Tag Archives: real estate

Episode-1788- Finding the Right Property to Turn Into a Homestead

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Modern Survival| 21 Comments
Episode-1788- Finding the Right Property to Turn Into a Homestead [ 1:40:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
The Urban Rural Fringe is Often a Homesteading Sweetspot

The Urban Rural Fringe is Often a Homesteading Sweetspot

In case you have not be paying attention for the last 15 years, news flash, homesteading is once again very popular.  From tiny urban homesteads (sue me Dervaes family go for it!) to mid sized small acreages to properties with a “back 40” and everything in between.

Why?  America and much of the modern world is starting to realize how hollow what we call “progress” really is.  They are realizing that a house that eats up 30% or more of monthly income while giving nothing back as a status symbol, doesn’t really make your life better.

Our nation was founded as a nation of homesteaders, again from big to small properties but almost every American not so long ago was using their land to provide for them.  I feel we are returning to that mind set, at least a large number of us are.  Today we look at finding that right property, what to look for, how to evaluate it, how to approach things so you don’t get in over your head or make costly type one errors.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • Everything I said about buying property in the BOL episode applies here
  • A quick update on a listener who was willing to walk away and what happened
  • What is the difference between a home and a homestead
    • Homesteads produce vs. consume your resources
    • Homesteads are multi functional
    • Homesteads are generally planned for long term ownership
    • Homesteads are created by their owners, not a “builder”
  • What to look for in a homestead
    • Size, its up to you but think hard about this
    • Locations
      • Urban/Suburban
      • Urban Rural Fringe (sweet spot)
      • Rural
      • Remote
    • Thinking about food production
      • Don’t be married to large numbers of livestock
      • Consider home scale animal solutions
        • Quail
        • Rabbits
        • Chickens
        • Ducks
      • Food production from plant sources
        • Annual gardens
        • Perennial plantings
        • Mushroom production
      • Consider your lifestyle
        • Working a job
        • Working from home
        • Home based business
        • Full time homesteader/homestead business
    • If you want freedom, define it
      • No HOAs
      • Check, double check, codes, zoning, laws
      • Evaluate the neighborhood with a critical eye
    • Economics
      • Things you almost always pay less for if they are already there
        • Outbuildings
        • Ponds
        • Fencing
        • Roofing
        • Almost all infrastructure
      • Things  you tend to pay more for if they are already done
        • Carpet
        • Paint
        • Kitchens
        • Bathrooms
      • Things you should usually not get into your head
        • Additions
        • Removing walls
    • In the end, you can do this almost anywhere, define your dream

Resources for today’s show…

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Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-1628- Five Financial Landmines to Avoid when Buying Land

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Modern Survival| 17 Comments
Episode-1628- Five Financial Landmines to Avoid when Buying Land [ 1:11:11 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Scott Todd - Founder of Landmodo.com

Scott Todd – Founder of Landmodo.com

Scott Todd is a principal at Landmodo.com, a land investment firm that buys and sells land throughout the US. Scott and his wife started the company to help others have a chance of land ownership.

Since 2012, Scott has watched as land owners make the same common repeated problems when it come to buying and owning land and he’s on a mission to help others discover how to avoid common issues with buying and owning land.

Land acquision is one of the most common goals among the TSP audience.  Some want farms, some want homesteads, some want BOLs and others just land for investment.  The smartest among you want all of those in one.

The issue though is land while a great investment is also full of risks.  Worse most people have been lied to and believe that land and home ownership is largely the safest of all investments.  Well purchased smartly it can be, yet their are 5 huge pitfalls you need to avoid to make that happen.

Today We Discuss 5 Major Problems When Buying and Owning Land

  • Buying land without confirming that the deed is transferable
  • Not having an exit strategy
  • Not understanding the 3 deed types
  • Not holding title correctly
  • Not understanding the limitations of the land

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-1329- Thoughts on Remote Land, BOLs, etc.

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Modern Survival| 33 Comments
Episode-1329- Thoughts on Remote Land, BOLs, etc. [ 1:20:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
A Pre Fab Mini Cabin at a BOL

A Pre Fab Mini Cabin at a BOL

A few of you guys have asked for a few shows that get a bit away from the homesteading/permaculture stuff and a bit deeper into some of the other more typical “survival topics” we have covered before.  Today we do the first of a few shows I have planned to answer that need.

Today we discuss remote land/home ownership and the unique advantages and challenges it represents.  Far to many see a BOL solely as a place for when the shit has really hit the fan, like TEOTWAWKI level stuff.  The reality is a BOL serves a variety of functions.

In our case we haven’t had a BOL since 2011 when we moved to Arkansas to a place that had been serving as such for about 6 years at that time.  After a shot stint up there of about two years, it was clear my wife’s heart was in Texas.  We decided to sell the remote property and use the gains to improve our new homestead in Texas.

Once again now I find myself scouring places like LandsOfTexas.com, LandWatch.com and UnitedCountry.com looking for that perfect get away property.  This time my goals are a bit different, yours may be more like my first property, the one I am looking for now or something entirely different.  The purpose of today’s show is to help you find the right property for your needs.  Further to decide if having such a property is even right for you at all.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • Why would you want a remote property
    • Fall back location
    • Recreation
    • Investment
  • What I think makes a property desirable
    • Water
    • Access
    • Structure
    • Distance
    • Grid
    • Near a Small Town
    • Secure
    • Good Neighbors
    • No Restrictions
  • Questions to ask yourself
    • Are there other things I really should do first
    • Can I really afford it
    • How often will I really use it
    • What do I most want out of it
  • Thoughts on “Teaming Up”
    • It can work, everyone just needs to be clear going in
    • Look for people with common goals and values
    • Define use and define guests very clearly
    • Decide between common ownership and defined areas going in
    • I would likely only do this if all parties could pay cash going in
    • There are many advantages to teaming up
  • Final thoughts on BOLs

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

Also remember we have an expert council you can address your calls to. If you do this you should email me right after your call at jack at thesurvivalpodcast.com with expert council call in the subject line. In the body of your email tell me that you just called in a question for the council and what number you called in from. I will then give the call priority when I screen calls.

Our Expert Council is Made Up of…

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Episode-1149- William Golightly on Buying Rural Land

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Modern Survival| 19 Comments
Episode-1149- William Golightly on Buying Rural Land [ 59:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Today on The Survival Podcast we are joined by William (Billy) Golightly.  Billy is a real estate agent that specializes in rural properties in north central Florida.

He joins us today to discuss searching for bug out or retreat properties.  We discuss things like buying old timber land that has been cut.  Earning income with a property to offset expenses.

We also talk about how to find the right type of agent for this type of property search.  When it makes sense to buy a property on the courthouse steps in a tax sale and when it doesn’t.  We cover the importance of surveys and title insurance and some creative ways to find great properties that are affordable.

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.

 

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Episode-1102- Thoughts and Consideration with a Move to a New State

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Modern Survival| 11 Comments
Episode-1102- Thoughts and Consideration with a Move to a New State [ 1:06:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Walking To Freedom has gotten off to a great start with citizens helping citizens already in a quest to find a home with more of the freedoms that are important to them.  This has prompted a lot of questions in my direction about one state vs. the next.

Frankly I think the entire point of the WTF forum is so people that actually live in or have lived in said states can give you the reality on the ground but I will do my best today to provide a mile high overview of what I would personally consider.

I also want to remind everyone even if you are 100% happy where you are and not going anywhere we need you at the WTF project.  We need on the ground state ambassadors to make a case for your state and to help others in their evaluation.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • You can’t go on statistics alone
  • The considerations of family and friends
  • Considerations of climate
  • What do you really want in life
  • What freedoms are important to you
  • What type of home do you want
  • Individual taxes vs a “tax foot print” based on your lifestyle
  • Cost of living vs. taxes alone
  • Quality of schools, better schools?  Better at what?
  • Is the grass really greener or just better manicured
  • Please visit MULTIPLE TIMES first
  • Yes you can go back if it doesn’t work
  • Have an exit strategy
  • Home isn’t where the heart is, home is where the heart is free
  • Only you can know what is right for you
  • A community is what will make many things easier to handle

Resources for today’s show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

 

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Episode-966- Developing Raw Land into a Homestead or BOL Over the Long Haul

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Modern Survival| 41 Comments
Episode-966- Developing Raw Land into a Homestead or BOL Over the Long Haul [ 1:14:31 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
A Pre Fab Mini Cabin at a BOL

A Pre Fab Mini Cabin at a BOL

One of the more complex questions I was asked at Ben Falk’s PDC course was about a “long term bug out”, which I needed clarification on because it can mean so many things.  What the student meant turned out to be something very relevant for the TSP community so it has become the focus of today’s show.

This person found themselves in a situation many of us face.  They have a job, not a super job but one that pays the bills.  Said job requires life in a city/town of some size and they want to be prepared to get out someday (by design or possibly by need).  They can or have already scraped up enough money to buy some raw land, say a few acres or more.  However this land has no house on it, no infrastructure, no utilities, etc.

The question was given I have such a piece of land and can only put a few thousand a year into it, what should I be doing first and where should I be heading long term.  I partially answered this question at the evening fire though a proxy who explained all this, the student was apparently beat and went off to catch some sleep in his tent.   As I answered it I realized how much my answer had changed over the past 4 years and how some of it has stayed the same.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • Selecting a piece of land
    • Distance from your permanent residence
    • The consideration of climate
    • Utility access
    • Size of the property
    • Surrounding community
    • Ability to appear undisturbed
    • The value of water
  • The most critical infrastructure you can set up
    • Ponds and swale structures
    • Storage facilities
    • Shelter
    • Permanent plantings
  • Taking it to a higher level
    • Earth sheltered homes in the south
    • Timber frame homes in the cool climates
    • Water catchment for every roof like structure
    • Island gardens for land locked homesteaders
    • Design the end and work backwards
    • Don’t kid yourself about what can or will be done

Resources for Today’s Show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-924- Lessons Learned on the Arkansas Homestead

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Modern Survival| 35 Comments
Episode-924- Lessons Learned on the Arkansas Homestead [ 1:12:41 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Hugelkultur Was a Success at the Homestead

Hugelkultur Was a Success at the Homestead

As many of you know we are now looking to purchase a larger piece of land in Texas.  That will balance well with the apartment we keep in Arlington providing us living quarters both in the city and the country.  The new land in Texas will become our primary residence.

We are not sure about what to do with the Arkansas property right now.  On one hand it is very inexpensive on the other it would generate a lot of cash if we sold it at this point.  Many listeners who have watched me grow TSP from the early days have expressed a desire to hear exactly why we are not going to make Arkansas our permanent home when we put so much work into getting to a point were we could.   The reality is our property has a LOT going for it, it also has a lot missing from what we currently want.

My hope is today’s show will help others learn from both our successes and failures so they can make better choices about purchasing property, homesteading, raising livestock, etc.

Join Me Today As We Discuss…

  • Leaving family far behind may be harder then you thought
  • The importance of feeling “vested” in the larger community
  • As your view of the world changes so does your view of “perfect property”
  • 5 acres may be enough, it might not be, how does the land lay
  • Mountain land may not be all it is cracked up to be, or it might be
  • Why I feel so strongly now about putting a lot of a property into water structure
  • Why I am now more interested in daily self sufficiency and less in “buggin out”
  • Thoughts on having an ability to “house” additional people
  • Land that provides the opportunity to really teach others
  • Livestock I want to work with and why it won’t work in Ark
  • Deals are now available that just were not before
  • Some general principles we have learned
    • Always have an exit strategy
    • Invest in property to make it at least 1% better then its class
    • Mobile homes are fine for what they are
    • Having no real restrictions rocks
    • See a property for what it can be but count the cost
    • You really can’t go to low on an offer, you really can’t
    • The community is as important as the property
    • Useable land is more important then total land area

Resources for Today’s Show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-824- Dan Vamos from Homestead Dividends

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Modern Survival| 26 Comments
Episode-824- Dan Vamos from Homestead Dividends [ 1:08:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dan Vamos is many things.  A father, an English teacher, a homesteader, a DIY enthusiast, a prepper and a patriotic American.  He has also been listening to The Survival Podcast for a very long time, all the way back to the podcasting from the car days.

Along the way he founded a website called, “Homestead Dividends”, designed to help the average person transform their home into a true homestead and get more out of their homes both while living in them and when it comes time to sell them.

Join Dan and I Today as we Discuss…

  • What are some ways to get the most out your house or residence
  • What should you do to make your house start working for you
  • What are some ways to waterproof a basement
  • What are some common mistakes people make when working on their house
  • Why should I start planting permafood right away
  • Why start with small trees and plants
  • How a three-ring binder can help in selling your house
  • How you can have a “pick-up truck? without owning one
  • Why Dan cashed in a retirement accounts to buy a home

Resources for Today’s Show…

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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Episode-770- Modern Financial Survival

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Modern Survival| 43 Comments
Episode-770- Modern Financial Survival [ 1:15:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Yesterday I stated that we are about to in effect go into the middle of a financial war.  I am not sure the analogy was fully understood it wasn’t so much about fighting the battle but more about the way that even if good is the end result how many can be harmed in the process.

This resulted in a litany of people trying to nit pick about the justification for WWII, why the US prospered after the war, etc.   Such people are literalists that don’t comprehend analogies and tell “ants are socialists”, when you tell them the ant and grasshopper story.

Today I will revisit a few things people took exception to (very briefly) and will spend most of the show outlining my “modern financial survival guide” for the coming future.

Join Me Today as We Discuss…

  • Is the Catholic Church calling for a “World Bank” and global tax or not
  • What exactly do I mean by a financial war
  • Why do I believe so emphatically that I am right about the coming collapse
  • What I think you need to do to be financially prepared for the future
    • Get rid of debt (especially floating rate debt)
    • Try to save at least 20% of your income (6 months security)
    • Know your exit points for every investment
    • If you are in stocks by only the best companies
    • Do not hold any and I mean any long term bonds
    • Keep an eye on TIPS Bond Yields
    • Remember most “experts” on TV are actually idiots
    • Develop your local community
    • Don’t bet on any government money (specifically @ 100%)
    • Consider land as the best investment (not houses)
    • Increase your financial IQ daily – start with vocabulary
    • Focus on gaining some % of self sufficiency with the 5 needs
    • Try to be as “cash rich” as possible
    • Don’t act in fear, think before you do anything
    • Do not listen to conventional wisdom during unconventional times
    • Remember the prepared can always profit and prosper

Additional Resources for Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air

 

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Episode-657- Creating the Low Cost BOL

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Modern Survival| 35 Comments
Episode-657- Creating the Low Cost BOL [ 1:15:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Dirt Cheap Survival RetreatToday we are going to take a look at setting up a BOL on the cheap or at least inexpensively.  There are a ton of ways to accomplish this and land is still one of the best investments a person can make.

I also do a brief review today of a great resource for setting up that low cost retreat, it is called, The Dirt Cheap Survival Retreat by M.D. Creekmore, author of The Survivalist Blog.

If you have never read M.D. Blog take a look at it today because he has some great information and insights on modern survival living.

Join me today as I discuss…

  • New Prospective Guest Survey Form
  • Awesome money saving show on the way
  • My thoughts on M.D. Creekmore’s new book
  • Thoughts on land, what you need, what you don’t
  • Solar vs. wind vs. grid
  • Propane is your friend
  • Small generators
  • Creative battery charging
  • Travel trailer vs. shed/shack vs. shipping container
  • Distance desirable vs. distance tolerable
  • Security when off site
  • Internet access
  • Identify the area, then hunt

Additional Resources for Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK and you might hear yourself on the air.

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