Mid-Michigan is a great place to live. And, right now, land prices in this area have fallen to nearly unspeakable levels. There are many "fixer-upper" farm homes with 10+ acres for $70k or, in most cases, much less. Many of these properties have woods and streams. There are, also, Beautiful riverfront properties for $40k or less. Just need elbow grease and patience (something we permies have in abundance). So if anyone is interested in leads I am willing to help you look for something suitable.

I am not a real estate agent and I don't have anything to gain but a healthier community and some good company. I love Michigan and would love to see an influx of sustainability minded people find a good home here.

This sounds like a great place for some folks to search out. Great fortune to you as others read this and help you to dream your new neighborhood into being!

Blessings,
Max

do you have any links where folks can start to find these deals? maybe where you have seen them?

What part of Michigan are you talking about? Thank you

Here are a few links in Mecosta county area:

I have walked this property, and it is a nice piece. Houses on either side and not too far from town.
2acres for $3K
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Barryton/hoover-rd:360c6d89146f62cec5e75e11d29594

Here is a cute cabin on the Chippewa River... there are quite a few available in this price range:

http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Barryton/18454-oxbow-dr:553f7188e53ec7cb959b2d67fb9399f

In Town:

http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Barryton/317-n-norman-st:bf2633b344c77fab54ba5dd918ec4d8f
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Evart/430-w-1st-st:37817dda10efb88d8a414c5aec2a15ba

Some Outside of town:

http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Barryton/508-20-mile-rd:9facdda926ea8168b367561a5808b;_ylt=AkesaRgiyarCXiuZCQ1E8rVn47Qs
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Remus/3-67-acres-13-mile-rd-lot-5:9c34488947319fa7758dac93df5ddcc4

10 acres for $18K
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Evart/truman:4b2bf24ad2ccdd4862f5475a278d2ae;_ylt=Aj0t3jbXvmdzY81uXSUVwUtn47Qs

house with 39 acres $70K
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Sears/3312-5-mile-rd:973757b24af88c93be7ffc8fef05bf9;_ylt=AmKC.BWLmx9gPoq3bQe5mz1n47Qs

40 acres
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Evart/17670-110th-ave:7ff5f429872bdfcfedc551ae07fc37a;_ylt=AnwpqLLjOaCFyUd3BhYVOP9n47Qs

20 acres with this one:
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Remus/14320-55th-ave:ea73eb911e52d97edef650d116927244

7 acres:
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Remus/garfield:822ea583b3f7cf656b9d54f4da352715

House with 5 acres for $30K
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Remus/1850-11-mile-rd:78d457ada7af4a4244382491c6569dd8

Last May we purchase our place here in western Pa and are pleased with the similar prices for land and homes. We choose this area partially because this is the area my wife grew up in and because of the lower land prices. I think that there are several areas where this is possible. We found that the best deals were not listed online but found a realtor who knew the area and under stood what we were looking for. One thing that we see is that if you are looking for a place that has already been fixed up you will pay for it, but there are a lot of fixer uppers out there. we saw a property that we though might work for a family member that was a forclosure that was 10 acres and 2 bedroom home that needed work for 53k. our place was 20 acres with a 3 bedroom farm house with a couple of buildings to house my shop for 87k. The biggest draw back is that the jobs here are lower paying and harder to get than in other areas. we were in the possition to move my shop and business so the job market was not an issue.
kent

I am originally from the Midland-Saginaw-Freeland area, it always makes me glad to see people from this community who are from Michigan! I plan on moving back to Michigan and buying a good chunk of land (20 acres +) in the next 2.5-5.5 years, straight cash. Me and my wife left the state to make money and save up so we can have that kind of life we dream of. We are both still pretty young, very determined, and are very excited to start looking for the perfect piece of property. We've been looking in the north western part of the state everywhere but the expensive Grand Traverse county.

That 70 acres you posted looks very appealing! Nicely priced- I've wanted so badly to build a strawbale home from scratch, but often I worry that with building codes it may be hard to get away with, so an older home in a secluded area where I can do some sustainable, healthy renovations seems appealing to me.

I know I would love to see more people realize the great opportunities and beautiful land of Michigan. If some close-knit communities popped up in the time it takes for me to get back, then I would definitely reconsider changing plans and becoming part of that community. I know there are people out there in Michigan who would adopt the lifestyle, many just don't realize how possible it is with a bit of time and effort invested.

Thanks for posting!

Travis Toner wrote:I am originally from the Midland-Saginaw-Freeland area, it always makes me glad to see people from this community who are from Michigan! I plan on moving back to Michigan and buying a good chunk of land (20 acres +) in the next 2.5-5.5 years, straight cash. Me and my wife left the state to make money and save up so we can have that kind of life we dream of. We are both still pretty young, very determined, and are very excited to start looking for the perfect piece of property. We've been looking in the north western part of the state everywhere but the expensive Grand Traverse county.

That 70 acres you posted looks very appealing! Nicely priced- I've wanted so badly to build a strawbale home from scratch, but often I worry that with building codes it may be hard to get away with, so an older home in a secluded area where I can do some sustainable, healthy renovations seems appealing to me.

I know I would love to see more people realize the great opportunities and beautiful land of Michigan. If some close-knit communities popped up in the time it takes for me to get back, then I would definitely reconsider changing plans and becoming part of that community. I know there are people out there in Michigan who would adopt the lifestyle, many just don't realize how possible it is with a bit of time and effort invested.

Thanks for posting!

Best of Luck to you and your wife, Travis. I love Michigan... so much... I just can't leave the abundance of water (even though I love the Rockies, too). I always joke that a Michigan drought looks like business as usual anywhere else.

My husband and I did what you are working toward. We have our retirement home in Mecosta County (paid for). We are, slowly, renovating it and working on getting the landscape productive. We are still on the lookout for a few more acres, close to our house, to devlope into a proper food forrest. So I keep my eyes open to the real estate market and I do a lot of talking with the "old timers" in this area, too. If you want to be closer to TC... talk to Brenda Groth. I think she is a bit closer to that area (an hour north of my place).

I look forward to reading your future posts.

i live farther north in the Cadillac, Lake city, Traverse city area and there are tons and tons of low cost homes and land up here..on our road alone there are 3 pratically new homes with acerage for sale..within a mile of each other..

my sister's daughter bought a home on land for $34,000 and it was beautiful..