The Benefits of Renting a Homestead

Think that the homesteading dream is reserved solely for those who can afford to purchase the perfect piece of land and glorious old farmhouse? I did, too, until I realized there was another option: Renting a Homestead!

Up until 2014 I didn’t imagine that renting a homestead could be an option for us. Our conversations (for years) always revolved around selling our home in the city and purchasing another somewhere in the country.

However, after a meeting with our local Farm to Table organization during the planning stages of our Local Bite Challenge, and a very inspiring conversation about homestead and farm rentals, I began to think differently about our future and where we might find a middle step between owning a home in the city and owning our Eventual (and forever) Farm.

The seed of an idea was planted and our wheels started turning…Could we possibly find an old farm whose owners could no longer (or didn’t want to) farm it anymore?  If we could rent out our home, could we afford the rent on a larger space?  How would we even begin looking?  Could we invest our time and energy into a space that isn’t ours forever?

And so our little journey into Homestead rental began!

Little did we know then, but the truth is, the opportunities for homestead rentals are limitless! With the average age of farmers in the US being 57, chances are that there are at least a few farms or homesteads in and around every community owned by an older generation who might be ready to downsize or move elsewhere for a variety of reasons! This opens the door for your homestead dreams to be realized in a way that is beneficial for both parties! You get to dip your toes into the homestead experience without the commitment of purchasing a property and the homeowner is given a bit of peace of mind in the knowledge that you are actually interested in and passionate about the same things they are/were!

The Benefits of Renting a Homestead

1. Renting a homestead will allow you more flexibility than owning a homestead. Renting requires no long-term commitment from you as a Tenant, and is the best option if your not sure about staying in the area or how much space you might actually need to build a successful and sustainable homestead.
2. As a Tenant, there is the possibility of living in an area in which you could not afford to buy.
3. If you decide the area/property/lifestyle is no longer what you need, moving out is much easier for a Tenant than a Homeowner.
4. Maintenance is not a requirement of a Tenant.  Though you may want to make (budget-friendly) improvements to the property while you are there, it is a choice and might even be something you can negotiate as a trade for rent or partial rent for a month or more.
5. Renting a homestead allows you to explore what you really want and don’t want in your Forever Homestead with little risk as long as you’re willing to try new things and be open to the process (which, really, you have to be to want to live this lifestyle as there are no guarantees).
6. Renting a homestead in a rural area can give you much more bang for your buck! Cities, and housing in cities, are expensive!  Rural areas tend to be more affordable, so your monthly rental cost could either stay the same or even go down!

Tips For Finding Your Ideal Homestead Rental

1. Make a list of your ideal homestead wants and needs (established orchard, wood burning stove, outbuildings, ability to keep livestock, organically farmed/tended…).
2. Remember to be a bit flexible on the ‘wants’ on your list, but remain firm on your needs (if you need a minimum of two bedrooms, don’t settle for one…).
3. Seriously assess if you can or even want to stay in the same county you currently live in as well as how the move will impact your employment and/or commute time.
4. Set your budget and stick to it…actually, stay below your budget if at all possible as it will allow for some wiggle room to make improvements, purchase livestock or soil amendments or pay for the extra gas you’ll have to put in your vehicle to cover your new commute.
5. Ask around at your local Farmer’s Market, 4-H Club, or any other farm-to-table type organizations if anyone knows anyone who’s looking to rent out their homestead or farm (this whole homesteading thing is all about community and people to people relationships).
6. Check out Craigslist with the search term “acreage”.
7. Visit lots of properties to see what works for you on them and what doesn’t work for you on each of them.  You’re not wasting time, you’re investing in your future experiences.
8. Ask your potential Landlord lots of questions about the property (and it’s organic status), their history there, and any parameters they might set forth regarding livestock and land use.  Also, ask about the neighbors and any ongoing land (or water) disputes.
9. Get all verbal agreements about livestock and land use in writing, preferably on the lease itself.
10. Think you’ve found your perfect homestead rental?  Go check it out again with fresh eyes (leave your rose colored glasses at home, it’s super easy to get enamored with a place at first glance).

Homestead Rental Experiences from Your Favorite Homesteaders

Want just a little more inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite homesteaders sharing a brief look into their homestead rental experiences:

“We rented the same 35 acre property for 14 years. It came with a chicken coop. We put in a goat barn, fruit trees, a greenhouse, a bread oven, several gardens. We raised bees, chickens, goats, ducks, and pigs. Our landlord was really amazing, and actually paid us thousands of dollars for the improvements we made, but he was unwilling to consider selling (nor did we have $400,000), so we moved to MO.” ~Teri @ Homestead Honey

“We’ve been renting our 3.5 acres for 5 years now. We’ve had chickens, we’ve talked about dwarf goats, too. Our landlords have been awesome, they might be able to subdivide it but there’s some legal issues with road access etc. We also would prefer some flatter land, most of it is thick forest close the creek and we wouldn’t want to disturb it.” ~Isis @ Little Mountain Haven

“We’ve been renting our 12.8 acres four years. It came with a barn. We’ve added a milking stanchion for the cows, two moveable chicken coops for meat and egg chickens, electric fencing for pigs and cows, a greenhouse, and three gardens.” ~Ashley @ Whistle Pig Hollow

Inspired?  Excited?  Good!  Homesteading doesn’t have to involve purchasing property because it’s a state of mind! Renting a homestead can give you all the experiences you need to find your forever farm and it can be now (or soon, very soon), so what are you waiting for?!  Get out there and start looking!

Now it’s your turn and I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you currently rent your homestead? Have you rented a homestead in the past? Please tell us all about your homestead rental experiences in the comments below!

xoxo,
M