When it comes to homesteading and buying land, it’s safe to say that you need land. When you are new to this, and you have lived a very urban existence in the past, you may not really realize what you need to get yourself set up for this homesteading kind of lifestyle.
While every family is going to be different, and you are more than free to choose the kind of setup that will suit you, there are always going to be some key considerations that you should look to keep in mind. If you currently living in a rural setting, then you may already know what to expect. But if this is all new to you, then you are going to need to be aware of what you need when buying land before you sign on that dotted line.
Because homesteading comes with a lot of work. And while you are doing all of that work, you often need the space to be able to do it in – no matter how big or small that may be. More often than not, you are turning to homesteading because you want to enjoy the quality of life that comes with it. So, of course, the place that you get to do this should make that happen and add to your overall quality of life. That’s why the land can be such a big deal (as well as what goes on it). So let’s take a look at some things you should look to keep in mind before you buying land.
Buying Land: What To Know Before You Buy
Choose The Right Part Of The Country
First of all, you are really going to want to make sure that you are choosing the right part of the country for buying land in. Where you live now, may not be where you want to set up your new lifestyle. You are going to need to consider the right part of the country.
Think about where your family is based, and how far traveling will be, what the weather is like, and even what kind of lifestyle you would like to have. These factors should then help you to narrow down your location choices.
Visit First
You are going to want to think about making a visit. This is much easier when you have one state in mind or just a few locations. It can take time, but it is important to make sure that you do choose the right place. You may get there and realize it is not for you. It is important to get to know what the area is like before buying land.
Choose A Location Based On Your Needs
Another way to narrow down your choices when you are deciding where to live is to think about your needs. You should work out how far you are from the nearest town, or what local amenities you will need. You may even want to base this choice on your neighbors – and whether you want to be close to others or not.
Consider The Prices
Next up, you need to think about the price. You may find that you really want to live in a certain area, but the cost of living is out of your price range, or just so much higher than another option that you are considering. It will help you to take a look at the property prices by state. This could be a huge deciding factor for you.
Look At Available Properties
When you have narrowed down your choices and you know where you want to be, you are then going to want to take a look at some of the properties available. When you find property for sale, you are going to want to consider all kinds of places. By looking at what is available, and what you can get for your money, you will start to form a picture in your mind of what your setup could be.
Weigh Up Land Size Vs Property Size
While you are doing so, you should be thinking about what is available, and what you want. Land size is the total size of the land that you can use to homestead on. Property size is what you can physically use. In other words, you may have land that is 10 acres, but only 8 are usable because the other two are a lake or pond.
This is particularly important when it comes to the land vs. property decision. Will you want a lot of land or would you prefer a much larger property and less land? Sometimes, when you want both, you will be able to work the balance just right, especially if you have the budget.
Consider Both Buying And Building
At the same time, you are going to want to work out where you are buying land or wanting to build on it. Sometimes, you can buy a property that comes with a lot of land. But you may also need to buy the land, and then build your property. Both are equally great options, you will just need to make a decision based on what you are looking for.
Get To Know Any Local Laws
At this stage, you may also want to make sure that you know the local area and government laws. If you are moving to a new place, you may not be familiar with state laws – some of which may have an impact on your purchase and the lifestyle you want to lead. So you are going to want to make sure that you read up and apply for any permits that you may need too before buying land.
Get To Know The Community
Then, it is time to think about getting to know the local community. Because this can really be a factor in whether you are going to be able to build the right kind of life for your family or not. Sometimes, the community side of things won’t overly matter to you. But if you do want to be apart of a bigger community, getting to know the locals is going to be a huge factor for you when buying land.
Plan Everything Out
Finally, you are going to want to make sure that you get the plans all right. This means that you are going to want to ensure that you have the space available for everything that you need and what you want to do before buying land. Then, you need to make sure that you can find it. You may discover that you need to make some compromises, but you should still be able to set up the homesteading life that suits you best.
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