3 Keys to Finding your Rural Homestead

Define your Goals

First, take the time to define your goals and needs for your homestead. Relocation can be a daunting process, as the possibilities and choices may seem limitless. Searching for, evaluating, and purchasing a property becomes vastly simpler once you have a clearly defined vision. This will allow you to more easily filter out the properties that are not a good fit for you, and identify the best candidates for in-depth investigation.

Get a clear picture of the desired environment for you and your family. Are you looking for a semi-rural neighborhood where you can grow a garden, or a rural agricultural area more suited to raising livestock? Or are you looking for a piece of wilderness to make your own? The range of properties available is vast–from tidy rural homes with well-kept gardens, to mountain parcels with no roads, utilities, or any other comforts.

Also important, what are your goals for the property? For some, it’s just a matter of “elbow room,” and a quiet environment away from city noises. Others have a deep desire for cultivating the maximum production from the land. Which are you? If you hope to invest in small or large-scale agricultural pursuits, include them in your property search as well. Look for a property suitable for cattle or small livestock grazing, hay production, gardening, or field crops, as suits your needs.

Your lifestyle goals will also inform your search. If you are content to only visit civilization when absolutely necessary, you might appreciate a very remote homestead location. In contrast, if you want to remain closely connected to work or social opportunities in town, you’ll likely be looking for a rural area with a fairly short drive into town.

Know Where to Search

Secondly, realize that your property search may have two main phases. First you will be seeking to gain a strong understanding of your chosen area. Browse widely, looking at the types of property on the market, not to purchase yet, but to inform and educate yourself. Once you feel comfortable in your knowledge of that’s on the market, and you’ve prepared your finances, you’ll be ready to make a focused and purposeful search for the right home for you.

There are many resources available to help you find a home. Starting here, SurvivalRealty.com features a wide variety of homes for sale from owners and agents across the country. Searching our listing database is a great place to start. Aggregators sites like Realtor.com and Zillow are helpful in viewing a wide range of properties, but should be used with care as their data is not always up to date, especially in rural areas.

For a serious search, you’ll want to get access to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), through a local real estate agent or broker. They can help you set up a search for property matching your exact criteria. Make sure to ask for daily emails, so you don’t miss out on new listings. Survival Realty Brokerage Services’ Agent Finder can help you find an agent anywhere in the US.

Find Resources for your Search

Finally, make use of connections through friends, family, church, or social organizations, to gain insight on local climate, neighborhoods, career opportunities, and more. You will find additional help from a skilled home inspector, who can help you evaluate a home and identify any concerns before purchase. Also consider reaching out to your local university Ag extension program to get more insight on farming, ranching, and gardening topics.

Talk with a local real estate agent or broker, and choose to work with someone that knows both the area and the type of property you’re looking for. If you’re planning to finance your purchase, start talking with your lender as soon as possible, to navigate the steps of pre-qualification, pre-approval, property selection, appraisal, and underwriting.

Don’t underestimate the value of using your own eyes, and get out to see the property and surrounding area yourself. Expert opinion is invaluable, but take the time to use your senses–look at the details of the home and land, feel the dirt, smell the air, and walk the property. Ultimately, you are the one that will live, work, and play there!

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