The Frustration of Saving and Waiting

I've been working hard to save the funds needed to put 20 percent down on a bit of land in the area of Tennessee where my family and I want to live. So far, we've made it to around 2/3 of the way there. Until we can save enough, we live in a small apartment above an asphalt desert. Over the last two years, many properties have come and gone in the specific area we are looking at, most of them sitting on the market for many months. Now with the large rush to leave cities and the spike in people interested in getting away from things, we've seen properties all evaporating in no time. One in particular was on the market a single day before being removed from the listings again. With who-knows-how-long left before I have the savings built up I need, it is feeling more and more frustrating. Several amazing properties have hit the market and if I could just finish building up the money, I would pull the trigger in a heartbeat.

It's stunning just how many amazing properties have come for sale in the last couple months. Ones with springs, road frontage, large running streams, flat areas for growing/building, older timber, etc. There've been 3 that hit almost every single aspect of both the need and want list at the same time!... and here I sit unable to do anything but watch them disappear again. I'm unwilling to move without things in place. I learned years ago there's no point even trying for a purchase unless you already have everything in place. Still, it is disheartening to say the least.

Think of me with sympathy or consider me a whining dreamer. Either is fine I suppose. I'm posting it to meaningless drivel for a reason after all. I just need to vent and this is one of the places I can do so and know that many others will understand that same feeling for themselves. It's my own fault for looking at properties in advance, but I figure I need to know what the market prices are for different properties well in advance if I am going to make a good purchase when the time comes. I can't help feeling the fear that once I have the savings, no one will be letting go of good properties in my price range anymore. Anyway, end pity party I suppose. Thanks for reading at least. :D

You needn't worry. I've found that the rush to the country is often followed by a rush out of the country. It's not exactly the easiest life even if you don't raise animals or garden. People moved to our area and have already had issues with the road and electricity. So, keep chugging along. The perfect property will arrive for you!

Like, Elle, I have seen people come and go.  It got to the point that I quit trying to make friends as I knew that in a few months they would be gone.

If I were in a position where I wanted to move I would start trying to save more money.

I know it is hard, especially when we had kids.

Many times, I would do without something so we could follow our dream.  It is so easy to go out for lunch though when I added up how much I could save by bringing my lunch from home, it was amazing.

I turned to Dave Ramsey for help.  His website is amazing and he offers so much free advice.

If a person wants something bad enough they can make it happen, we did.

D. Logan, I hear you, we are in exactly the same situation. But I'm not sure exactly where we're headed (it's a new area, and a lot to learn) and I want this to be The Last Big Move so I'm taking it slow and making sure we do things very, very carefully at the right time.
As Elle says, things come and things go. Bide your time, and your land will appear when it's due to. Even though waiting is indeed hard! Hang in there!!!