wanna do homesteading but land is too expensive (solved!)

20 years ago, I felt that the only answer to this was to work two jobs - both paying really well, save up and buy a piece of land that was mysteriously cheap (only to later discover why it was so cheap - but that's a different story for another day).

My path ....   my weird path ...  has exposed a buffet of options.  

  - join an intentional community

      o costs are split between all community members
      o usually doesn't work out
      o I am trying to come with solutions so it is more likely to work out

  - rent land on an existing homestead that has similar values

      o trying to do this at my place now
             * put out podcasts so people can learn my values
             * ant village
             * deep roots
             * permaculture bootcamp
             * other people are exploring doing something similar with slightly different values

  - elderly homesteaders are looking for people to will their land to

      o they just need somebody worthy
             * they seem to find a lot of people that turn out to be unworthy
             * the SKIP program is an attempt to bridge the "worthy" gap


What are some other ideas along these lines?

In my neighborhood if one looks at a lot of real estate listings it sometimes comes up that land is basically free. It happens when a house with some or even quite a bit of acreage is for sale. As example a house by itself with just a acre or two might be in the range of $250,000, too steep for many people. On the other hand a vacant 30 acres might have a similar price tag and still too steep for many.  What often stands out is that a house with 30 acres might still be in the same price range. When that happens it occurs to me that either the house or the 30 acres is basically free.

I don't think I would be a good fit for an intentional community but I might be up to partnering with someone in a purchase where they get the house and I get the land. Maybe even a few people, in the case where more land is involved. Everyone could get the land or house they want, deeded separately at a cost way below than if they had gone it alone. Exactly the same as thing the investors do, buying and subdividing except leaving the investor and the increased pricing out of the equation.

When that happens it occurs to me that either the house or the 30 acres is basically free.

THIS - - I love this mindset and it is so freeing when one can see the malleable nature of land this way - split your land up to use some for your self, and make income/pay down the mortgage with letting someone else use the rest!

There is a place for advocacy/governmental change here that could greatly help untold numbers of people -  county/state restrictions and financial fee barriers of splitting land into multiple parcels can get in the way of us accessing the earning value of land in many cases - the "regular folks" can be leery of renting or living on land that doesn't have a traditional parcel number, MLS listing, etc.

Mark Reed wrote:In my neighborhood if one looks at a lot of real estate listings it sometimes comes up that land is basically free. It happens when a house with some or even quite a bit of acreage is for sale. As example a house by itself with just a acre or two might be in the range of $250,000, too steep for many people. On the other hand a vacant 30 acres might have a similar price tag and still too steep for many.  What often stands out is that a house with 30 acres might still be in the same price range. When that happens it occurs to me that either the house or the 30 acres is basically free.

I don't think I would be a good fit for an intentional community but I might be up to partnering with someone in a purchase where they get the house and I get the land. Maybe even a few people, in the case where more land is involved. Everyone could get the land or house they want, deeded separately at a cost way below than if they had gone it alone. Exactly the same as thing the investors do, buying and subdividing except leaving the investor and the increased pricing out of the equation.

I've seen a few listings that were even more blatant about it. There are a few parcels of vacant land for sale in central Wisconsin for $5000 (or less!), with a note saying the seller will refund that money if the buyer builds a house within a set time period.

I have not been able to get an answer from the realtor about what covenants and restrictions are in place there. Chances are, all the affordable building methods are verboten, and they probably don't allow gardens or livestock. But without an answer from the realtor there's no way to tell.

Dez stayed in the permaculture bootcamp for 2+ years and earned himself an acre of land. Hear about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dORqYPTC-LM