Are you tired of sinking all your hard-earned cash into rent? Do you dream of waking up in wild country and seeing the whole universe unfold before your eyes at night? Lucky for you, there are some impossibly cheap parcels of land for sale in the U.S. right now that could either be your forever home or just allow you to get away for the weekend in a place that is all your own.
The cheapest land for sale in the U.S. is usually in extremely rural areas and off the grid. It is most often found in the deserts of the western states and the forests of the south. These parcels can be used for a variety of things, like hunting, camping, and even building residential structures.
You may have never considered yourself able to afford land at this point in your life, but there are tons of options all across the country that could have you living your dream sooner than you think. Read on to learn about the cheapest land available for purchase in the U.S.
Article Contents
What is the Cheapest Land to Buy?
In order to buy property for the lowest possible price, you must have an adventurous spirit. These parcels are often very far from small towns and even further from large ones. They might have no water access and no grid power. If you are looking to get away from it all full-time or just have a quiet place to retreat to every once in a while, these attributes might even be a fun challenge for you.
The search engine Land Watch is a wonderful tool you can use to find a comprehensive list of lots for sale all across the country. The filters are extremely helpful in finding the cheapest land with your priorities. Simply put a maximum dollar amount and any other filters that are important to you (i.e. if a home site is buildable, size, if there is water access), and it will do the work for you. This is a fantastic place to start your search.
Often, the cheapest land for sale is in the deserts of the western states or the deep woods of the southern south.
- If you intend to buy land with residential planning permission, Colorado or Arkansas are the places to look.
- If you are just looking for a piece of land to be a steward of and visit for recreational purposes, there are tons of higher acreage options in the arid landscapes of Nevada.
Keep in mind that parcels that are able to be developed for home-building are more expensive and harder to find. There are plenty of lots for sale with a fraction of an acre that is either not buildable or has no road access leading to them, but these lots are not desirable at all. The properties discussed here will be limited to larger recreational land and smaller residential land. You can expect to pay $1,000 to $5,000 total for these.
Where Is the Cheapest Land Per Acre?
The cheapest plots of residential land can be found in abundance in Arkansas, but maybe you are looking for the greatest value instead. If you are looking for the most bang for your buck, there are hundreds of lots for sale on the scale of 20 to 50 acres for just a few thousand dollars. These lots can break down to as low as $120 per acre, which is a much better deal than the absolute cheapest properties will be.
By far, the best per-acre price is in Nevada. However, these properties are for recreational use only. If you need a lot that you can build a home on, the next best per-acre prices are in Colorado. These parcels are more on the order of five acres, but that is plenty of space to build your dream home. If what you want is pure solitude without a neighbor for miles, then the lowest per-acre plots may be the way to go.
Buying at the lowest cost-per-acre price is a better investment than just buying the lowest priced property. It will:
- Give you space to grow
- Allow you to capitalize on your investment
- Be located in a more serene and picturesque area
Whether you want to farm, build a home, or simply be able to go out and breathe on your own land, consider buying these types of properties.
Which States Have the Cheapest Land for Sale?
By limiting your search by the type of deal you are looking for, you can be sure to find property that suits your needs. Depending on what your priorities are, you can find residential or recreational zoned properties for $1,000 to $5,000.
The three cheapest states to buy land and their various types are:
- Arkansas – cheapest total cost for residential neighborhood lots
- Nevada – cheapest per-acre cost for large rural recreational lots
- Colorado – cheapest per-acre cost for large rural residential lots
These states have a consistent supply of good-quality and low-price properties listed for all sorts of uses. Here, you can find the perfect spot that is within your price range and contains all the components you are looking for in a property. Below you can take a closer look at these states and the benefits of each one.
Arkansas
To find the cheapest residential lots inside of neighborhoods, Arkansas is the place to look. There are plenty of properties under an acre here that are ready to be built on. If you are not looking to live way out in the middle of nowhere and would like to live in a nice small-town community, this may be a great place to look. These properties are zoned for residential building and in the range of $1,000 to $1,500 total.
This property, for example, is in an already established neighborhood in the mid-sized town of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. This is a great option for people wanting to have the security of living in town, but not break the bank on property costs. Pine Bluff is a college town with a lively and young community that is always changing, which might prove to be a fun environment in which to build a forever home.
There are other similarly-priced properties available in more rural areas if you want to be surrounded by nature completely, but these will come with challenges surrounding grid hookups.
- Land in Arkansas is ideal for those who love being surrounded by green and fresh country air.
- The friendly culture of the south might be the perfect environment to start out on a new journey and put down roots.
Overall, Arkansas is the best place to find quality cheap land for the lowest out-of-pocket price. While the cost per acre is higher than other options, it is a great option for those looking to just spend the least possible amount of money on land and get to building quicker.
Nevada
If you are looking for land for recreational purposes only, Nevada has the cheapest land by acreage in the country. Parcels of 40 acres can sell for under $5,000, making this the best investment of all the lots listed here. If you have more capital and are looking to get the most land at the best price, Nevada is the way to go. You will benefit greatly from investing a little more money into a lot more acreage than if you purchased less.
It is important to emphasize: because these properties are not zoned for residential use, you can only use them recreationally. Some things to do on these lots include:
- Hunting
- Ranging
- Camping
- Hosting big outdoor events
Just because you cannot build a house on these properties does not mean that they would not be worthwhile. You can get far away from the stress of daily life and find the healing and nurturing your soul needs.
Take a look at this property that is selling for about $5,000. It is on an old mine that could be looked into restarting. Otherwise, it is a sprawling nearly 40-acre property for those looking to get away and feel the vastness of the land around them. At half a day’s drive from Las Vegas and a couple of hours to the mountains in California, this is a great place to vacation.
Nevada’s landscapes are open and endless, with more stars than you have ever seen before. Some of the darkest night skies in the country exist here, and it is a place for true adventure and solace. You do not need to live out there full time to reap the benefits of owning property there. Visiting a few times a month or even a few times a year may be just what you need to feel a much greater sense of peace in your life.
Colorado
If what you want is larger plots of rural land to build your dream home, Colorado might be your place. These plots are the most expensive of the three but deserve some recognition. For a couple thousand dollars, you can buy a property to build a dream home in an area with the perfect mix of a beautiful setting and a great community.
This property is five acres and comes in at around $5,000. It offers incredible views of snowy peaks and space to spread out. All types of homes are legal to build here, and there are countless activities and places to explore nearby. There is a semi-large town half an hour away, so you can find solace at this property without being stranded in the middle of nowhere.
- Colorado is a place for adventurers.
- Being home to the Rocky Mountains, it is also home to people who love the great outdoors.
- Here you will find kindred spirits and a place you may not ever want to leave.
It is true that properties in Colorado are more expensive than the previously listed options. However, if you are willing to spend a bit more per acre, you could build a home in the location of your dreams.
Outro
These affordable properties can open so many doors. If you did not think you could afford property, think again. With rent prices increasing every year, you will likely save lots of money in the end. Though it is a small investment up front, you could decrease your monthly costs drastically.
If you spend less on the land itself, you can spend more on building your dream house. Release yourself from the endless commitment and drain on funds of renting and consider buying some land to invest in your future.
