Off-Grid Laws · HomesteadingAugust 26, 2026
What Your Zoning Code Says About Off-Grid Living
3,143 U.S. counties each write their own zoning code. Here's what to look for before you buy off-grid living land.
Sara Raymond
Staff Writer
Sara covers land research and buyer education for GoOffGrid. She wants buyers to get it right, for their sake and the land's.
Articles by Sara Raymond
Land & Building · Power & SolarAugust 21, 2026
Land Preparedness Checklist for National Preparedness Month
44,000+ wildfires, 38% drought, and record tornadoes in 2026. This land preparedness checklist covers what National Preparedness Month usually skips.
Land & Building · WaterAugust 20, 2026
How to Evaluate Soil Health Before Buying Land
The USDA maps soil data for 95%+ of U.S. counties free. Here's how to evaluate soil health before buying land, from soil type to septic viability.
Land & Building · CostAugust 18, 2026
How to Compare Two Rural Properties Before Buying
Rural land 10 miles apart can have completely different water, access, and wildfire risk. How to compare rural properties before buying
WaterAugust 13, 2026
Water Rights in the American West
Water rights in the American West usually transfer with the land, but not always. Here's what land buyers need to verify before making an offer.
Food · HomesteadingAugust 11, 2026
What Makes Land Good for Growing Food?
USDA has mapped soil quality for 95%+ of US counties. Here's what actually makes land good for growing food, and how to check before you buy.
Homesteading · Off-Grid LawsAugust 6, 2026
How to Start Homesteading With No Experience
Nearly a third of US farmers have 10 years of experience or less. Here's how to start homesteading with no experience: what to learn, buy, and skip first.
Water · CostAugust 4, 2026
How to Research Well Data on Any Property Before You Visit
A well yielding 1 GPM produces 1,440 gallons a day, enough for a household and nothing else. Here's how to check well data for any parcel before you buy.
Cost · Land & BuildingJuly 16, 2026
Where to Find Rural Land for Sale: A Practical Guide for Off-Grid and Homestead Buyers
The best places to find rural land for sale in 2026: LandWatch, Lands of America, Facebook Marketplace, and owner-financed platforms. Plus what listings don't tell you before you buy.
HomesteadingJuly 15, 2026
Arkansas Ranks #1 for Off-Grid Living. The Data Surprised Us Too.
Arkansas ranks #1 for off-grid living in 2026 according to GoOffGrid.tools research scoring 1,167 county data points. Perfect scores on water and food production. Here's what the data shows.
Cost · Land & BuildingJuly 14, 2026
The True Cost of Developing Raw Land: What Buyers Consistently Underestimate
Raw land development costs $50,000 to $150,000+ on top of the purchase price. 2026 cost data for well drilling, septic, road access, power, and site prep, plus what drives each number up.
Water · CostJuly 13, 2026
Planning a Homestead? How Much Water You Actually Need on Rural Land
How much water does a homestead need? A family of four with livestock and a garden needs 1,000-1,500 gallons per day. Here's how to evaluate any rural property's water before you buy.
Off-Grid Laws · Land & BuildingJuly 9, 2026
Rural Land Due Diligence: 12 Questions to Answer Before You Make an Offer
12 rural land due diligence questions that determine whether a property can support off-grid or homestead living, with sources for every answer. Work through these before you make an offer.
Land & BuildingJuly 8, 2026
Wildfire Risk for Rural Land Buyers: How to Check Any Property Before You Buy
Wildfire risk for rural land buyers: what the 1-10 score means, what counts as high risk, how insurance works in high-risk zones, and how to check any property before you make an offer.
HomesteadingJuly 8, 2026
Five Things Homesteaders Wish They Had Checked Before Buying Their Land
Five due diligence mistakes homestead buyers make before buying rural land, and how to catch all of them from public records before you visit.
Off-Grid Laws · HomesteadingJuly 6, 2026
What Would GoOffGrid.tools Have Told Pa Ingalls Before He Staked His Claim?
We scored the Little House on the Prairie homestead. Charles Ingalls got a 90 out of 100. Pa chose good land. He just bet on the wrong owner.
Homesteading · Land & BuildingJuly 4, 2026
What 19th-Century Homesteaders Got Wrong About Land and What Modern Buyers Still Miss
Little House on the Prairie is back. Here's what the Ingalls family really faced on the Kansas prairie, and what modern land buyers still get wrong.
HomesteadingJuly 2, 2026
How to Evaluate Rural Land for a Homestead: A Beginner's Guide to What Actually Matters
How to evaluate rural land for a homestead: the water, soil, growing season, access, and zoning checks that decide whether a parcel can feed and house you.
Homesteading · Land & BuildingJuly 1, 2026
What to Look for When Buying Rural Land for Off-Grid Living or Homesteading
What to look for when buying rural land for off-grid living: water rights, zoning, solar, hazard exposure, soil, and buildability. All checkable before you visit.
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