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

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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