I Bought LAND as a VAN Life HOME BASE! Should YOU?

Summary

In this engaging video, the narrator shares their experience of purchasing a 20-acre plot in Northern Arizona, either in Cocono or Pache County. The land, situated at an elevation of 6,000 feet, offers a lush environment with trees, a significant upgrade from their previous 1-acre barren lot. The property features a Cinder driveway, an old trailer, and ample space for an outdoor kitchen, which the narrator has set up under a tarp. They also discuss the challenges of water access in the area and their solution of hauling water using a 55-gallon drum and a 275-gallon IBC tote. The narrator outlines their reasons for buying the land, including a future place to settle, legal residency, emergency preparedness, and establishing a home base for their nomadic lifestyle. They also mention the presence of a 40-foot container for storage and the joy of having a meadow on the property. The video concludes with encouragement for viewers to consider land ownership, highlighting the affordability and the potential to find land through websites like land.com.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The speaker has purchased a 20-acre land parcel in either Coconino or Pache County, Arizona, which is a significant amount of land in the area.
• 🌳 The land was chosen for its abundance of trees, which was important to the speaker, as opposed to their previous 1-acre barren lot.
• 🚗 A pre-existing Cinder driveway on the property is a valuable asset that saved the speaker a significant amount of money.
• 🍳 The speaker has set up an outdoor kitchen using a 20x20 tarp, which has proven to be a great space for socializing and cooking.
• 💧 Water is a critical resource in this part of Arizona, and the property relies on water being hauled in, as installing a well is not a viable option.
• 🛠 The property includes a 40-foot container (referred to as a 'conex') that provides substantial storage space and is a valuable addition to the land.
• 🔨 The speaker is in the process of making improvements, such as a permanent outdoor kitchen structure and rainwater catchment system.
• 👮‍♂️ Having a legal address on the land is important for the speaker to maintain insurance and legality while living in an unconventional residence.
• 🌡️ The land is seen as a safe haven in the event of climate change or natural disasters due to its location and resources.
• 🏡 The property serves as a home base for the speaker, who identifies as a 'snowbird' and plans to travel seasonally while still having a permanent place to return to.
• 💰 The speaker suggests that purchasing land is achievable for many people through affordable down payments and manageable monthly payments, and recommends land.com as a resource for finding available land.

Q & A

What is the size of the land purchased by the speaker?

The speaker purchased a 20-acre chunk of land in either Cocono or Pache County, Arizona.

Why did the speaker want a larger piece of land with trees?

The speaker wanted a larger piece of land with trees because their previous 1-acre lot near North Flagstaff was barren of trees, and they wanted to be on land with a whole bunch of trees.

What is the material of the driveway on the new land?

The driveway on the new land is made of Cinder, which was brought in by the last owner.

What does the speaker plan to do with the old trailer on the land?

The speaker does not explicitly mention plans for the old trailer, but they do mention wanting to create an outdoor kitchen on the land.

How does the speaker plan to manage water on the land?

The speaker plans to haul in water using a 55-gallon drum and a 275-gallon IBC water tote. They also mention the possibility of implementing rain catchment off a future metal roof.

What are the four primary reasons the speaker bought the land?

The four primary reasons are: 1) To have a place to settle down when they get too old to be on the road, 2) To have a legal address for insurance and official purposes, 3) To have a safe place in case of emergencies or climate change-related disasters, and 4) To establish a home base while still being a nomad and traveling for part of the year.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of having a home base?

The speaker believes that having a home base is very important as it provides a place of stability and legality, and a safe haven to return to during certain times of the year or in case of emergencies.

What is the purpose of the 40ft container on the property?

The 40ft container, also referred to as a conex, serves as a large storage space on the property. The speaker mentions plans to organize it with shelves.

How does the speaker manage to keep mice away from their camp?

The speaker uses a combination of keeping the hood of their vehicle closed and using lights at night to deter mice from the camp.

What is the speaker's advice for others who might be interested in buying land?

The speaker suggests that interested individuals can likely afford land if they can manage monthly payments, typically in the range of $100 to $200. They recommend checking websites like land.com for available land.

What is the general process for buying land in rural areas as described by the speaker?

The general process involves a small down payment, usually around $200, followed by affordable monthly payments that the buyer can manage. This approach is designed to make it easier for people to invest in land.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Purchasing Rural Land and Establishing an Outdoor Kitchen

The speaker discusses their recent purchase of a 20-acre land in Northern Arizona, which is either in Cocono or Pache County. They highlight the importance of having trees on the land and share their excitement about the existing Cinder driveway and the potential for an outdoor kitchen. They describe the current setup with a 20x20 tarp and the use of old 2x4s and 2x6s for support. The outdoor kitchen includes a grill with four burners, a stovetop burner, and a large Lodge dutch oven for cooking over an open fire. The speaker also addresses the water situation, mentioning the use of a 55-gallon drum and a 275-gallon IBC tote for water storage and the plan for rainwater catchment.

05:01

🌱 Creating a Permanent Outdoor Kitchen and Future Plans for the Land

The speaker outlines their plans to make the outdoor kitchen permanent by burying treated 4x4 posts and constructing a framework for a metal roof. They also express their intention to install a rainwater catchment system. The reasons for buying the land are discussed: a place to settle down, legal stability, a safe haven in case of emergencies or climate change, and a base for their snowbird lifestyle. The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a home base while still enjoying the freedom of travel and plans to spend a few months on the property each year before traveling for the remainder.

10:02

🌲 Contentment with the Property and Encouragement for Others to Invest in Land

The speaker expresses their satisfaction with the property, noting the presence of a 40ft container for storage and the ongoing building projects on the land. They appreciate the natural beauty of the area, including the trees and meadow, and the freedom it provides for their dog, Cody. The speaker also talks about their commitment to remaining a nomad as long as possible, with the property serving as a retreat when they can no longer travel. They share advice on how others can afford land, suggesting that with a small down payment and manageable monthly payments, it's possible to invest in rural land. They recommend land.com as a resource for finding affordable land for sale.

Keywords

💡Rural Land

Rural land refers to a large piece of property located outside of urban areas, typically characterized by a natural environment and agricultural use. In the video, the speaker discusses purchasing a 20-acre chunk of rural land in Arizona, emphasizing the importance of trees and the potential for an outdoor lifestyle, which is central to the video's theme of seeking a sustainable and self-sufficient living space.

💡Down Payment

A down payment is an initial payment made when obtaining a loan or purchasing an asset, such as land or a home. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions making a small down payment on the rural land, highlighting that this is a standard practice that allows individuals to afford land with manageable monthly payments, which is crucial for someone looking to invest in property without a substantial upfront cost.

💡Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is a cooking area located outside of a home, often used for barbecues and outdoor dining. The speaker in the video emphasizes their desire for an outdoor kitchen on their land, describing how they have set up a temporary one using a tarp and plan to make a permanent structure. This reflects the video's theme of creating a comfortable and functional living space in a rural setting.

💡Water Hauling

Water hauling refers to the process of transporting water, typically in large containers, from a water source to a location where it is needed. In the video, the speaker discusses the challenges of obtaining water in their area of Arizona, where wells can run dry, and shares their solution of hauling water using a trailer and a 55-gallon drum, which is a key aspect of managing resources on rural land.

💡Rain Catchment

Rain catchment is a system that collects and stores rainwater for later use, often a sustainable water management technique in areas with limited water resources. The speaker in the video expresses their intention to implement a rain catchment system by installing a metal roof, which ties into the broader theme of self-sufficiency and sustainable living on the land.

💡Snowbird

A snowbird is a person who migrates to warmer regions during the winter to escape cold weather, often retirees or those seeking a seasonal change. The speaker identifies as a snowbird, planning to spend part of the year on their land and the rest traveling, which is a significant part of their lifestyle and the video's narrative about finding a balance between settling down and maintaining a nomadic lifestyle.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns, often associated with global warming. The speaker mentions climate change as a motivating factor for wanting a safe and secure land to retreat to in case of emergencies or worsening environmental conditions, which underscores the video's focus on preparedness and adaptability in the face of global challenges.

💡Legal Address

A legal address is a formal, recognized location that serves as an official point of contact for an individual or entity. The video's speaker discusses the importance of having a legal address for insurance and official purposes, which is tied to the theme of establishing a stable base while maintaining a nomadic lifestyle.

💡Land Speculation

Land speculation involves buying land with the expectation of selling it at a higher price in the future, often through subdividing and selling lots. The speaker mentions land speculators as those who make land more accessible by offering low down payments and monthly payments, which is relevant to the video's message about the accessibility of owning land for many people.

💡Tarp

A tarp is a large, waterproof sheet of fabric, often used for covering or shelter. In the video, the speaker uses a tarp to create a temporary outdoor kitchen and discusses plans for a more permanent structure, illustrating the resourcefulness and practicality involved in setting up a living space on rural land.

💡Container

A container, in this context, refers to a large, portable storage unit, often made of steel and used for moving or storing goods. The speaker mentions a 40-foot container on their property, which they find valuable for storage and potential workshop space, showcasing the versatility and utility of such structures in a rural setting.

Highlights

The speaker has purchased a 20-acre land in either Cocono or Pache County, Arizona, at an elevation of 6,000 ft.

The land was chosen for its abundance of trees, which was important to the speaker.

The previous owner installed a costly driveway made of Cinder, which the speaker is pleased with.

The land features an old trailer and a large pad that might have been intended for a house.

The speaker plans to create an outdoor kitchen using a 20x20 tarp and existing 2x4s and 2x6s.

A grill with four burners and a side burner has been set up for barbecues with friends.

The outdoor kitchen includes a large Lodge dutch oven for cooking over an open fire.

Water is a significant issue in the area, and the speaker has a system for hauling water using a 55-gallon drum and a 275-gallon IBC tote.

The speaker intends to make the outdoor kitchen permanent with treated 4x4 posts and a metal roof for rain catchment.

The land serves four primary purposes: a place to settle down, legal address, emergency shelter, and a base for the speaker's Snowbird lifestyle.

The speaker plans to spend 1-4 months a year on the land and travel for the remainder, embracing a nomadic lifestyle.

The property includes a 40ft container for storage, which the speaker is utilizing for various projects.

The land has a meadow area that the speaker's dog, Cody, enjoys for its freedom and beauty.

The speaker emphasizes the affordability of rural land, suggesting that with a small down payment and manageable monthly payments, many can achieve land ownership.

A 1-acre piece of land previously bought by the speaker was affordable, costing only $2,000 with small monthly payments.

The speaker recommends land.com as a resource for finding affordable land for sale across various states, including Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

The speaker highlights the benefits of remote land, such as privacy and the ability to live without constant disturbance from authorities.

The video concludes with an encouragement for viewers to consider buying land if they can afford the monthly payments, and an invitation to like, subscribe, and engage with the channel.

Transcripts

so you might be saying to yourself I

can't do that what am I going to do yes

you can this is a standard thing in

rural land you can usually put 200 down

and then 100 or 200 a month whatever you

can afford hi everyone welcome back to

my next video well I have done it I have

bought a 20 acre chunk of land it's in

uh either cocono or a Pache County if

you know anything about Arizona that's a

huge chunk of land Northern Arizona I'm

at 6 000 ft and uh I have bought 20

acres I've got another video uh you can

go right here to see it about uh my

1acre lot I had a 1acre lot but I wanted

a bigger chunk of land and I wanted land

with trees that was really important to

me the one acre I have is up by uh North

Flagstaff uh and but it was only one

acre and it was pretty Barren of trees

and if I'm going to be on land much uh I

wanted to have a whole bunch

trees let's go take a look at

it uh this on the ground that I'm

walking on is Cinder this was a driveway

that was brought in uh by the last owner

he brought that in and uh I'm really

really happy with that this this

driveway cost a lot of money and so U

I'm glad that he put it in and just all

everywhere you'll just see you know nice

lots of nice nice trees trees a lot of

dead trees here's a two dead trees right

here I've been told it's the uh pine

bark

Beetle and this is an old trailer that

was on it it's kind of a wreck looking

right now so this is a great big pad

this may have been where they were

planning on putting their house I'm not

sure and one of the things I want out of

land is uh a kitchen I like an outdoor

kitchen I'm not going to own it build a

house here ever uh that's just not I

don't want to live in a house uh so I

put an outdoor kitchen in as you can see

it's just uh a 20x20 tarp so we made

this kitchen out of that 20x20 tarp uh

that had of the property had on it a

bunch of these 2x4s and 2x6s they were

old and awful but they worked really

good for the outside and as you can see

I ran uh C lines out to the nearby trees

and some down to a steak in the ground

and it's held up through some pretty

darn strong winds just a cheap 20 by 20

tarp and it's working super well because

I really wanted to have an outdoor

kitchen where friends could come by we

could be outside and enjoying ourselves

and it has worked out super super well

so let's take a look at the kitchen so

one of the first things I wanted to do

was get a nice Grill so when I had

friends over we could barbecue but this

has been fantastic it has four burners

it's huge as you can see

and it's got a one burner stove top uh

burner on the side and I've really liked

that here is the rest of the kitchen you

can see that we've got a huge I mean

really huge LOD dut Lodge dutch oven we

have some uh more cast iron here we've

been cooking with one of the things we

want to do with all this uh excess

firewood is to do our own cooking out on

over the fire

we're just getting started but we've got

the tripod and the big pot that you hang

down we're really looking forward to

that you see we got a bunch of firewood

in the back so water was a big deal

because uh in this part of Arizona

there's practically no way to put a well

deep enough to get water and if you get

it it'll go dry really quickly so

there's not even a consideration of

putting in a well so everyone in this

area is hauling in their water that's

pretty normal through a lot of Arizona

water is a super issue so what I've done

is as you can see I've got a 55 gallon

drum and we're bringing in our water on

the trailer so uh and transferring it

from the trailer to this 55g drum so

this is the trailer I carry my side by

side around on the side by side has been

really tremendous here on the land we we

Haul firewood with it we do all kinds of

things so as you can see we bought this

IBC it's it's a 275 galon water tote and

it's actually going to come off and stay

here in the kitchen and not be moved

I'll put the other 55 gallon drum on

here and we'll go and fill 110 gallons

at a Time come home transfer it to the

IBC and then uh when it's full then

we'll just maintain it uh you see these

all over the place they're really good

for Rural uh they work really well and

I've so fallen in love with the tarp

with the outdoor kitchen that I want to

make a permanent one let me show you

that so we wanted to have an outdoor

kitchen and so I buried this 12T treated

4x4 and so it'll be taller and I've got

another eight-footer here that's going

in and you can see I've got the hole dug

for this one and it'll go here we'll

concrete it in I think there'll be a

total of nine posts you'll run 2x4s

across and eventually I'd like to put in

a metal roofing and then we can uh we

can do rain catchment that's very

important by all the rain we can catch

then we don't have to go buy water so I

definitely want to do rain catchment off

of a metal roof here I've also bought a

super heavyduty canvas tarp one thing

I've learned is that just a regular old

uh poly tarp just going to tear itself

apart in the wind here so I bought a

really heavyduty 20x 20 canvas tarp that

we'll put over it it'll be up all summer

and then we'll put it away so that's

just a a pro something we have going in

the process now let me talk to you about

why I bought this 20 acres uh there are

four primary reasons I wanted land

number one because eventually I'm going

to get too old to be on the road I want

a place to settle down after I can no

longer on be on the road so that's

reason number one uh the second reason

is so that I can be legal uh you know a

lot of times we have to say where our

insurance is and you you get around uh

saying I'm the vehicle is is garaged at

1 2 3 4 Main Street and you don't really

live at 1 12 34 Main Street and so I've

got a legal address to tell the

insurance company to tell the National

Forest ranger comes into the camp and

says hey where do you actually live do

you have a permanent home I say sure

it's one 2 or Main Street bobville

Arizona and so I've got an address and

so being legal is a a really really good

thing uh the third reason I wanted to

have property was so in case of

emergency I'm a I'm a big believer in

climate change I believe that climate

change is coming and it's going to be

horrendous and it's just going to get

worse and worse and worse so as climate

change gets worse I want to have a place

where I can go and be safe and invite my

friends and it doesn't have to be

climate change uh you know we're having

natural disasters all over all the time

flooding and heat and uh I'm in a place

where it will not be much affected by

any of those things there are wildfires

in the area but not often and it's

pretty rare the one Community well is so

deep that I don't think it's ever going

to run out and I can go and get uh water

from there and with rain catchment I

think I'm good I don't think uh heat is

going to be an issue here and it'll get

steadily warmer and the even the winters

will be warmer uh so that's actually um

a good thing because it's fairly cool

here in the winter so the fourth and

really the most important reason that I

bought the land is because I want to be

a more of an official Snowbird now a

snowbird uh never settles down into one

place he's traveling with the seasons

and I like that and I will always uh

until my body just simply won't allow me

to live in my ambulance or a van or

whatever I'm in next uh until my body

says no you're going to ground I will

always be a nomad I might uh my plan

kind of is to spend maybe between one

and three or four months on this

property and then travel out of it over

the summer I have I'm going to spend a

month this summer in in Colorado uh

maybe some in Wyoming Idaho Montana uh

go over to Oregon see my sister so this

is a home base and a home base is really

really important and so uh and then in

the winter when it's cold here and it

does get really cold here I'll be down

the desert right with all of you so I

will be a an official Snowbird a

Homebase I'm at three four months out of

the year and then traveling the rest of

the year so that was important I like

the idea that I have a home here and I'm

not going to get any knocks on the door

I know a lot of us uh the knock on the

door from the Ranger from the police or

the sheriff and saying you've been here

too long you got to go and then the

constant movement uh while I really like

the movement for the most part I don't

want to do it every 12 months a year for

the rest of my life nine months a year

for the rest of my life that's good I'm

happy with that and now I can be in one

stationary spot for as long as I want

okay so that's why I bought this

property I've been extremely happy with

it um let's move on and look at a little

more as you can still just see more nice

trees everywhere uh will come up on my

Camp see the ambulance uh tucked away in

these trees I've been very very happy

with this Camp the place does have mice

you can see I've got my hood open and

then between putting out lights at night

and the hood it's it's worked really

well for me and over here is the thing I

really love about this property it has a

40ft container on it um I think they

call them con conaes I don't know if

that's an official name or not it's kind

of what I know them as myself of course

here's the side by side and uh we're

building we're in building uh projects

all the

time and there's a half finish uh

workbench for the container I don't know

if you're going to be able to see in the

container or not I'll get them all in

and find out now I can see a little bit

it's a cluttered mess but I'll put in

some shelves and that will work a whole

lot

better uh but 40ft containers just

enormous just enormous so uh I'm real

happy with

it and you know this thing was probably

at least 6,000

they've really gone up in price and I

think that uh uh I don't know what

delivery would be but it would be a lot

so having this container having the uh

the driveway the cinder driveway uh

that's that was a lot of money so I got

I think I got a really good deal overall

so while most of my property is pretty

heavily treed on this one side it's

uh nice really nice Meadow more trees

behind IND it and around it actually

about halfway across there my property

ends really nice uh big an open area I I

really like this

Meadow Cody likes everything out here he

likes

uh he likes the freedom and all the all

the beauty so again I will never ever

stop being a nomad as long as my body

and my mind will allow it and when they

no longer allow it I have a nice piece

of land to go to and in between now and

then which is hopefully a long time um

I'll come here 2 three months a year and

be on the road all the other time so you

might be saying to yourself I can't do

that what am I going to do yes you can

now uh uh I have a video of the 1 acre

piece of land that I bought I've had

that 58 years and when I bought it it

was only 2,000 for an acre and the guy

and this is a stand standard thing in

rural land you can usually put 200 down

and then 100 or 200 a month whatever you

can afford and so you can probably

afford land as long as you can make

those payments um and they are in the

ballpark generally of 100 or 200 a month

the down payment is usually very small

they want people to be able to get into

these pieces of land and they want it to

be easy for you to buy it so they carry

the note and so that's why what happens

a lot land speculators the subdividing

lots and renting them out and and

selling them out for low payments and

that's what's available if you look for

it uh a really good place to look is

land.com so go to land.com and uh you'll

find a just a ton of of land for sale

here in Arizona and Colorado and New

Mexico it's everywhere it's all over

Oregon's got a bunch of land and a lot

of it is really cheap because it's just

kind of remote I'm on a back I'm

probably back five miles on a kind of

rough road it keeps people out and makes

going out to the main road uh slow but

it it's the pluses and minuses work out

well and so and I'm pretty remote

nearest Town's a good distance away and

that's why it's cheap and that's why you

can probably afford it so um if you can

make that monthly payment I really would

encourage you to look into buying some

land for yourself

and you can be doing just what I'm doing

I hope that helped you if you've got

anything out of this video I hope you

like it on YouTube subscribe to the

channel hit that thumbs up button and

we'll talk to you

later bye now