| Abstract: | Extensive subdivision development on remote rural lands during the early 1970's has generated considerable concern about possible long-term consequences to purchasers and local government finances. This study of California's Northeastern Plateau region utilizes socio-economic characteristics, purchase motivations, and use-intentions of purchasers as the basis for examining possible local community and purchaser impacts. While purchaser characteristics indicate limited property use, expressed intentions to build or install residences prior to 1980 indicate a potentially dramatic impact on the region's population base. Although local government revenue impacts are impossible to assess conclusively, the results suggest local officials would be well advised to establish buildout policies for existing subdivisions prior to approving additional remote subdivisions. Expectations about property-use and investment potential appear to be unrealistic and are attributable to buyers' inexperience, inadequate information, and sales misrepresentations. While suggesting that the “fair, just and equitable” determination be re-examined for within-state sales, the results also suggest other states should not become overly optimistic about consumer protection provided by California's Subdivided Lands Act. |
