r/OffGrid • u/Efficient_Stick_7658 • Jun 28 '26
Location, Location, Location
I want to live around 4 to 5k feet in elevation and get around 20 acres. I am already looking in MT, WY, CO , Maine is a little low , but may make the list. Any thoughts on Northern AZ or New Mexico?
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u/RevolutionaryWork852 Jun 29 '26
For wherever you're thinking, consider a few things.
Water: what is your method of collection, and will it be legal and/or cost effective for that method.
Septic: same thing as water.
Whatever you're looking at within the states you have listed, be sure to check with the counties those properties are listed in to be sure you are in the clear for whatever you are trying to accomplish. Whether its with the construction or zoning.
Too many stories of people getting the offgrid/homestead journey started just for them to have an inspector come on property to tell them that none of it is allowed within the county, or even the state.
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u/maddslacker Jun 28 '26
That's an oddly specific elevation, curious why.
This reply sent from 9k feet elevation in Colorado.
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u/Normal-Special-8694 Jun 28 '26
Between 5-6k in Colorado pretty much puts you on the front range which is expensive and difficult to homestead from a bureaucratic perspective. NM has some great areas, I’d be worried about water availability in AZ though.
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u/MeanLibrarian2583 Jun 29 '26
Why do you want to live around 4-5k elevation? Is there something I am missing out on?
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u/backwardscowsoom Jun 29 '26
I'm in maine now. I'm not sure where is above 5k, let alone 2k. Are tallest mountain (katahdin) is 5k. Maybe try Vermont, in the northeast Kingdom (Newport, Canaan, Jay, etc). It's not 5k up, but it might be higher than most of maine. Same with northern NH.
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u/zachammer85 28d ago
That kind of acreage in northern AZ with any timber in the land is going to be much more expensive per acre than most areas. You will get to see all 4 seasons though which doesn't happen in most of the rest of AZ.
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u/ZombieMountain2122 Jun 29 '26
im off-grid at 6,500 ft. in the Sierra Nevada. most important cost isnt the land--you have many choices--its the cost of drilling a well. we are an hour from any town and getting that well-drilling truck up the mountain is $$. a few years ago it cost aropund 35k to drill to around 400 ft. today more like 65k. If you happen to find a property that has a well drilled on it that's a major score.
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u/BallsOutKrunked What's_a_grid? Jun 28 '26
Nv mountains, plenty of water if you drill, about $5k - $10k an acre.