How to Pursue Homesteading During Your Retirement

  

How to Pursue Homesteading During Your Retirement

 

If you have ever dreamed of owning a homestead where you can live out your retirement enjoying hobbies, such as gardening, raising animals, or keeping bees, it's not too late to make your dream a reality. Purchasing a larger property with ample indoor and outdoor space allows you to live the life you want while giving you enough room to host your family whenever they want to visit.

 

Perhaps your current home is too small or lacks the land or special features required to embark on your homesteading journey, or you might be uncertain about how to find and purchase a property. This article from Clyde Miles Construction Co. can help guide you as you search for your future homestead.

 

Consider Your Needs

Before starting your property search, it helps to know what you should look for in a new home. Dandelion Hill Homestead notes to consider your future goals and determine how you will utilize your new space. Homesteading is a lifestyle that offers many unique and fulfilling opportunities:

 

•       Planting a flower garden

•       Raising animals

•       Keeping honey bees

•       Growing vegetables or herbs

 

Depending on your homesteading goals, your needs may vary. If your dream is to raise animals, ample acreage and established outbuildings are essential, while gardening requires healthy soil and access to plenty of water. A guest bedroom or a playroom for your grandchildren will make your home more inviting during family visits.

 

Consider Starting a Business

You can turn many of these hobbies into profitable small businesses. Whether you craft homemade soaps or bottle and sell honey, establishing an LLC can protect you from liability as you explore new business opportunities. Setting up your LLC can be complicated, but a formation service helps streamline the process. Check the regulations in your state before establishing your business.

 

Determine Your Budget

Once you decide on your future homesteading needs, you should determine how much you can afford to invest in a property. According to Market Leader, having a budget encourages realistic expectations while allowing you to filter through available options.

 

The cost of the property itself might only be a portion of what you could spend on your future homestead. When calculating your budget, you should include the costs associated with any necessary renovations, upgrades, or additions.

 

Find a Property

Discovering the perfect location for your homestead might be challenging, but once you know what you need and how much you can afford to spend, the house-hunting process becomes straightforward. In fact, you may be able to cover much of the cost of your new home by selling your old one. Research available listings online, schedule property viewings, and keep records of what you like about each option to help you compare when making your decision.

 

There are many things to consider when shopping for a homestead, so pay special attention to relevant details when comparing available properties:

 

•       House size: the total square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms 

•       Acreage: the amount of land you will need for housing animals, crops, tools, supplies, and outbuildings

•       Features: existing outbuilding, such as barns, stables, or chicken coops, and water access from a river or well

•       Soil quality: the structure, acidity, and nutrient density

 

In addition to these details, be prepared by researching home-buying guides and understanding what to expect throughout the process.

 

Spending your retirement enjoying homesteading hobbies is easier than you might think, and shopping for a new home doesn't have to be overly complicated. Knowing what to look for can help you easily compare available properties to get the perfect house for your homestead whether you’re starting a business or planning on family staying with you.