Hey, thanks. I've actually been thinking of looking at the county gis maps and looking at the tax assessments to see who owns some larger plots and firing off some letters, explaining our situation and asking if there is interest in selling 2-3 acres. It's a long shot to say the least. And not sure how difficult it is to get agricultural land rezoned for residential. Maybe impossible.
That may work.
As for someone 'selling 2-3 acres', with farm properties there are some rules that they can only be subdivided X times per generation unless the parcel goes to a direct relative. Once something has been subdivided I believe 5 times, no further subdivsion can occur. So for many farms it is a one shot deal, they can only sell off one parcel.
On the zoning, I am not familiar with that area. 'Ag exemption' is just a tax designation and it doesn't preclude you from building on the land if the zoning allows for development (as opposed to a perpetual conservation easement which permanently precludes development).
Much of what looks like Ag land is in 'Rural Conservation' zoning which allows for low density, e.g. 1 dwelling unit per 3 or 10 acres.
Then of course there is the whole perc issue. If you buy raw land, even if it has the correct zoning, access to a road etc. you still have to get the health department approval. Calvert is a pile of glacial gravel, so it shouldn't be a problem to perc, but there are some areas where you have to get one of those newfangled BAT septics due to proximity to water etc.
Lots of moving parts, and all those uncertainties are the reason why there is such a premium on a piece of dirt sold as a 'lot' vs. 'land'.
