“Living Off Grid Cheap: How to Find Land, Beat Rising Costs & Start Fresh”

Summary

The speaker describes becoming a caretaker on friends' property in exchange for free living after selling his home nearly three years ago. He recommends two websites for purchasing remote, off-grid land with owner financing, and advises viewers to research local zoning laws regarding camper and RV living. He notes that this lifestyle requires significant adjustment in expectations about convenience and accessibility.

Topic

Off-Grid & Homesteading · also covers: RV & Van Living, Tiny Homes, Housing Crisis, Cost of Living, Personal Stories

States referenced

• New Mexico: Speaker looked at a 2.5-acre property at 7,200 ft elevation on landmoto.com for $9,000 with $200 down and $150/month.
• Arizona: Mentioned as one of the states where landmoto.com sells remote properties.
• Colorado: Mentioned as one of the states where landmoto.com sells remote properties.
• Texas: Mentioned as one of the states where landmoto.com sells remote properties.

Laws & ordinances mentioned

• local — zoning laws and regulations

  Some jurisdictions restrict or prohibit living in campers and RVs on property.

  Impact: Viewers must verify whether camper/RV living is permitted before buying land or arranging caretaker situations.

Tactics from this video

• Look for caretaker arrangements where you maintain property in exchange for free living.

  The speaker obtained free land access by cleaning up and watching over friends' unused property.

  practical

• Use landmoto.com to search for remote, owner-financed land.

  Allows small down payments and monthly payments rather than paying full cash price upfront.

  practical

• Use discountlots.com for less remote, owner-financed land options.

  Offers properties closer to urban or rural-urban areas compared to landmoto.com.

  practical

• Check local zoning laws before buying land to confirm campers, RVs, or tiny homes are allowed.

  Prevents purchasing property and later discovering the intended living arrangement is prohibited.

  legal

• Budget for well and septic installation when buying raw off-grid land.

  Remote land typically lacks utilities and these are necessary expenses to make it livable.

  practical

• Rent a porta potty initially while figuring out permanent septic.

  Provides a low-cost temporary sanitation solution while setting up the property.

  practical

• Figure out your water situation after establishing on the land.

  Remote properties lack municipal water and this must be addressed for basic living needs.

  practical

Figures cited

• $9,000 — Price of a 2.5-acre property in New Mexico on landmoto.com
• $200 down and $150 a month — Owner financing terms for the New Mexico property example
• 7,200 ft — Elevation of the New Mexico property example
• $2,000 a month — Approximate apartment rent mentioned by the speaker
• less than that — Speaker's description of the average Social Security check relative to $2,000 rent
• $10,000 — Approximate price to get 2.5 acres of remote land via landmoto.com

Pain points addressed

• I got priced out of my home and the stress almost killed me.

• Social Security doesn't cover apartment rent anymore.

• I don't know how to find affordable land or where to start looking.

• I'm afraid of living somewhere I don't own because I've always owned my homes.

• I need options that work on a very limited fixed income.