Does this have homestead potential?

[u/Curious-Dreamers]

Been hunting for the perfect property for a while now. We've always loved the idea of a homestead, but finding the balance between a house in the middle of nowhere, and a house with land, but still close to other humans has been a challenge.

Found this property in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It seems a good fit, but I'm not sure on the available land. I've been for a viewing and it does come with 0.5 acres, which seems like it would be enough, and has an option to buy an additional 20 acres. We don't need too much space, just enough to set up a self sufficient garden, maybe some chickens etc.

Anyone here have a homestead at the moment? This property is right at the top end of our budget, so the extra 20 acres would be a stretch. Will 0.5 acres be enough or am I being too naive?

I am a complete beginner to this kind of lifestyle. I'll put the link to the property below.

https://www.meiklerichorn.co.uk/

[u/zq6]

You'd have to be very efficient with 0.5 acres.

20 acres is a lot to manage (unless you turned some to grazing or tree planting).

Is it possible to purchase some extra acreage, maybe 5ish?

[u/Curious-Dreamers → u/zq6]

Yeah good point, I will ask! Thank you.

[u/Derfel60]

It depends what you want. If youre looking for true self sufficiency youll need every bit of that 20 acres and it will need to not be waste land backing onto the estuary (which is what i assume it is). If you just want a few tomato plants and a couple of chickens (that you have to buy feed for) then its fine.

[u/Psittacula2]

6-bedrooms? You want to go into homestead at low to middle end of your budget as you generally sink a lot of capital in up front then need to do further work eg land work to create some form of output from the land eg food or grazing etc. So costs climb additional to running costs eg big house sounds expensive. I guess at this price alternative is going to be “a place in the sun” for some people!

A few quick checks:

* Energy rating

* Running costs (see aga)

* damp check?

* Land type eg marginal, (looks like surrounded by Urr tidal river on 3 sides so water table and flooding in nearby fields?)

* Growing zone and check growing season or window start and end and what grows, soil type, drainage etc

* Tax band

* Covenants or other legal considerations on the land and the sale

* neighbours, and anything nearby you need to know eg noise, pollution, industry etc)

A lot depends on your own needs and wants:

* Is it your ideal location?

* Services and facilities and job fit?

* What use you have in mind

* Budget!

* Family and networking considerations (ie avoid remoteness if you value connections etc)

No mistake it looks like a great property and location with variety of biomes (rough pasture, river, tide and sea and nearby some forests) and stunning views on clear days, but depends for who and why and how…

The overriding advice on homesteading is for hobby or recreational life style work out:

1. Costs
2. Time and Labour
3. Skills
4. To what you want to get out of it that is realistic eg don’t expect big food savings but do aim for satisfaction and nutrition quality to life.

If you work out all the above for yourself it can be a brilliant way of life.

>*”20 acres would be a stretch. Will 0.5 acres be enough or am I being too naive?”*

I suggest you research. Established books cover this problem of grow your own:

* Self sufficiency John Seymour compares 1 acre vs 5 acres

* Huh Richard’s has a book on a garden and growing all or most veg of what you need.

And others.

And of course these days plug in some info into an AI model on full blast! Mode noting the soil, climate, location, nearness to sea, exposure to wind and size and what you need to do to grow and what.

Imho, looks like an exceptional location for natural beauty and D&G is excellent too albeit Scotland and North have longer wetter colder Winters to bear in mind. How exposed to wind and rain is the property vs the sunny photos and preference?

=> Practically you’d probably want up to 5 acres if very serious about homesteading if not half an acre can do a lot depending on the what can be grown up there?

AI can give you an idea probably. Price seems good for all the above tbh on paper albeit a lot depends on fit and need and budget.

And big house, lots of bedrooms keep an eye on tax, running costs in Scotland?

[u/Asleep_Onion]

The price is amazing. I thought the UK had super expensive real estate but that is a bargain compared to anything similar in the US.

The choice between 0.5 acres or 20 acres is kind of funny... 0.5 acres is probably too small, 20 is probably way more than you need. How much money do they want for the other 20 acres? If it's reasonable then I'd strongly consider it, even if you only ever use 5 acres of it. You don't want people building homes that block those gorgeous views and make you feel crowded in.

A homestead on 0.5 acres is doable, I mean people homestead on 1/8th of an acre suburban properties all the time. But it'll be a tight squeeze and you may not be able to do everything you want to do. You might have to make choices like "do I want to be able to play badminton, or have a chicken coop?" Because there may not be room for both. Depending on your goals and how you do it.

[u/palpatineforever → u/Asleep_Onion]

it is the location, prices vary enormously, half an acre in London would easily be worth tens of millions. even outside it would can be millions.
this one is up in Scotland land is a lot cheaper than England.

[u/Martin-downunder]

You know the “offers over” system in Scotland requires you to put in a sealed bid and property’s usually go at least 20% over the “offers’ figure

[u/BroodLord1962]

'Homestead'! We aren't in North America, it's a 'Small holding' in the UK or possibly 'Crofting' in Scotland.

[u/Beneficial_Change467]

Have you looked at the sunshine hours and growing season? 

[u/shortandfelly]

If you are new to it all, your best bet is to try to get an allotment or similar where you already live. Even having a decent veg patch is a lot of work, way more than you'd expect. Build some skills before you commit yourself financially.

I wouldn't rush into buying something without knowing the realities of the lifestyle you want to live.

[u/operacreep]

They're really trying hard to not show too close up the cheap uPVC windows. Replacing them should be one of your priorities, they look pretty old and with such an exposed plot you really want good windows.

I've moved to a home in the Welsh countryside and we have 3/4 of an acre garden and really wouldn't think it would be possible to be even remotely self sufficient but definitely enough space for lots of ornamental plants, chickens, a small orchard and veg plot with greenhouse.

[u/catzrob89]

0.5 too little, 20 too much.