In speaking with folks at sport shows and seminars over the past few years, one thing that many have in common is that they would like to own a place in the country to get away to and enjoy the great outdoors. Although this has been a dream of many, it seems that when they take the time to crunch the financial numbers, many find that dream out of reach. Well, I’m here to tell you about a possible alternative that might just help to get you started in owing your own piece of the great outdoors that you and your family can enjoy and still be within your budget.

When you take the time to consider the cost of purchasing a country property, whether it’s vacant land or land with a home or cabin on it, the final cost can be eye opening. Most properties that already have a quality livable structure on it will in most instances be selling at a premium price depending on its location and amenities.  Those lower priced properties on the market with a structure on them will in most instances require a substantial investment to bring them back to your acceptable living standards. This is where the dilemma comes in for most folks, what to do?

As one who has invested in vacant country land here in the Midwest, I have learned over the years that there are ways you can still realize the dream of owning your own piece of country and still keep it within your affordable budget. With that in mind, let’s touch on just how you can enjoy the beauty and serenity of living on your own piece of country land without going in over your head.

From the emails I constantly get from realtors in places like Wisconsin and Minnesota, it’s no secret that there are parcels of land available for folks looking for their own piece of the country. The nice part is that many of these parcels of land are vacant and actually quite affordable. Land sizes from just a few acres to as many as 40 acres can be had at reasonable prices, again depending on the amenities of the property. Is it lakeside or secluded? Is there a road to the property, or electric on site? Is it a buildable parcel?  These are all things that will affect the properties pricing.

To save the upfront sticker shock of building a home on some of these types of properties, there is a great alternative that is available that will not only allow you to initially purchase your dream property, but also use it for getaways. I’m speaking of using your purchased property to start as a place to park a camper. This is an excellent alternative use for the property until you decide if you want to go ahead and build that dream country home there.

These days, the campers that are available on the market are loaded with options that rival any cabin in the woods for sure. From big screen television to fireplaces, just about anything you can think of as an option can be had on these modern-day campers. The best part is that you can either choose to leave these campers on site, or just tow it back home at the end of your stay. Also, you have the option of using it to explore other locations and have all the comforts of home with you. Now let’s look at the cost aspect.

After you decide on a parcel of land that you like and can afford without breaking the bank, you will want to start that search for your country home on wheels. When looking for a camper to use as a country home, you will find that it actually is a buyer’s market out there with many excellent bargains available. When looking for this type of recreational camper, you do not have to break the bank and buy brand new. Depending on what size camper you need to fit your family needs, it’s a pretty good bet that there is a nice used unit out there that will fit the bill for you. For this I recommend going online and checking area camper dealers. You will find that most list their used inventory and this will help you see what is available. If you see something you think might fit your needs, go look at it in person. I have found that there are real bargains to be had if you take the time to search them out. One last thing, look at multiple styles of campers with different amenities, as this will give you a better idea of what you may want to fill your particular needs.

I’ll tell you my friends, it’s a proven fact that you can still realize your dream of owning a place in the country without going way into debt. Have a strategic plan for first purchasing the type of country property you desire and look around. Don’t jump at that first property. Search wisely and you will be pleasantly surprised at just what you can find. After you secure that dream property, save money by using the camper alternative for a living space until you decide the time is right to build that permanent country home. When you do make that decision, you can now resell that camper that has served you well and recoup most of what you paid for it. By doing this you can now use that money to invest back into your country dream home.

Hopefully, you can find the property of your dreams. After that, all that is left to do is enjoy.

Email your outdoors questions to Mike Cyze at: lastcast13@yahoo.com. You can also check out his blog at: lastcastoutdoors.com or listen to him on ESPN Radio.