So you want to know how to buy property for homesteading? Looking for land and farm for sale? This is a great place to get started.
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Ms. Light…I know you were looking for a nice sized farm. I’m in my mid-50’s and am looking for an acre or so to place a pre-fab barn from a lot to eventually retire/keep from moving/renting. Because of zoning issues with a “tiny house” like what I’m wanting…am looking at some of communities like Spur, TX and Walsenberg, CO who have changed their zoning to welcome tiny houses. Are there any other issues those like myself need to be on the outlook for? I’ve never owned land or a home and have always rented. Thank you!
CO is a good prep/homestead state. I lived close to Walsenburg! (now north/front range) Lots of acreage that can be a mix of trees, pasture, flat or hilly/mountains. Also a mix of temps, lots of wildlife, water. I did not know Walsenburg had the new tiny home zoning! Nice to know. I would recommend CO! In that area, there are 35 to 40 acre properties for under $20,000! Check Landwatch or realtor.com. More freedom, less restrictions, wildlife in that area! Really picky up here, and too many POA/HOA rules.
I have a friend in that vicinity, that moved from Florida, to 40 acres, to be off grid, and have a homestead! CO areas toward the Springs/Denver, expensive. May as well get large acreage depending on the budget. I read about Spur, TX. I do like TX, and lived there, but you will have more options and some larger towns IF you want supplies in CO, and less rules. CO is gorgeous, and the views are good there! Winters are not so bad, here. Always ask lots of questions, check zoning, water, and do not depend just on the realtor. I would get one specializing on land. Take a mini trip and look at the area. Good luck, and welcome to CO if you choose here!! 🙂 There are also several tiny home co’s in CO, or do the pre fab, and do some work yourself.
Thank you so much for replying.
Forgot to mention that I live in Colorado Springs and have driven through Walsenburg on I-25…but never stopped. Actually…if I could figure out a way to make it happen without jumping through more hoops than I care to mess with…used to work in Wichita Falls about 25 years ago and San Marcos 30 years ago. If I could get some cheap land (an acre or two cheap enough-less than $5000) and be able to put my home where I desired…that would be my wish and hope.
Was reading an article yesterday about teardrop campers you can build yourself. Believe I can solve the issue of where I can live while getting the cabin ready to live in and finished off after moving in there. With the size of these campers…I should be able to build this for about $1000…including $300 for a trailer from Harbor Freight to pull it behind my car. At least it’s an incentive to get the cabin habitable and I would own it. After that…can take it camping.
We basically are in the Springs area!! lol So you are somewhat CO savvy! Walsenburg is in Huerfano co, and Las Animas co below that! (La Veta and Cuchura/expensive) East of I 25 tends to be FLAT and tornado prone, as you probably hear on the news. Flat down there too. Trinidad has acres. Apparently, some large ranches are opening for sale in that area, from small to large tracts. West of I 25 has the varied NICE landscape. Trees, cactus, ponds, wildlife……You just need to look up the areas on land watch or realtor.com and sit back and view the photos and info on what is for sale!!!
There are cheap acres toward Blanca on I 60 too, but flat or south around FT. Garland. Just SHOP online, and decide where to go look! Prices vary. You can plug in the stuff you want on land watch, to be specific. I still look at land there, and dream! The restrictions are less in some places. In a community type neighborhood of a few acres, be sure to ask about the RV’s and such. Most do NOT allow. IF Walsenburg has changed some zoning to encourage tiny homes, that is great! They have several groceries, lumber yard, restaurants etc. A tear drop is SMALL! I might be afraid of that for longer term, and winter cold/snow is an issue. Perhaps get a shed and redo it? Or do off grid, with the special toilet, and water tank for water? Or I misread, and the teardrop is part time while you build? Find a used one. I am happy to discuss this with you, IF you want to continue the conversation!?? 🙂 Also, check into the Tiny Home sites, or Tiny Home Nation. I get that site and you may get ideas! LOTS of options!
Don, forgive me not answering sooner. CO is one of the places we looked at when we decided to move out of state, and it’s a truly amazing place for a homestead. Tiny houses are something I adore but could never manage, being in possession of a small family and a large wool and fiber and dog habit. I guess the primary things I would be looking for when purchasing raw land are accessibility to water, the location being optimally suited for solar (as perhaps a long-term goal) and also the chances of being affected by re-zoning against ownership of agricultural animals (goats / chickens etc) as residences pop up all over. Even if you only plan to keep a very small homestead with a handful of animals, going against the city and zoning ordinances to either fight to change them or for the right to keep your grandfathered rights can be messy, tiring and expensive. Also keep an eye on your potential property taxes as popularity of the area increases.
Aside from all this, congratulations to you for moving away from renting. It’s a huge step, but it’s so worth to be able to look around and say, “Yes, this is MINE.”. Please feel free to email me with any other questions you may have, katy@poppycreekfarm.com
No need to apologize at all. Between finding out that my new job as a teacher’s aide means working twice as much with no pay if the superintendent calls for cancellation of a show day or other event outside of our control…been burning the midnight oil (literally) doing my best to figure out a way to find some land and move out of this slice of fundamentalist hell called Colorado Springs as soon as I can.
As near as I can figure out…am considering building a teardrop camper within the next year and to see if I can sleep in it in the short-term while doing as much as I can pay for finishing off my home with out-of pocket money. Between a generator and a 100W solar cell…should do okay. In terms of the land…a friend of mine out in NW Arizona is going to check on some rural land between Bullhead City/Kingman. Being rural/unincorporated…maybe able to build my home with a 12×24 cabin…run more solar cells and possibly haul water in in the short-term long enough to get the land/cabin paid off. After that…do a septic system and a grid tie-in with a well. Having lived in that area for years before this…I know the area…even though I do enjoy having four seasons every year.
Here’s what I been designing. In the cabin…I would sleep in a Murphy Bed that I would put up in the mornings. With the teardrop…should be able to pull it behind the car. Since I don’t have too much stuff…will sleep on an air mattress and can also haul everything I own whenever I decide to move.