The days of large-scale land giveaways are over, but there are still options for getting land or a house without spending a lot of money.
The economic recession that began in 2007 made land and houses more affordable. Some of the real-estate markets in the country have recovered, others have not. Which means there are still deals to be had.
Finding your best bet is a matter of priorities. Are you looking for a place to raise a family, a place to live alone where you can work over the Internet, or somewhere warm to park a camper in winter? Here are a few not-always-perfect options.
Free Land
, is one of several small Midwest towns that give lots away to anyone who will come, build a real house (not a trailer, in most cases), and live there for at least a year.
, will give 2.8 acres to anyone who can bring a business to town that will employ at least 24 people after five years. The city requires a down payment of $175,000, which will be rebated if and when you meet the payroll requirements. The land is zoned for both residential and commercial development.
Land for Less than $1,000
It’s a buyer’s market in Detroit. on the city’s west side. There may be some trash in the yard, and all the copper wiring is likely to be gone. But your new home will have no covenants attached to it, it’s within walking distance to shops and restaurants, and the value of the land can go nowhere but up.
If Detroit is too rough for you, you can get , subdivision for $1,000. The previous owners didn’t pay their property taxes, the state seized the land, and the current seller, an investment firm based in Jane Lew, West Virginia, bought the land at a courthouse auction. The drawback: it’s in the shadow of a three-tower, coal-fired power plant.
Land for Less than $2,000 an Acre
You can get , in the state’s northwest corner, for $1,310. The land is dry, flat, and hot for most of the year, but it’s only two hours from Las Vegas and three hours from the Grand Canyon.
If you’re looking for land in a more forgiving climate, you can get a for $1,800. The nearest town, San Luis, is too small to support a police department, and the surrounding area is full-blown desert. But the lot has views of Mt. Blanca (14,344 feet) and is a regular hangout for wild horses. An acre will give you plenty of room for a solar array and a quinoa garden—the SLV was the first place quinoa was cultivated outside South America.