There are 3 main factors when considering a property to farm, homestead, or use as a bug-out location.

- Water

- Access

- Structures

I didn't know this helpful little tidbit of information when I purchased our first land in the Ozarks.

The land that we now not so affectionately call Mucky Mountain.

The Background:

My wife (@allforthegood), our 2 children (at the time) and I took a road trip to the Ozarks almost 4 years ago this spring. We were in search of the Spirit's leading as to where God wanted to settle us on a new homestead. We were sure He was calling us down to this part of the country, but weren't quite sure exactly where, so we took the trip to find out.

We drove all over North West Arkansas, from Cherokee Village across to Yellville then to Eureka Springs, down through Rogers and Hot Springs, back up through Little Rock and finally came back around to the Yellville Area.

It was there that we both felt God speaking to our hearts through a very clear sense of peace that the Yellville area was going to be our new home.

As a side note, a life lesson that took me a while to figure out:

God has given you your spouse as a gift; a completer. The other half of your whole.

If both of you have prayerfully sought God's guidance on a decision, and that decision doesn't violate the Law of Love, then having agreement and peace on something is a good indicator that God wills it.

This understanding has been very helpful in discerning the will of God in my life. Hopefully, this advise will help you as well.

Having resolved to make the Yellville, Arkansas area our new home, we set out to find us some land.

Much to our delight, we discovered that land is very affordable down in the Ozarks, compared to our native land of Wisconsin. We’re talking $1000 - $1500 per acre affordable. Comparable land in Wisconsin would easily sell for $3500 - $6000 per acre.

We met with several different realtors and found a 10 acre parcel for sale just north of Yellville that we would have been ecstatic to begin homesteading on. We went back to Wisconsin confident that this land was going to be our new home. Unfortunately, or so we thought at the time, that 10 acre parcel was sold out from underneath us by a dishonest realtor (oxymoronic, I know).

We found Mucky Mountain on Craigslist later on the same day that we found out that our first land option was gone. I drove down the next day with @olympus-mons and we walked all over the land, trying to ascertain it's value. I realized it was a better piece of land than our first option and excitedly told @allforthegood the good news.

After returning home we gave the lady selling it an offer to purchase for the exact amount she was asking. No haggling or counter offers were needed. Mucky Mountain had a better layout and was closer to town.

It was everything we wanted or needed. Or so we thought…

Stay tuned for the Rest of the Story...

Thanks for Reading!