Finding the Right Piece of Land

We spent a lot of time trying to figure out where we were going to homestead. There were several practical, personal and emotional considerations. Of course, financial capacity will drive the eventual choice, but the full spectrum of $/acre within a given region can be rather wide. Each of these factors had its influence on where we decided to purchase and finally build. Having moved 18 times during 30 years of service with the military we had the opportunity to live in and travel through many countries, states and regions. Each location in which we spent time had its appeals and detractors. In some places we enjoyed the weather and terrain, in others we enjoyed what the local area had to offer in terms of activities and freedoms. Regardless of where we were, we always asked the same question, “How would we like to retire here?” Many of the considerations which went into our decision seem like common sense, but the emotional aspects of our lives can overshadow our good sense. You may want to begin by using your emotional and personal considerations first, and then apply the practical considerations to your shortened list of places you would consider building a homestead. For purposes of this article I will begin with the practical first.

From the practical standpoint there were numerous considerations that we evaluated. Simple on-line research was available to answer questions about things like local, county, state and property taxes. Tedious analysis of things such as census information, crime statistics, education levels, drug seizures and arrests, population factors, per capita income, vandalism, health risks and EPA information were all valuable in helping us to form an impression of the area. It seems that evaluations by county were the most reasonable way to get a feel for a certain area. Since we weren’t interested in living in a subdivision with restrictive covenants, we were not as worried about the situation in the nearby population centers, although that data provided some clues as to the conditions in the surrounding open areas. We are not opposed to closed-in residential areas with covenants; we are just opposed to further restriction on our lives. Part of sampling the ‘flavor’ of the research is determining how many government, local and civic groups would be telling us what we could and could not do. Granted, a failure to restrict standards in a certain area can impact property value, but freedom is, in our opinion, more important than property value. When establishing a homestead we were in for the long-haul, not for the short-term capital gain. If you evaluate the factors mentioned above, and spend some time getting to know the area it is conceivable that you can find an area with limited restrictions where the neighbors aren’t going to build a human waste disposal and redistribution plant!

Begin with with a state or a few states that you like, pick the type of terrain in the state(s) that you favor (mountainous, near a lake or river, open rolling terrain…whatever), determine how far from a city/town you want to live and then begin digging through all of the data that is available on the area. Eventually you will rule some areas in and exclude others. When you are reasonably sure you have selected a few regions that you think you would be happy living in begin checking property availability and price. There are dozens of land sale sites that will yield tons of information. I like: www.landsofnewmexico.com You can substitute any state in place of New Mexico (i.e. www.landsoftennessee.com) and search for land, farms and ranches in the state of your choice. You can drill down to the county level based on your research. There is also a nifty map search feature.

Personal and Emotional Considerations

Once you have narrowed down your search into several regions or counties you can then apply your personal and or emotional considerations. You may have a particular social or political affiliation to which you are drawn. It’s obvious that in America some of these types of issues can be demographically influenced. Each region, state and in some cases counties, can be polarized for or against issues or values that are near and dear to you. If you are absolutely opposed to 250 pound wolves having 100% protection from hunters because you want to raise sheep in the northwest, then there are probably some places you would choose and avoid. Again…do the research and pick an area that you would feel comfortable with and one which supports your lifestyle. We ended up finding about 3 counties in 2 states that had an appeal to us. We used a small traveling vacation as a method for seeing the terrain, getting a feel for the region and beginning to answer the question, “How would we like to retire here?”

For us, being near to family was an overriding consideration. We feel the proximity to our parents was a necessity for our young children, our family values and for us. We wanted to live near our parents to spend as much time as possible with them. We’ve simply been on the road too long. Although we were drawn by the research to the state of Tennessee due to weather, terrain, limited taxation, and certain freedoms afforded, it was simply too far from where our immediate family lives.

As a compromise we purchased land near both parents, and saved a bit more to buy another plot of land in a region which offers us nearly all of the things that meet our other needs in Tennessee. It is only 5 hours from where we will build the homestead and offers us the opportunity to get to the mountains, do some fishing and enjoy a different climate. Keep in mind that depending on where you purchase, land prices can be in the realm of less than $1,000 per acre. One does not need 100 acres to begin, nor does one “need” to buy in the “select” areas either. In my opinion “select” denotes a region where the inhabitants focus on a lavish lifestyle and/or property values, and that invites restrictions, lawyers, prying eyes and a reduction in privacy. Having been told that my 2007 Chevy C3500 HD dually was barely fit to park in the subdivision because it looks like a “contractor’s vehicle”, I am sensitive to the protection of my “freedom”.

These were simply our considerations. What you chose to focus on is your business. When you spend the time evaluating what you desire and applying it to the regions that you think you would like, then you will begin to zero in on the ideal homestead for you. Good luck…it’s a fun adventure!