Raw land, a toolbox, and a very small budget. What’s your first-year order of operations?

I’m planning on starting a homestead from scratch on bare land, and I’d like to hear how this community would sequence the first year. I’m not asking for a master plan, as I think I have one in place.

I’d like to know what you did, what you’d do differently, and what you wish someone had told you.

Here’s the starting point:

Raw land, no structures, no power, no well yet
A toolbox, a small budget, and a strong preference for reduce, repurpose, reuse
Most of my gear comes from flea markets and yard sales, because I’ll pay for the right tool, but I won’t pay retail for it
Decades of homesteading behind me, but a first-time buyer of raw, unadulterated lan.

My rough order is to observe the land through at least a full cycle of sun, wind, and water before I move any dirt. Then a fire pit and cooking setup, water, shelter, and the first garden beds and animal pens. I’d like to hear where this is wrong.

Some questions for the group:

Observation versus action. How long did you watch the land before you built anything, and did waiting cost you or save you?
Water first or shelter first? Does your answer change with climate?
Low-budget wins. What’s the best deal you found for a homestead tool or material that cost almost nothing?
The mistake. What’s the one thing you got wrong in year one that you could have avoided?

Where is the land?   The climate is especially important.  Do you have a place to live that is near the land?   Do you have a job near the land?  Do you have savings?

In worse case situation, obtain a  storage shed that you can live in initially and use for storage or as a barn later.     12x 16 comes to mind a functional size….buy it …build it …whatever.  Of course, the answer to the above to the above questions could change this suggestion.

When I built in MN I had a well put in quickly.

You cannot have too much money.

Just off the top, I'd encourage a softer distinction between observing and doing. I think it's important to engage continuously in lots of little doing-watching-designing sub-routines from the get-go as part of a larger learning (and landing) process - with the important caveat that one should take much greater care and patience with *irreversible* actions and impacts. So, start small, sensible, and safe, but do start! In that vein, something I've really gained appreciation for in my own several year 'phase one' on a new project is how much infrastructure can be set up with change and modularity in mind, so as to avoid making big early irreversible commitments of space and resources. However...that approach is certainly not what most administrative officials and frameworks are geared towards, so I would highlight making careful study of applicable land use regulations, potential variances and alternatives, and which directions others around you are pushing to expand the envelope of what's not only possible but endorsed and celebrated in your community, then see about prudently advancing the cause (or at least avoiding scrutiny) as fitting.