How to Find Undeveloped Land, Build a Tiny Home, and Start Homesteading for Under $100,000
Have you grown tired of the buzz of city life? Does the idea of sitting in traffic daily drain your energy? Then it’s time for a change of scenery.
Buying undeveloped property is easy on the pocket and good for the soul. Just picture it: you are sitting on the porch of your tiny home, sipping on a cup of coffee while you take in the views.
Read on to find out more about buying undeveloped land and building your tiny home.
What Is Undeveloped Land?
Undeveloped land is raw land that has not been developed or built up to the level of a city. There are many reasons to buy undeveloped land, including:
- Flexibility and creative freedom when building your home
- Cost-effectiveness
- Investment opportunities
- The chance to enjoy a quiet and relaxed lifestyle away from the city.
Why Investing in Undeveloped Land Is Smart
If the idea of building the perfect tiny home in the countryside isn’t enough to convince you, here is a list of the benefits of purchasing undeveloped property.
Cost
Vacant land is usually cheaper than developed land. That’s half the magic but it also has the added benefit of giving you a blank canvas to do pretty much anything you want with it.
Creativity
With undeveloped land, a developer or private buyer has the freedom to be as outrageous or minimal as they like, provided all relevant codes and regulations are met.
The opportunities to create something unique and true to your goals are endless.
The Cost of Undeveloped Land
The value of raw land is determined by many factors, including:
- Location
- Size
- Accessibility
- Value of adjacent properties
- Current market conditions
- Future development plans
- Property taxes.
There are some good value-for-money properties for sale in areas such as Luna County in New Mexico, San Bernardino and Kern County in California, and Costilla in Colorado.
For smaller properties under 1 acre, you’re looking at spending under $10,000. At the same time, larger 5-acre properties are priced above $20,000.
It’s important to check that the properties you are viewing allow you to build tiny or modular homes and that your dream home meets the zoning requirements.
Factors to Consider When Looking for Land
Finding the ideal piece of property and setting up a homestead can be a lot of work at the offset. So here are some points to add to your planning.
Utility access
Depending on the land you choose, you may have to install water utilities. Similarly, if there is no municipal sewer connection, you need to put a septic tank on the property for waste disposal.
The issue of electricity supply can be solved by installing solar panels. They may be costly to set up, but solar panels can save you a lot of trouble and money in the long run.
Road access
You need to get in and out of your property, ideally without too much hassle. Living on undeveloped land does not necessarily mean you should be uncomfortable.
Additionally, if your tiny home is pre-assembled, the delivery truck would need access to the property.
Building a road leading to your property can easily solve this problem.
Building Your Tiny Home
Now that you have your undeveloped land ready to be somewhat developed for comfortable living, you are ready to start setting up your tiny home.
Tiny houses are great options for undeveloped land that is often inaccessible to building crews and heavy machinery required for building a larger brick-and-mortar house.
With a tiny home, all you need to do is meet the zoning requirements, design your home, and then wait for it to be delivered and assembled on your property.
It all sounds lovely, but how much does it cost to have your own tiny home?
The average price of a tiny home
It is estimated that a tiny house can cost about $45,000 for the basic layout. This price goes up the more amenities you add.
Another factor determining the price tag is whether you opt for a prefabricated model or not. Prefabricated versions are usually more expensive.
Tiny Homes Equal Big Savings
Still, in comparison to the price of an average home in the suburbs, tiny homes are significantly cheaper. This counts in your favor when buying undeveloped land. The less money you spend on your house, the more you will have to make your land hospitable and livable.
All those extra savings can be further channeled into setting up your homestead. Need some honey for your tea? Build some hives. Want to grow your own vegetables? Well, you’d have saved some cash to set up an irrigation system.
Conclusion
Your dream of owning your own home on a raw piece of land is within your reach. All it takes is careful planning and some elbow grease, and pretty soon, you’ll be enjoying the homestead life.
To find gorgeous parcels of American land properties, visit Land Elevated to view hundreds of properties around the country. What’s more, you can complete the entire process, from viewing to purchasing to financing, in a few simple steps, without ever having to leave your couch.
