5 Things to Look for Before Buying Land for Solo Living
Avoid costly land mistakes. Check access, water, zoning, soil, and community before you buy. A Faithwards checklist for women in their prime of life.
Buying land isn’t just a dream, it’s a decision that shapes your safety, sanity, and future. Use this Faithwards checklist to evaluate property with wisdom and confidence. A little research will save you money, stress, and tears.
- Access: Verify legal access with a deeded easement or public road. Landlocked property can trap you in emergencies and complicate deliveries. Walk or drive the access during bad weather to see if it’s passable.
- Water: Ask, “What’s my water plan?” Options include drilled wells, springs, sand point wells, rain catchment, delivery, or shared systems. Look for roof lines suitable for catchment, nearby creeks, and places to store water safely.
- Zoning & Use: Check county rules on full‑time living, RVs, tiny homes, composting toilets, and short‑term rentals. A perfect property on paper can become a headache if local codes block your plans.
- Soil & Slope: Soil impacts gardening, septic, and building. Ask about prior perc testing. Walk the land because steep ground can complicate building pads, driveways, and erosion control. It can also cause severe issues during flooding!
- Community & Cell Service: Meet a neighbor or two. Listen for busy roads. Visit at different times of day. Test your phone signal and hotspot. For solo living, a supportive community and reliable communication matter.
Take time to look at all these extra checks: Floodplain maps, fire risk, property boundaries with flags or a survey, and previous use such as old dumps or buried chemicals.
Buying land will require a lot of mental as well as physical effort on your part.
That is why I look at land through the Faithwards lens, weighing:
Faith + Fitness + Finance + Fellowship.
Using all the areas of life God wants you to flourish. Choose land that supports your body's needs, your budget, and your sense of belonging. God leads with peace; let that compass guide you.
“The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.” (Psalm 37:23)
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About the Author
Trisha Walker is a licensed South Carolina real estate broker and land specialist, serving buyers and sellers through her real estate practice at Palmetto Moon Properties.
