Buying an off-the-grid property requires careful consideration of various aspects of the land and the law. The last thing you want is to buy land where you have no right to develop. As such, conducting due diligence is necessary to ensure you do not get evicted in the future or prohibited from building a certain type of structure.
Are you considering purchasing land to live off the grid and have no clue where to start? This article examines how to purchase land for off-grid living, factors to consider, and how to set up that land.
5 Steps of Purchasing Land for Offgrid Living
City council zoning and planning ordinances
After identifying a great area suitable for your off-grid living, the first thing you should do is visit the city council and check the rules governing owning a property and building codes in that area.
In this case, you want to know things like the size of buildings around the land, camping periods, electricity, and septic systems. Some counties have restrictive zoning ordinances that might not be suitable for you.
Get the land surveyed
Now that you are pleased with the property area and building codes, the next thing you need before finalizing your payment is to have the property surveyed. The last thing you want is to build a structure extending to an area that is not legally yours and causes disputes with your neighbors.
Never trust word of mouth regarding your land’s parameters. Call the land company so that they can place clear beacons to mark your property.
Mineral rights
Mineral rights are something that most land buyers tend to overlook. Some properties have mineral rights while others do not. When buying land for offgrid living, you want to ensure that you have the right to possible minerals that sit on the land. You might have heard of cases where someone owns a piece of land but has no right to minerals in that land.
To avoid such an unfortunate situation, ensure that the mineral rights are passed to you when purchasing the land, even if there is no proof of existing minerals at the time of purchase. The last thing you want is to realize later that you are sitting on gold but have no right to benefit from it.
Easement
When buying an off-grid property, you are looking for a peaceful life ahead. Nobody wants constant issues with their neighbors or land developers. Some land developers place certain land improvement restrictions that might not sit well with you.
Some of these covenants might prevent you from rearing livestock, gardening, or even building small cabins. Thus, before buying, ensure that you have the right to conduct all activities you want on the land.
Water
Water is an essential asset for survival. If your property is in a dry location, you want to ensure you have easy access to clean water. Is there a stream of clean water near or a borehole? If not, are you around to drill your borehole on the land?
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All these must be put into consideration before making the final decision to buy the land.
5 Factors To Consider When Buying Land to Live Off the Grid
Accessibility
You will be alienated from civilization. How easy would it be to access your land? A great piece of property should be easily accessible by car, cycling, or by walking. Besides, why should you have an inaccessible property?
Accessibility is one of the essential factors to consider when buying land for offgrid living.
Land title
The title deed is a significant asset when it comes to land ownership. You want to ensure that the seller legally owns the land you are about to purchase.
To save time and money, conduct a title search to ascertain that the seller legally owns the land.
Privacy
There are numerous benefits of buying remote land for offgrid living. Some of these benefits include privacy, availability of unlimited natural resources, no zoning or building restrictions, among others.
When it comes to privacy where you want to enjoy your time alone or with your family, a remote location can guarantee you that. In fact, some people choose to live offgrid to ensure that they lead private lives.
Soil condition
Your off-grid land must have excellent soil for crop growing and overall living. Some soils are too rocky, and poor pH levels make it challenging to grow any groups.
Thus, make sure you examine the physical and chemical properties of the soil before purchasing the land.
Safety
Safety is paramount when considering a place to live. This is even more so when it comes to off-grid living due to natural causes like earthquakes. Do the necessary research to ensure that you will not be prone to exposure to extreme earthquakes, mudslides, bushfires, and even wild animals.
Double-checking the safety situation at the potential off-grid land can end up saving you a lot of money, time, and in some cases turmoil.
How To Set That Piece Of Land Up For Off-Grid Living
Land clearing
The first thing you need to set up is to clear a substantial amount of land for building a shelter.
The chosen location should be free of potential flooding, among other natural dangers.
House building
The next thing you need is to set up a shelter. The type of shelter, either permanent or seasonal, will depend on personal preference and goal. If you want to live there throughout, then a more permanent structure is preferable. However, for camping purposes, a less complex house will serve the purpose.
While you will get most of the building materials from the environment, some parts and fixtures have to be store-bought such as iron sheets, nails, hedges, and gutters.
Water
You cannot live without water. As such, if you are in a rainforest, consider improvising measures for harvesting rainwater. Also, consider having enough water storage for days without rain.
If you have a near water stream, is it safe for drinking? If not, do you have the necessary water cleaning equipment? You can buy a water filtration machine.
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Fencing
Fencing is another land improvement strategy meant to increase safety. You want to prevent unauthorized trespassing and also keep animals away. Based on how secure the location is, you can either use wood, wire mesh, barbed wire, or build a stone fence.
Barbed Wire is an excellent example of fencing wire available on Amazon at an affordable price.
Barbed Wire – Available on Amazon
Lighting
You definitely cannot live in the darkness if you are in a location capable of tapping electricity, lucky you.
However, if your off-grid location is extremely remote, you need to improvise power sources.
Click to Purchase a Solar Panel for Off-Grid Living
Identifying and buying land that has the potential to allow you to comfortably live off the grid is not easy, but these tips will make it easier for you.
