It might sound like contradictory advice, but, if you want to live a simpler life, it pays to consider moving to something with more space to spread out. We are not talking necessarily about upgrading your lifestyle, but changing it so that you can enjoy everyone you love during your retirement years. Moving from the city or the suburbs to the country to your own farm or homestead can give you the simplicity you crave and a place for everyone to call home. Expert real estate agent Judy Ha can help you find the place of your dreams.

What is a homestead?

A homestead is similar to a farm in many ways. However, instead of feeling obligated to cultivate the land and breed livestock for profit, the primary difference is that you work your property for the benefit of yourself and your family. A typical homestead consists of a primary residence, one or more barns, a few additional outbuildings, a place for animals, and an area where you can grow your own vegetables. You may also have a secondary guesthouse, which may have once served as a property manager’s residents. Typically, a homestead will have multiple acres and might be many miles from an organized municipality.

Affordability

Because the homestead will be outside of city limits, there is a greater chance of finding more space for less money. It’s always a good idea, however, to talk to someone about financing your dream home before you begin your property search. Let your mortgage agent and realtor know your expected price range, your income or assets, and the equity in your current property if you must to sell so that you can buy.

Act Fast

Selling your next home brings up another point: what do you do if you need to sell quickly so that you can make an offer on a homestead property before it moves off the MLS? The answer to this question typically depends on your personal situation. However, you will most likely need to sell and buy at the same time. Judy Ha can help you through this project, which is a bit more complex than doing one or the other individually. Something to keep in mind here is that you may have the option to push closing on your current home to a slightly later date to give yourself time to access cash before finalizing your purchase.

The Good And The Bad

So now that you understand what homesteading is and have an idea about how to enter into the process, you will also need to think carefully about whether or not this is truly in the cards for you. While there are many benefits of having your own self-sufficient plot of land, there are potential negatives. These include the commitment to the way of life and the physical labor that goes along with it. The 15 Acre Homestead blog also asserts that living in a rural area may mean poor internet service. If you plan to continue to work or you have family that will work remotely, this is something you must take into consideration.

Tips

• Outsource the heavy lifting. This might mean anything from paying movers to relocate your stuff to hiring an experienced farmhand to prep the land for crops.

• Leave some money in your budget for repairs and upgrades. The vast majority of farmstead-style houses are older, and they likely need some work even if they are livable. And since real estate prices fluctuate, the more money you have to start, the better off you’ll be.

• Don’t be hasty. Living in the country and owning your own land is a fabulous way to spend your retirement. But if you have always lived in the city, spend some time at a rural bed-and-breakfast or working farm before you commit.

Buying a farmstead is an excellent way to live out your golden years. You have your family, plenty of space to entertain, and a laid-back lifestyle that no urban area could possibly hope to emulate. But there are definite downsides. Do your research and partner with real estate agent Judy Ha, who will understand your goals and help you meet them.

Are you ready to find your dream home? Let real estate expert Judy Ha help you along the way. Call today to get started! 626-731-4485

Thank you for reading!
— 
JUDY HA
Blackrock Investments and Finance, Inc.
direct (951) 963-4023 | cell (626) 731-4485 |fax (626) 529-0850
email  realtorjudyha@gmail.com | web  www.realtorjudyha.com