ncbill
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Stormy Kromer, you know the feel of being part of that land and how rewarding working the land is. Land in most cases will cost you money, just like any other purchase you make (home, car, business) etc.
I have told a story before here that in the very early 80's didn't have much but had a job. I bought an irrigated farm. I was turned down by one bank, but I finally got the money. I rented it out and worked a small part of it myself. I owned it for 25 years and sold it for 14 times more than I had paid for it including the financing. I had it paid for many years before I sold it though.
I stuck my neck out as far as it could go, and it was a very rewarding time in my life owning that dirt. I get depressed when I think about that I sold it.
Farmland can also come with significant tax advantages.
Here in my state you get classified as a working farm if you generate $1,000/year in revenue (not profit) from the farm.
Which means you only pay property tax on the personal residence (and the land on which it sits) on the farm...no tax on everything else, e.g. farm buildings/equipment, land.
A friend has the use of ~60 acres that way...most undeveloped woods, creeks, gently rolling hills...we joke he has his own private park.