Congratulations to those of you who already have their place out of the way, I wish I could join your ranks! I have been spending months looking for the right piece of land to build my bug out location (and as soon as possible to live on full time). I'm looking in Idaho and Montana, but of course I am not dead set on those two places. So far I've found a couple of parcels in my price range, but unfortunately they are in Property Owner Associations, and as you probably know, these POA's can be very restrictive, telling you what you can build, how many animals (and what kind), even how many trees you can cut down. Not what I had in mind at all. I prefer something with partially flat land (to grow a large organic garden) and partially hilly with trees (for building materials and firewood). I believe I need at least 5 acres, but of course the more the better and I would love to have 20 plus acres off the beaten path. However, my budget is not very big. I have about $10,000 that I can spend (I prefer not to go into debt for the land, but for the right property I could see going up to $20k). Something where I could dig a well for under $5k, and it doesn't need to be near electricity or phone. Also, the ground must be able to accept a septic system. I know it's out there somewhere... Anyone who knows how I might find what I'm looking for (preferrably without a POA) please email me at xxxxxxxxxxxxx Thanks! John John, I took out your email addy as a security measure. If anyone has something to send you, they should use a PM until validity is established. You'll probably want closer to 20 acres than 5 if you are planning to go completely to wood burning. 5 will not be sustainable "forever" as a sole source of heat. 20 should be adequate. Regards ghrit
Look at bank repo's. Especially local, credit unions. LOT'S of them right now for what the people owed the bank. Sad, but it is a reality right now.
gamblers are always strapped for more gambling money a lot of them will sell anything they own, cheaply, for more money then there are people that decided they wanted to go country 90% of them cant make it, they sell off cheaply a lot of times too specially back to the landers coming from a big city they really had no concept of the work entailed
IMO the ONLY way to find good land is to go to the area you're interested in and ask, ask, ask everyone about land. I mean everyone. Camp out so you'll be accessible to the locals, shop in the stores and eat in the restaurants. Tell everyone you're looking for land. The best deals are not listed anywhere. If you find a piece you like go to the county and find out who owns it then call or write them offering to buy. I found my perfect land when a nosy guy asked me what I was doing there. Seems a friend of his was about to list some land and would I be interested. Joseph Campbell said: "Follow your bliss and doors will open for you that you didn't even know were there."
Excellent advice. Buying something from an internet listing is a good way to get burned. Also, while you're camped out there, or living in a rental place ( which is also the best way to LEARN an area a bit ahead of buying ): 1. Drive all around....look for 'abandoned' looking places you'd want to buy...then go to the county deed/tax office and look up who the owner is, mail or call them to see IF they would be interested in selling to you. All they can say is no. 2. While at the courthouse, look up IRS liens on property. I bought 3 ac down the road from me that way ( and built two rental houses on it ) from a guy that was in a hurt owing 10k to the IRS. I paid the tax lien, he signed over the property, anxious to get the Feds off his back. Good property sometimes takes some detective work on your part.
I'd suggest driving around area that interests you. Cuz not all property for sell is listed by Realtors. Sum times its just a sign put up by the owner. Get copies of the local newspaper too.
I agree with the posts above. Never buy land sight unseen. You never know if it was used as a dump for umpteen years. You'll have to walk the property. Bring binoculars and look up stream of you (or up the aquafier) have any of the properties been disused? Internet listings are a great way to find out what property 'might' sell for in your Area of Interest. But you have to see it.
Found this in a periodical I get now and then. Try homesteading. To boost their populations, some rural communities in Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa provide free land to build a home, often with tax incentives. Do a web search on "free land" or contact teh Center for Rural Affairs (chfra.org) for details.
Well, lots of good advice but a few that are not quite true. Acres owned does not matter in burning wood (IF)you are surrounded by federal or state lands. I have several thousand acres of federal lands all within walking distance of my 10 acres. I dont cut my own 60 some mature oak trees yet. Those are wood in the bank so to speak. I am also not cutting anywhere real close to home at present saving all that close wood for when travel to get it is an issue. Ill never run out wood here. If you are just looking for land there are thousands of acres available in Michigans Upper Peninsula pretty cheap. I relative of ours has 80 acres up there as an investment. This land was clear cut and logged off about 20 years ago. Lots of new growth on this land now. He got it dirt cheap as it was barren at the time. Personally ? I would buy a smaller tract that is land locked or up against some big tract of fed land. Kingfish
There's a great piece on TheSurvivalistBlog.net about how to find junk land... the blog's author M.D. Creekmore himself found a nice piece... isolated, with a spring on it, for about $1000 per acre! For Sale-Junk land $1,000 per Acre
Careful, some land is cheap for a reason. Wouldn't ever buy over the internet without looking first and using a local realtor.
Check for past uses like mining as there may be arsenic in the water or other issues that could make the land cost you a bnunch in the long run.... make sure you get water and mineral rights or you may end up screwed...
Water and Mineral Rights vary State by State, as they are usually State Law.... So, check those out BEFORE you plunk down you cash money. Also be very careful to read the entire Deed, BEFORE you pay ANYTHING, as there maybe Deed Restrictions, in there, that you might NOT be aware of. ..... YMMV....
So how about buying land with mineral rights where there is already a working natural gas well head on it owned by others (away from the house) and it comes with free natural gas written into the deed? I figure it should help make us energy independent and we could also get a natural gas powered generator and vehicle. In shtf do you think it would be possible to use the well?
As far as buying land you could check with some local timber management company. That is where I bought my arkansas land and got a very good deal. 500 per acre with a stream and still had some hard wood on it in the area by the stream.
The concept is sound. Many things to consider here. Is the gas well still producing in commercial quantities? Who is responsible for maintaining the pressure reducing station? Does the gas coming into the house have odorant? Chances are WAY better than even the pressure will be too low for vehicle use, but might do for a gennie IF allowed by the leasing agreement.
