My First Property Purchase
I’ve always been interested in finding ways to grow wealth without having to earn six figures first. One of the most surprising things I discovered is that you don’t have to be rich to buy property.
My first real estate purchase was about as unglamorous as it gets: a modest piece of land that most people would have ignored. But that small step turned out to be one of the smartest financial decisions I’ve ever made.
If you’ve ever thought owning property was out of reach, this article is for you. I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it and show you some ways you can start exploring affordable options for yourself.
When I first started looking into buying land, I decided to cast a small net close to where I lived. My goal was pretty specific: I wanted at least one acre so I’d have enough room to eventually put multiple RV pads on the property. It also had to be in an area with little to no restrictions. That was non-negotiable, because I didn’t want to get tied up in endless zoning issues or permits.
I knew I wanted the land to feel remote enough that people could enjoy the camping experience, but not so far out in the middle of nowhere that nobody would come. Ideally, it would be close enough to a major interstate that travelers could rent it as an overnight stop on their way through the area. Basically, I wanted that balance between peaceful and practical.
I set a budget of $10,000 or less. To be honest, that price range eliminated almost everything in my immediate area. At first, I couldn’t find anything that checked all my boxes.
Instead of giving up, I decided to widen my search radius. I started looking about an hour out from the closest major metropolitan area, and that’s when I finally found the property. It was just over an acre, unrestricted, with a good layout for what I had in mind.
One thing that helped a lot was handling the purchase myself without a real estate agent. Because it was a small rural transaction, there wasn’t much complexity. I reached out to the seller, confirmed the details, and handled the paperwork directly. Doing it this way saved money and kept the process simple.
I’m still just starting this journey, but I’ve already learned a lot, and I’m sure I’ll learn even more as I keep going. My plan is to share updates here over time as I make progress, so if you’re interested in following along, keep an eye out for future posts about how it all comes together.
Why Cheap Doesn’t Mean Bad
One thing I’ve noticed when I talk to people about buying affordable property is that there’s almost always some skepticism. A lot of us have been taught to believe that if something is inexpensive, it must be worthless or come with hidden problems.
But cheap doesn’t automatically mean bad. Sometimes it just means overlooked. In my case, the property I bought wasn’t in a trendy area and didn’t have a lot of curb appeal. That’s why it was still available, and why it fit my budget.
There are benefits to buying modest or “unimpressive” pieces of land. For one, it keeps your financial risk lower. If you only put a few thousand dollars into the purchase, you don’t have the same stress you might feel with a big mortgage hanging over your head. It also gives you room to figure things out without feeling like you have to rush into improvements or rentals right away.
Another benefit is that you have a real asset you control. Even if you don’t do anything with the land immediately, it can appreciate over time or open up new opportunities later. And in the meantime, you own something tangible, not just another account balance that goes up and down with the stock market.
How You Can Start
If you’re thinking about buying a small piece of land, here are a few things that helped me get started:
Start local, then expand your search
At first, I looked close to home because I thought that would be easier to manage. When nothing came up in my price range, I slowly expanded my search radius. Eventually, I found a property about an hour from a major metropolitan area. That was the sweet spot, far enough out to be affordable, but not so remote that nobody would ever visit.
Know exactly what you’re looking for
For me, that meant at least an acre of unrestricted land, close to a highway, with enough space to eventually put in multiple RV pads. Having clear criteria saved me a lot of time because I could immediately skip listings that didn’t fit.
Don’t be afraid to do it without an agent
I handled my purchase directly with the seller. In a small rural transaction, there wasn’t much complexity, and it kept the process simple. Just make sure you do your due diligence and have any necessary inspections done.
Set a realistic budget
My goal was to spend under $10,000. Even though that limited my options, it also kept me focused. When you know exactly what you can spend, you don’t waste time chasing listings that aren’t realistic.
Be patient.
It took time to find the right property, and even after the purchase, it’s still a work in progress. But that’s okay. If you’re in it for the long haul, you don’t need everything to happen overnight.
Final Thoughts
I don’t claim to have it all figured out, and I’m definitely still learning as I go. But buying affordable property has been one of the most approachable ways I’ve found to start building something real for the future.
You don’t have to be wealthy to get started. You don’t need a big team of professionals or a huge down payment. Sometimes, all it takes is a willingness to look in the places other people overlook, set clear goals, and take action one step at a time.
One of the reasons I like owning land is that it’s a tangible thing you can actually stand on. Unlike a lot of other investments, it’s not just a number on a screen. Land has historically gone up in value over time. It’s a finite resource, and owning even a small piece of it is a major asset that most people would love to have in their portfolio.
If you’re curious about this path, I’d encourage you to start doing a little research in your area. You might be surprised what’s out there if you’re open to smaller or less conventional options.
I’ll be posting more updates here as I make progress with improvements and hopefully start renting the property in the future. If you want to follow along or learn more about other ways to build passive income, feel free to explore the rest of the site.
You can also read my other articles on passive income.
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