Archives for category: Find Land

My book FIND LAND NOW: A QUICK GUIDE FOR HOMESTEADERS is now for sale. Praise be to God! If you’ve ever dreamed about finding land for growing your own food and raising animals, this book is for you.

In 2021, our family successfully made the move from the city to the country so we could set up a homestead. I’ve compiled our most useful experiences and information inside these pages for others who want to do the same.

Even if you’re unsure about homesteading, this book will help you to see the kinds of decisions you’ll encounter should you pursue greener pastures.

Main topics covered:
-Methods for locating land
-Financing and finding cheap land
-Number of acres and shelters to consider
-Desirable property features and pitfalls to avoid
-Finding land in the city if you stay put
-Securing eternal survival in Jesus Messiah

#TheSuddenHomesteader
#FindLand
#FindLandNow
#FIndLandNowAQuickGuideForHomesteaders
#Homesteading
#GrowYourOwnFood
#EscapeTheCity
#MoveToTheCountry
#ComeOutOfBabylon
#GetOutOfBabylon

I know, you want to quit your job and homestead full time, but the truth is, you still need an income, and you will continue to need that income as you establish your homestead. Once your homestead is up and running, you’ve paid your debts,  and you’re able to produce most, if not all, of your own goods and services, then, you might be able to cut back on your hours or transition to a lower-paying, but more rewarding, job. In the meantime—so long as it’s possible—please keep your job. Please.

If you’re able to generate income through homesteading, then great. But don’t let the breadwinner of your household leave his or her job until that homesteading income becomes livable and sustainable.  If the breadwinner is unable to keep his or her job due to your family’s relocation, then make sure he or she has secured a job with comparable pay before you move.

If a traditional mortgage is not your thing, or if you’d rather skip getting a credit check, or if you’re looking to buy cheap, (most likely raw) land, then you might consider searching for owner financed land, also known as seller financed, seller will hold, or owner will carry. A property that is for sale by owner does not necessarily mean it will be owner financed. In this chapter, I will walk you through the steps of locating and investigating owner financed land.

Owner Financed Land May Not Actually Be Cheap.   

Owner financed land is not always cheaper than a traditionally financed property. The price of owner financed land depends on the contract agreement between the buyer (you) and the seller (the landowner). You will most likely have to negotiate with the seller to get the deal you want.

When an owner finances his own land, the buyer makes payments directly to him, as opposed to taking out a mortgage with a bank or lender. The buyer might work directly with the seller or use a title company or attorney to broker the deal and set up payments.

Generally, buyers can negotiate a low monthly payment when buying owner financed land, but the interest rate will probably be higher than that of a traditional mortgage. Expect to pay an average of 4-10% interest.[1] The interest is how the landowner makes money. The down payment can be as high as 20-50% of the purchase price, though you may be able to negotiate lower.[2]


[1] How Does Owner Financing Really Work? (2021, March 15). reali. https://reali.com/resources/owner-finance-homes/

[2]  Meggitt, J. (2018, November 21). What Is the Down Payment Required to buy land? SFGATE. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/down-payment-required-buy-land-82649.html.

Where to Find Owner Financed Land     

You can search for owner financed properties on almost any database that hosts real estate listings, and if you have access to an MLS, then you can also search there. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly popular places to locate owner financed properties that may not be listed elsewhere. There are also databases specifically for rural land, such as Rural Vacant Land, Compass Land USA, and Land.com.

You might also want to check local newspaper listings, which may be available online. If not, consider traveling to your counties of interest to collect as many local newspapers as you can. Then, spend some time searching through the classifieds for owner financed properties.

Investigating a Property      

Buying an owner financed property can be risky because you don’t have the protection you would otherwise have in a traditional financing situation. For example, the seller may not actually own the property, or he might be trying to unload a property with liens on it, or he might believe that he owns the property but actually doesn’t, or he might co-own the property and be trying to sell it without the permission of the other co-owner(s), or…insert your worst-case scenario here.

You do not have to be a victim when buying owner financed land. Do your research. Ruthlessly Investigate the property. Then, hire a title search company or a real estate attorney to investigate further.

Most of the information you will need to investigate a property can be accessed online or by making a few phone calls, so doing a preliminary investigation yourself is feasible, and it can save you the time and grief of further pursuing a property that is unfit for purchase. The remainder of this chapter explains how to investigate a property.

You Must Confirm the Title.     

This might sound strange, but before you buy owner financed land, you must confirm that the person selling the land is, in fact, the owner. Even if you inquire about a property, and the seller shows you the title with his name on it, you must must must must must confirm that the seller is the legitimate titleholder.

There are several services you can use to confirm the title. The best—and free—thing you can do is investigate the county tax records through the county assessor’s office. You will need the name of the county in which the property is located and the lot number. The seller of the property should be able to provide you with the lot number.

Many counties keep up-to-date tax records online, but if the county does not have online records, or if you want to verify that the records are current, then simply call the assessor’s office during operating hours.

Once you locate the tax records for the property, check that the name on file matches the name of the person selling the land. If there is more than one owner on record, make sure everyone listed has consented to the sale of the property.

You will also want to make note of the property’s parcel number, officially known as the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN). You will need the parcel number to investigate the land further.

There are services that collect county record data for you, such as AgentPro247, LandGlide, or the HUNT app from onXmaps. These apps are available for purchase, or perhaps can be accessed through a free trial period.

Know Your Landowner

Now is the time to play sleuth. If the landowner has a Facebook page, spend some time getting a feel for who (s)he is. Search for any criminal records that may be available through the police department or state records. Does the landowner have a history of lawsuits? Ask around town. Does the person have a good reputation? You basically want to protect yourself from a scam, especially if incriminating evidence about the landowner has already been documented.

Check for Back Taxes and Debt.   

When financing land through the owner, you don’t want to get duped into paying back taxes or debts that you did not incur. You can check online with the county’s treasurer department, using the parcel number, that the seller owns the land outright, and that there aren’t any back taxes, mortgage payments, liens, or debts owed on the property. If you can’t locate the information online through the treasurer’s office, then you will have to make a phone call.

Determine the Zoning.        

To verify that you will be able to use the land as you wish, you will want to investigate the zoning or land use code (LUC). You can find the LUC for a plot through the county assessor’s office or the planning and zoning department. You should be able to locate the information online or by calling around.

Basically, you need to determine whether or not you will be able to use the land as you’d like. You want to know which uses for the property are allowed and if any uses are conditional or denied.

Investigate the Road Access.           

Before buying any land, you need to figure out how easily you will be able to get to it. You should be able to see if the property has road access through the county GIS maps (Geographic Information System), or you can call the county assessor or clerk with your inquiry. You can also use the property’s coordinates to view it on Google Earth. You will want to see if the roads are paved or dirt, and you will want to confirm that they are wide and long enough for first responders to fit through and for meeting your homesteading goals.

You could also try hiring a real estate photographer to visit the property for you. Not only will you get photographs out of the deal, but you will have the chance to ask the photographer about the road access.

Research Utilities.   

If you plan to be on-grid at all, then you will need to see if the land comes with utility hookups and, if not, how difficult it will be to get utilities. The closer your land is to civilization, the easier it should be to get utilities. You can see if there are houses or buildings near to your desired plot by using the world images layer of the county GIS map or by using the property coordinates to search Google Earth.

For more information about your utility options, you will need to contact the county planning and development office or the utility providers directly. The county should be able to tell you the requirements and permits needed for a well, septic system, or sewer, and they should be able to give you the name of the power company that will service your property.

It’s also not a bad idea to inquire about internet service, especially if your livelihood depends on the internet. When inquiring about utilities, you will need to provide the county and your service providers with the property’s address, or you will have to give them a way to zero in on your lot, such as the nearest main intersections or proximity to a landmark.

Calculate the Slope. 

If you plan to build a house or other structures on your land, you will want to buy a plot with a gentle slope of 10% or less. If you want to calculate the slope of a property, please see the link in the footnote for an in-depth article and a video tutorial on how to find the elevation and calculate the slope of a property.[1]  


[1] Cristofaro, F. How to Check Property Slope and Elevation for FREE in 2021. Compass Land USA. https://www.compasslandusa.com/check-property-slope-elevation/

Hire an Attorney or a Title Company.    

Once you’ve done your homework, and your property checks out, it’s time to hire a real estate attorney or a title company to broker the deal. You might also decide to handle the deal on your own. If you can afford it, however, I highly recommend hiring a trustworthy professional to help.

Within a few weeks and for a few hundred dollars (or upwards of 1000 dollars for complicated properties), a title company should be able to turn up all the information you need on your desired property.[1] A real estate attorney should be able to do the same for a flat fee of 750-1250 dollars.[2]

If you go with a title company, check with your state licensing website to make sure the company is licensed. Also, if you plan to buy title insurance, check that the title company has a legitimate underwriter, such as Fidelity National, First American, Old Republic, or Stewart, who will be able to play a claim should you ever have one.

Before settling on a title company, ask for an estimate of the title search cost, which they should be able to obtain with the address of the property, and inquire about any and all fees they charge.

Once you’ve hired your company or attorney, they will investigate the property as you did, hopefully even more thoroughly, which is why you’re paying them. Then, they will help you to negotiate your contract with the seller and close the deal.


[1] Perry, N. (2021, 14 December). How Much Does a Title Search Cost? Orchard. https://orchard.com/blog/posts/how-much-does-a-title-search-cost

[2] Friedlander, J. (2020, 7 August). How Much Does a Real Estate Attorney Cost? Ownerly. https://www.ownerly.com/real-estate/real-estate-attorney-cost/

Further Considerations for Owner Financed Land     

If you buy owner financed land, find out if the seller will be reporting your payments to any or all of the top three credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. If not, your payments will not count toward improving your credit score.

You can report your own payment history if you are a data furnisher. No worries if you have no idea what that means. Or you can simply report your payment history through a third-party service, such as RentTrack, PayYourRent, or Experian Rent Boost. You might also want to look into UltraFICO and Payment Reporting Builds Credit (PRBC).

In addition to inquiring about credit reporting, you will want to make sure your contract spells out when you will be able to move onto land and start building. Some sellers will not let you build until they receive most, if not all, of the payment for the land. There may also be constraints about when you can move onto the land or start doing certain activities on it.

Also, before signing a contract, ask about balloon payments and early penalty fees. Balloon payments might require you to make a large lump sum payment at some point, and an early penalty is a fee you could be charged for paying off the property earlier than expected. Finally, have a plan in place in the event that the landowner fails to uphold his end of the deal. A good contract can safeguard you from many hardships, but you also need to prepare yourself for any worst-case scenarios. To whom can you appeal if things go south? Is the title company or attorney required to help you, and if so, what kinds of issues will their help cover? Will your title insurance compensate you for any losses? Does your state have certain requirements for your contract that will serve to protect you in the event of a breach? Plan for the worst, and pray for the best.


[1] How Does Owner Financing Really Work? (2021, March 15). reali. https://reali.com/resources/owner-finance-homes/

[2] Brumer, L. (2021, June 9). A Guide to Owner Financing Land. Millionacres. https://bit.ly/3NNfIM7. Shortened URL from bitly.

[3] Cristofaro, F. How to Check Property Slope and Elevation for FREE in 2021. Compass Land USA. https://www.compasslandusa.com/check-property-slope-elevation/

[4] Perry, N. (2021, 14 December). How Much Does a Title Search Cost? Orchard. https://orchard.com/blog/posts/how-much-does-a-title-search-cost

[5] Friedlander, J. (2020, 7 August). How Much Does a Real Estate Attorney Cost? Ownerly. https://www.ownerly.com/real-estate/real-estate-attorney-cost/

Before you get any deeper into your land search, you must ask yourself if you have enough money to buy a new property. If not, are you willing to hustle and make the necessary sacrifices? Finances will make or break your homestead. Getting your head and heart straight about money now will save you grief later.

How Much Is Homesteading Going to Cost Me? 

Some people are able to make the transition to the country cheaply, while others will pay more. A single person, a retired couple, or a young couple may be able to move more swiftly and with fewer expenses than a family with small children.

Your standard of living and homesteading goals will also impact your costs. If you are low-maintenance and your goals are to grow a garden and keep a small flock of chickens, then you will need less acreage and a smaller shelter. You will most likely be able to live off-grid or partially off-grid with little fuss. If you have high power and water demands and a growing family, then off-grid living may not be attainable in your immediate future, and you will most likely need a large shelter and several acres on which to produce enough food for everyone.

Also, the more skills and time you have to build your own shelter and develop the land, the more money you will save. The less time and skills you have, the more money you will need for purchasing premade items and hiring help. I’ve heard of people buying land and building their own cabin for under 100K, and I’ve heard of others who bought an established farm for 500K or more. The costs are as varied as you can imagine.

Expenses to Include in the Budget 

No matter how cheap or expensive your move to the country may be, there are some expenses anyone pursuing homesteading should consider. In addition to your land purchase and closing costs, you will want to set aside money for some of the following:

  • Improving and updating your current residence (if you’re planning to sell it)
  • Moving day – trucks, help, childcare, et. al.
  • Homestead renovations or house construction
  • Getting a land survey
  • Constructing outbuildings, especially a barn and a greenhouse
  • Installing fences
  • Repairing or connecting to utilities
  • Creating roads
  • Acquiring animals and all that’s needed for their care
  • A tractor and other farming equipment
  • Compost, soil, plants, seeds, garden beds, trellises, irrigation equipment
  • Hired help
  • Land clearing, tree removal, pond excavation
  • Equipment for going off-grid, such as solar panels, a wood-burning stove, et. al.
  • Equipment for processing and preserving food
  • Homesteading books and courses

Paying for Your Homestead With a Mortgage     

Some homesteaders will go the traditional route of buying a house with land on it and financing their purchase with a mortgage. Before you apply for a loan from a large bank or institution, consider speaking with banks that are local to your property of interest. A local bank may (or may not) be able to give you a better deal.

If you plan to buy a small plot of raw land, a transaction that many larger institutions won’t finance, then you will also want to speak to the local banks about financing. Generally, you will need to have more cash available when buying a small, raw plot.

Financing your purchase with a traditional mortgage or through a local bank may be the best way to save on interest rates, but there are many other options to consider when paying for your property.

Debt Free Really Is the Way to Be.

Yes, I’ve heard of Dave Ramsey, but I haven’t researched him enough to say more than that. I encourage you to pursue a debt-free lifestyle, with or without the advice of a financial expert because it’s God’s desire for humans to be indebted to no one. See Romans 13:8 in the Bible.

Being debt-free sounds like an impossibility to most of us living in the United States. It certainly sounded impossible to our family before we embarked upon our homesteading journey.

Once upon a time, we bought most of our groceries from a certain, high-end food store. Fancy pastries and artisan confections always seemed to make their way into our cart. We couldn’t imagine our lives without a gym membership. Certain entertainment events were as mandatory as Sunday church service, and Netflix seemed as essential as water. Shopping was our therapy, and weekend getaways were our medicine.

Oh, and we were in debt. That is to say, we had a mortgage, like most people. And, yes, a mortgage is debt. If you owe it, it’s debt. In the years leading up to our move to the country, it was hard for us to even think about paying off our mortgage. The interest rate was good and having a mortgage freed up our cash for investments and entertainment.

But when we got serious about this whole homesteading thing, we set our minds to clearing all debt. And God provided. He opened up opportunities for us to save and generate income. He made us feel rich despite having sacrificed any and all luxuries we could. We learned to trust Him for everything, to work more diligently with our time and talents, and to have our eyes and ears open to opportunities we would have otherwise missed.

In the end, we were able to afford the down payment on our homestead, and the sale of our city home covered our remaining mortgage, allowing us to pay for the homestead in full. All the praise to God!

My Challenge to You

If you are currently in any kind of debt right now, I challenge you to examine where your money is going. Do you know the difference between a need and a want? Do vacations, exotic foods, name-brand products, frivolous memberships and subscriptions, techie toys, expensive clothes, fancy hotels, accessories, decorations, and entertainment feel as necessary to you as do plain old clothes, food, and shelter? Do you indulge in luxuries, great or small?

Even small indulgences add up over time, and they establish the habit of giving into unnecessary purchases. This habit can make us feel like we need little luxuries on a regular basis, as opposed to reserving such items for special occasions.

Drop the luxuries—all of them. Spend on your needs only. Then, use whatever extra money you save to pay down your debts. Owe nothing, barring, of course, any debts incurred due to unforeseen emergencies, which hopefully do not come your way.

And, no, I won’t judge you if you take out a mortgage for your homestead. Just pay it down quickly if you can.

You’re Going to Need Extra Cash.

Whether you buy your land outright, take out a mortgage, or broker a deal with the seller directly, you will need a lump sum of cash for the initial payment. You will also want to have funds saved for your first few home and land projects.

As you search for land, try to make extra money. If you own a home, now is the time to make it sparkle. This way, when you’re ready to sell, you have the best chance of getting a good price. Or perhaps you can sell some of your possessions, or sell produce from your yard, or start an online business to make extra income. The possibilities are endless.

Also, try to save as much money as you can. Look at your spending habits and cut corners wherever possible. Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches instead of going out for dinner. Get a cheaper cellphone plan. Drive a reliable used car instead of buying a new one. Cancel your cable. You don’t need to be watching TV anyway. You’ve got a homestead to plan. Cancel your gym membership and workout at home. Stop paying private school tuition and homeschool for a bit. Homesteading is one big sacrifice. Start making some small ones now.

Buy a (Possibly) Cheap Property.        

Another way to possibly save money is to buy cheap land. I say possibly because cheap properties usually require a large investment of time and money to become useful to the buyer. Truth be told, there is no such thing as cheap land. You might get a great deal on a raw plot, but your upfront savings will most likely be canceled out by the money you spend on fixing it up.

There are many ways to find cheap properties, some of which may not be listed on your typical databases for finding properties. You can try to find such properties at state auctions, land banks, and on foreclosure websites, to name a few.

In homesteading circles, buying owner financed land is a popular method for acquiring cheap land or land that a traditional lender is not willing to finance. In fact, the topic of owner financed land is so popular that I will dedicate the next chapter to it.  

Buy an Asset, Not a Liability.       

When buying land, keep in mind that it should be a valuable asset to you and your family. A way to test if a property is an asset is to ask yourself whether or not you would be able to resell it quickly and for a good price. It’s hard to think about needing to sell a property you haven’t even purchased, but I’m asking you to do so for test purposes.

If the property would indeed be easy to sell, then it is most likely an asset. If it would be hard, or impossible, to sell the property, then it’s most likely a liability. Aim to buy land that is an asset, not a liability.

Don’t Quit Your Job…Yet.

I know, you want to quit your job and homestead full time, but the truth is, you still need an income, and you will continue to need that income as you establish your homestead. Once your homestead is up and running, you’ve paid your debts,  and you’re able to produce most, if not all, of your own goods and services, then, you might be able to cut back on your hours or transition to a lower-paying, but more rewarding, job. In the meantime—so long as it’s possible—please keep your job. Please.

If you’re able to generate income through homesteading, then great. But don’t let the breadwinner of your household leave his or her job until that homesteading income becomes livable and sustainable.  If the breadwinner is unable to keep his or her job due to your family’s relocation, then make sure he or she has secured a job with comparable pay before you move.

Making Money from Your Homestead    

Many homesteaders wish to eventually make money from their efforts. This is a great goal, and the more money you make from homesteading, the more easily you will be able to transition out of your current job.

There are countless ways to make a full or supplemental income through homesteading. You could sell homegrown produce and animal products, handmade goods, courses and books, consultation sessions, and any number of services. You might also have success with hosting a podcast or posting homesteading videos online. The options are limitless.

Test the waters now. Start small. Create a blog or publish some articles in a magazine. Post a few homesteading videos online. Sell a batch of handmade items at a local market. If you can make a decent supplemental income from your side gigs, then you can start thinking bigger and planning for a job transition.

It’s been a full year since our family moved to the country, and my husband still works his job. By the grace of God and the kindness of his employer, my husband was able to keep his job and work remotely from home. He will probably be working remotely from home for the next three years, or more, depending on whether or not our homesteading endeavors prove to be lucrative.

#TheSuddenHomesteader

#FindLand

#FindLandNow

#FIndLandNowAQuickGuideForHomesteaders

#Homesteading

#GrowYourOwnFood

When you first entertain the idea of finding land, the thought can be daunting. Where do you begin to look? How do you search? How long will it take to find something? Should you start looking now or should you wait until you have a clearer idea of what you want? I will cover these questions in this chapter.

Start Looking Now.

If you have even the slightest desire to possess some land for your homesteading endeavors, then now is the time to start looking. Getting land, moving onto the land, building or renovating a house, and preparing your land for cultivation takes time—more time than you think.   

In fact, if you start looking for land right now, while your desire is fledgling, while homesteading seems more like a dream than a clear and present reality, then you’ll have a better chance of locating your land by the time your desire is full-blown and you’ve worn out the graces of your neighbors with your reprobate chicken flock and busting-at-the-seams food forest.    

If you don’t start looking for land until your desire is full-blown, that’s fine too. Just know that the search will take time, and your neighbors will have to endure your renegade squash vines for that much longer.

How Long It Takes to Find Land – A Sample Timeline From Our Search

Our family began to look for land at the start of 2019, but we didn’t get serious about our search until January 2020. From that point, it took us until October, about ten months, to make an offer on a property we liked. We finalized our purchase in December 2020 and moved in July 2021, so that’s about a year total for the land search and another seven months for the move. A year is not a terribly long time to be searching for land, but we also chose a property relatively close to our suburban home, less than two hours away, a factor that we think shortened our timeline.

The timeline for your land search will be unique to your circumstances. If you are looking to move out of state, for example, or if the properties you’re viewing are more than a two-hour drive from your current residence, then your search may take longer. It could very well take less time, Lord willing. Whatever the case may be, plan for the land search to take 6-24 months.

The Total Timeline for Your Move

The amount of time between the day you begin your search and the day you move onto your homestead will also vary based on factors like the size of your family, your health, finances, work schedule, level of motivation, and available help. But one thing is certain. The sooner you find and buy land, the sooner you can settle your homestead. So giddy-up.

The Longer It Takes, the More Shifts You’ll See in the Housing Market.        

Another reason why you’ll want to start your land search ASAP is that the housing market can do all kinds of things between now and the day you list your current home for sale, assuming you’re a homeowner. The sooner you find land, the sooner you can step off the emotional roller coaster of watching the value of your home fluctuate with the whims of the market.  

To give you an example, in December 2020, at that time we bought our land, we didn’t think our suburban house would sell for much of a profit. The housing market wasn’t doing anything extraordinary. A few months later, however, the demand for houses in our area had shot up to an all-time high. We weren’t ready to sell, as we were still renovating the country house and needed to live in suburbia for a little while longer.    

When we finally put our suburban house on the market, in Fall 2021, the demand for houses had peaked. We were still able to sell for much higher than we’d anticipated. If we’d put our house on the market any later, however, we might have missed the market boom.

Please note that we did not attempt to time the market, and I suggest you don’t either. The market will do what it’s going to do, and trying to time your move based on the market could cause more frustration and delays than it’s worth.   

An Early Start Means More Time for Research and Prayer.

Even if the housing market had not shifted in our favor, I’m grateful our family began our search for land sooner rather than later. An early start gave us more time to watch YouTube videos and think through our decisions. The more time, prayer, and research you can give to the land search, the more familiar you’ll become with the land and housing market, and the more clarity you’ll gain about your homesteading goals.    

Also, my inner prepper wants me to tell you that the sooner you find land, the sooner you can start growing your own food. Should a food crisis strike your area, or the United States as a whole, it’s better to have acreage than to be scrambling for land along with everyone else.    

Don’t Get Desperate.           

At the same time, please don’t feel pressured to buy the first 5-acre lot that comes your way. Desperation almost always makes for poor decisions. The only thing worse than not having land is having spent all your money on the wrong plot of land. Slow down. Read this book. Read as many books as you can. Do your research, and make a calm and calculated decision.

#TheSuddenHomesteader
#FindLand
#FindLandNow
#FIndLandNowAQuickGuideForHomesteaders
#Homesteading
#GrowYourOwnFood