film but is not great , December 6, 2005 Reviewer: Jake - See all my reviews Home Alone is one of the top grosing films ever and is a family classic but it's not a great film. Yes the film is funny and it's a fun family film for the whole family but it's not a great film. Maybe I dont find it great becouse I've seen it so maney times and i dont find the traps funny anymore(I liekd the traps in the sequal better). The story is un beievale as a boy is left home alone by mistake during christmas and he sets the house full of traps to catch 2 bumbling robbers. Culkien is great and Stern and Pesi are funny. The movie is a good christmas film. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 142 customer reviews... Listmania! Favorite Movies 1989-1999 Part... : by "crgreen06172" 25 Cool Pre-Teen Kid Movies : by K. Ellis "kjjcellis" Top 10 Best Christmas Movies : by "mjp260" So You'd Like to... know the movies I like to watch : by Chris , As I said they are mostly comedies make your christmas DVD collection : by ldaman , DVD collector See Yet Another Essential Christmas Viewing List : by Devin Melancon , Cinema buff who won't shut up Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Awards Click here to see more Awards American Comedy Awards, USA: American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) BMI Film & TV Awards: BMI Film Music Award British Comedy Awards: British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Film Casting Society of America, USA: Artios for Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: CFCA Award for Most Promising Actor Golden Screen, Germany: Golden Screen Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award for Most Entertaining Family Youth Motion Picture - Comedy/Action, Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Nominations Click here to see more Nominations Academy Awards, USA: Oscar for Best Music, Original Score, Best Music, Original Song Golden Globes, USA: Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture Trivia Click here to see more Trivia The concept for this movie originated during the filming of a scene in Uncle Buck in which Macaulay Culkin plays a character who interrogates a would-be-babysitter through a letterbox. The movie that Kevin watches on video tape is not a real film, but footage especially created. It was called "Angels With Filthy Souls." Goofs Click here to see more Goofs Harry protects his burnt hand with a handkerchief when he climbs along the rope towards the tree house, but alternating shots show the tail of the handkerchief either sticking out or not. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections Followed by: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | Home Alone 3 Alternate Versions Click here to see more Alternate Versions Television airings edited the following: Kevin saying that Fuller will pee all over him after explaining to Kate that Fuller wets the bed; Kevin calling Harry and Marv "horse's ass"; when everyone glares at Kevin after the dinner accident, the second scene with Peter and Buzz looking at him was removed. Quotes Click here to see more Quotes Kevin McCallister : This is my house, I have to defend it. [to the Scranton Ticket Agent] Kate McCallister : This is *Christmas*. The season of perpetual hope. And I don't care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son. For more information about "Home Alone" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( B ) > Blossom, Roberts DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Culkin, Kieran DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Culkin, Macaulay DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( H ) > Hankin, Larry DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( H ) > Heard, John DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( M ) > Minter, Kristin DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( O ) > O'Hara, Catherine DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( P ) > Pesci, Joe DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Stern, Daniel DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( W ) > Wolf, Hillary DVD > Directors > ( C ) > Columbus, Chris DVD > Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Mischievous Children DVD > Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Nothing Goes Right DVD > Genres > Comedy > Domestic Comedies DVD > Genres > Comedy > General DVD > Genres > Comedy > Series & Sequels > Home Alone DVD > Genres > Comedy > Slapstick DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > 10-12 Years DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > 7-9 Years DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > By Theme > Christmas DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > By Theme > Mischievous Children DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > Comedy DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > Family Films Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. Product information is incorrect. Propose corrections using our Online Catalog Update Form . The page contains typographical errors. The page takes too long to load. The page has a software bug in it. Content violates Amazon.com's policy on offensive language . Product offered violates Amazon.com's policy on items that can be listed for sale. Comments or Examples: Examples: Missing information such as dimensions and model number, typos, inaccuracies, etc. Where's My Stuff? • Track your recent orders . • View or change your orders in Your Account . Shipping & Returns • See our shipping rates & policies . • Return an item (here's our Returns Policy ). Need Help? • Forgot your password? Click here . • Redeem or buy a gift certificate. • Visit our Help department . Search Amazon.com Books Popular Music Music Downloads Classical Music DVD VHS Apparel Yellow Pages Movie Showtimes Toys Baby Computers Video Games Electronics Camera & Photo Software Tools & Hardware Office Products Magazines Sports & Outdoors Outdoor Living Kitchen Jewelry & Watches Beauty Gourmet Food Musical Instruments Health/Personal Care Pet Supplies Travel Cell Phones & Service Outlet Auctions zShops Everything Else Automotive for Amazon.com Home | Directory of All Stores Our International Sites: Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | Japan | France | China Help | Shopping Cart | Your Account | Sell Items | 1-Click Settings Investor Relations | Press Room | Careers Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2005, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Home For Sale

Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Resources & Tools > Home Values and Prices Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Search • Find Homes for Sale • Find Properties for Rent REALTORS • Find & Compare REALTORS Mortgages & Financing • Find a Lender • Today's Mortgage Rates • Loan Calculators • Credit Reports • Refinance Loans Resources • Moving Services • Foreclosure Center Neighborhood Research • What's My Home Worth? • School Profiles • Neighborhood Profiles Specialty Property • Foreclosures • New Homes • Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Real Estate Home Improvement & Services • Home Services • Home Improvement Library • House Facts Get Home Values and Prices Sponsored by Get Home Values and Prices Access millions of public real estate records instantly! This comparable sales data helps you analyze the value of your home or other homes in seconds. Results include price, square footage, bedrooms, and year built (where available). You can also get a custom home valuation from a top-performing local REALTOR! Street Address: City & State or Zip: Sponsored Links Free Mortgage Quotes Find great rates for new loans, re-finances and home equity loans. Start saving now. www.trimyourdebt.com Free Mortgage Quotes at Homestore.com Find information, articles and quotes for home loans in your area. We have the loan that's right for you. Complete our easy form and get free, competitive quotes. homestore.com Free Mortgage Quote Considering refinancing? Get free quotes from multiple lenders. Takes only 2 minutes. Refinance with or without a perfect Credit. Find great low rates today. c.azjmp.com Free Mortgage Quote: Click Here Complete four easy steps and get matched to four qualified brokers. We have created this service to help you finance a home. www.mortgages.root.net (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

buy property in France

French property in France. Guide to French real estate and sales in france For property buyers >Buying guide Buying property in France Property prices vary across France, with property near Paris and on the south coast costing much more than property in less well-connected areas of the country. You can buy a four-bedroom property in the Loire for up to £200,000, or a two-bedroom apartment in Cannes for about the same price. It all depends on your preference for areas, how remote you want to be, and whether you need to commute to work. Click here to locate a French Property Generally, buying a property abroad is a good way of reducing the cost of living, but buying a property in France is not necessarily an investment as it has been in the UK: property prices are much more stable compared to the English property market, with prices really only rising in line with inflation and not adding much value to the property in real terms. There are also the taxes and costs associated with buying property in France to consider when planning your investment. Looking for property abroad is therefore more often associated with investing in your future life - somewhere to spend your holidays or somewhere to retire when the time comes. When you buy property in France bear in mind that the costs are different to those in the UK. There are more taxes for a start, including income, wealth, property, capital gains, and residential taxes. This can add up to quite a hefty sum. Even though the government has pledged to reduce income tax by a third in the coming years, tax in France is still quite high. Late payment of taxes incurs a charge of around 10%, so make sure you pay your dues on time! If you rent out your property in France, whether this is to a friend for a few weeks' holiday or 52 weeks of commercial rent, you will have to declare and pay income tax on the rental income (revenu foncier) even if you live abroad. Property tax covers your contributions to local services like rubbish removal and street lighting and varies greatly depending on the region: oddly enough, the Paris area has some of the lowest rates in the country. You pay wealth tax if your annual income exceeds €720,000. Residential tax applies to properties with a rental value over €4,600 on 1 st January. Even if you rent or sell the property from 2nd January onwards, you have to pay the full year, not the new tenant or owner. Capital gains tax (CGT) is rather more complicated: suffice to say that the sale of second residences incurs CGT and the EU tax authorities are working together to track anyone who tries to dodge paying it! Having said all this France is a great place to live - the quality of life is better, the roads are a joy to drive on and the weather is better than the UK! For holiday makers For property buyers For property owners Buying guide Find an agent Find a property Property services Life in France Short List -- About us Advertise your property Contact us Site map Accessibility -- WebConnection Ltd. Advertise your property Terms of use Privacy policy Site map Quick links Contact us --

Texas landscapes of our

American Farmland Trust Texas region Texas Special Report Going, Going, Gone: The impact of land fragmentation on Texas agriculture and wildlife The Texas of legend, and of our memories, is a land of vast, wide open spaces. The reality, however, is that over the last 30 years, the average size of land ownership—the average acreage of land holdings—in Texas has been shrinking dramatically. A March, 2003 report from Texas Cooperative Extension of the Texas A&M University System and American Farmland Trust, entitled Texas Rural Lands: Trends and Conservation Implications for the 21st Century [ More ] , assesses the extent of land fragmentation in Texas and identifies predictors that warn of areas around the state most at risk for fragmentation. The report also examines how effective a purchase of development rights program may be in stemming the tide of land fragmentation in Texas. ( More information on PDR in Texas) Going, Going, Gone: The Impact of Land Fragmentation on Texas Agriculture and Wildlife summarizes some of the findings of that report, by discussing the effect of land fragmentation on our citizens, wildlife, farming, ranching and water supplies. This 12-page study also outlines recommendations made by American Farmland Trust with an eye toward conserving family lands and the Texas landscapes of our memory. To accommodate new landowners, the vast farms and famous Texas ranches are being rapidly splintered into smaller and smaller pieces. Each year since 1970, about 1,000 new farms and ranches have been established in Texas. At the same time, the total area devoted to agricultural uses declined by almost 3 million acres. That's 33,000 more farms and ranches on 3 million fewer acres. This process is part of a trend known as land fragmentation. ( Look at a map of Texas' most fragmented counties) Those new "ranchettes" are typically too small for traditional farming, ranching or forestry. But that's fine with most new landowners who have limited interest in working the land. Instead, they want a place where they can escape the crowds and noise of urban life. They want to do a little hunting, explore the countryside, own a few cattle and reconnect with the spirit of the old West. One recent survey of new landowners by the Texas A&M University's Real Estate Center found that 80 percent of buyers said that finding land for non-agricultural uses, like hunting, fishing and other recreation were "very important" motives for their purchase. Sadly, this rush to embrace the land may be ruining it. Thousands of new "ranchettes" are gobbling up open space and degrading wildlife habitat, while at the same time depleting and polluting scarce water resources. The most vivid examples of this phenomenon can be found in the more populous eastern half of the state and on the outskirts of just about any major city. From 1992 to 2001, over half a million acres of farm and ranchland in twenty-five Texas counties were converted to land uses other than agriculture. While this loss due to "urban sprawl" was primarily confined to the fringes of our major metropolitan areas, the fragmentation of agricultural lands into smaller ownerships has occurred in areas that have not been affected by urban sprawl. Fragmentation is starting to eat away at large ownerships even in areas such as the Trans Pecos and South Texas, which seem the very definition of "wide open spaces." This fragmentation is likely to continue in some of the most rural areas of the state where natural amenities such as recreation potential and scenic beauty are in high demand. Texas Rural Lands: Trends and Conservation Implications for the 21st Century examined the issue of land fragmentation and its impact on land uses across the state and found that this phenomenon is rapidly transforming Texas. The changes often go unnoticed by the average Texan, but those close to the land see the consequences. Things are changing. Follow the links below to view the rest of the report. Or download a PDF of the full report here . Look at the Texas Land Trends interactive report here . For more information on both reports, contact: Bob Wagner American Farmland Trust 1 Short Street Northampton, MA 01060 413-586-4593 Texas Regional home page AFT's Press Release on Going, Going, Gone Fragmentation study overview New Breed of Landowners Ranches and Wildlife Water Worries A PDR program for Texas Recommendations Charts and Graphs 1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 info@farmland.org 202-331-7300 202-659-8339 (f) [ << AFT Home ]