Free Land? Nope.
True Homesteading is a thing of the past but other options do exist.
Oklahoma Sooners, the term was given to those who jumped the gun in the race to stake their claim to free land in Oklahoma. On April 22, 1889 people seeking free land lined up on the Cherokee Strip. At the sound of the gun, they were off and running in a cloud of dust. By settling on a pieceof property, known as Homesteading for a designated period of time, the land became theirs, free and clear.
It was a way to settle open range, and it was sort of a good deal for those who participated. To qualify that, yes the land was free, but they were out in the middle of nowhere. Life was not a piece of cake. Wind, dust, sod houses, this was a hard beginning for those hardy settlers.
Today, with people more and more seeking alternative ways to live, the notion that there is still free government land available persists. Many advertisements can be found on the subject. Just send money here, and you’ll get all the forms and information to participate. Blah, Blah, not going to happen. Government Information clearly states that the homestead program closed for good in 1976.
The Federal Government, under the control of the Bureau of Land Management does on occasion sell property, but only at Fair Market Prices. Free Government Land is a myth at this point.
A fine how do you do, having already ordered your new Yurt to the tune of $8,000, or maybe you put out the money for a Tumble Weed House from the Tiny House Company. What ever your plan, the house is in the works, but you need a place to put it.
All is not lost, you have some options. First we’ll look at free or very low cost. The Bureau of Land Management does have a couple loop holes. If you can be satisfied with merely borrowing a small corner of the huge quantity of land they hold in reserve, it’s perfectly legal to camp on BLM land for a period of 14 days at no charge. You must then move on leaving behind no sign that you were ever there.
With a portable residence, such as an RV, you can set up camp in three different spots. As long as they are separated by 25 miles, you can rotate every two weeks to one of the other two spots and continue rent free with no complaint from the Government.
Of course if this is too much bother, you can pay a fee of over $100 for a seasonal pass to one of the LTVA’s (Long Term Visitor Area). You can spend the winter undisturbed amongst many others of the same mind set.
It’s all about setting down roots, OK free land is out of the question, how about Cheap Land. With a permanent, though inexpensive, home on the drawing board what’s a person to do when looking for really cheap property. If you don’t mind a little desert dust in your soup, West Texas and Arizona have numerous land offices advertising low cost ranches. Some are not much more then a empty piece of desert sand. Texas Land For Sale offers 10 acre lots with electricity and phone and free use of a community well for $12,000. Cheaper deals can be found, but consider where your water and electricity will come from.
Other areas of the country have cheap land available. A number of companies offer a low down payment, with monthly installments, to own your little piece of paradise. Hoping that those who purchase fail to keep up their payments. These companies rely on a certain percentage defaulting, allowing them to sell the property over and over again.
Maybe you’ve got a friend or relative with a sizable piece of property. With your goal of a light footprint you may convince them of the worth of having a caretaker, guard on the property.
Some companies that maintain large forest reserves may be interested in a caretaker situation as well. Be creative, in your ideas and something is bound to work out.
Seeking an alternative and earth friendly way of living is a worth while project. You may run into some hurdles, but it can be done. The internet is your best tool to find answers outside the box.
Written By: Curtis Carper
