Dreams of Country Living
A Guide to Locating the Perfect Home
Everyday living in the urban jungle can take its toll on one who longs for a simple,
smog-free, and stress-less life. Granted, everyone experiences stress, even in the country. But there’s
something about the wide open country and the crisp fresh air that has your soul restless for country living.
You’ve made up your mind. You’re going to pack your bags and move to the country. Now that you’ve decided what to
do, let’s see how to do it.
Maybe you’re the type of person who is spontaneous. Maybe you’re
the type that is methodical and plans everything out. Regardless of what type you are, before you do anything you
MUST first know what you want and where you want to go. Knowing what you want including everything from how much
acreage to the type of watering system you need and more! Moving to the country takes advanced planning and
strategy. Be kind to yourself and protect your investment – Plan ahead.
Start Planning Now
As mentioned earlier, as with any investment, smart planning and strategy is important
if you will make the best of your investment. You must know what you want in order to find what you want. If you
know that you want a home with a wrap around porch and a view of a rolling meadow; then write it down! When it
comes to finding your perfect country dream home, do not be slim on the details. The more details you have, the
better chances you have of finding the piece of land that your heart desires.
You have an investment to make and you want to make the most of that investment. Moving
to the country from the crowded city is a big step to make for most people. It can be a culture shock for both
children and adults. It’s a good idea to plan ahead now for those emotional and social adjustments that you must
make.
Know What You Want To Do With Your Land
Now comes deciding what you are going to do with this country land that you purchase.
Ask yourself this question: “What do I want my land to do for me?” If you answered:
“I want it to produce profit for me”: You are among the thousands of other prospective
farmers and ranchers who wish to buy land and have it produce profit. If you wish for your land to yield more than
just its beauty, then you must decide what types of livestock and/or crops you will raise on it. Determining which
kinds of animals you want is crucial for determining how much land acreage you will need.
“I want to relax and enjoy the scenery”: You too are among the thousands whose dreams
of living in the country can be realized with careful planning. Knowing what you want is also imperative to
locating the perfect lot of land for your dream home.
Once you have decided what you want to do with your land, figure out how much acreage
you need. Having this in mind before you start your search will cut down on the stress tremendously and allow you
better focus on your goals. Now that you have an acreage estimate written down, what’s next?
Seek and You Shall Find – Where to Find Your Land
Whether you are searching for a piece of land with a house or just the land itself, you
will need to know where to look. Searching for land can be overwhelming at times. It is wise to enlist the help of
a trained professional. Contacting a local real estate company can prove to be a wise move when you begin your
search. Realtors are there to help you, the buyer, find your dream home. They will happily help you in your search.
Check out a local real estate company and see how many agricultural listing they have. Some may be their listings
and others may be listings for other companies. Regardless of whom the listing belongs to, you will get the
professional help that you deserve.
One important thing to remember is that realtors love to show you around. They will
take you all over town showing you houses and lands that sometimes you really don’t like. How to stop this? Make a
detailed list of the things that you like: acreage, utilities, amenities, other buildings on land, distance to the
closes town, etc., and tell your realtor to find a place that has all of those requirements. And tell them not to
call you for a “show” unless the place has all or most of your requirements. This will prevent you from being
dragged all over town for hours on hours exhausting your enthusiasm.
Other avenues of search are doing it yourself. Methods for this are via the local
newspaper real estate ads, internet, and by an old fashioned neighborhood search. If you choose to search on your
own, unless you’re familiar with land sales and procedure, it is wise to enlist the help of a third party to help.
Third parties consist of, but are not limited to lawyers, legal advisors, officials, etc.
If your goal is to farm and herd livestock on your land, some important factors to
consider are:
Soil Production reports
Crop and Animal Disease reports
Available utilities and watering systems
Zoning is also an issue to be considered when choosing an area to live. When all of the
preliminary plans have been made, you will be ready for your next step— making the move.
Build Your Dreams
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