So, you’re considering living a lifestyle of self-sufficiency and self-determination in Georgia and don’t know where to begin. Well, you have come to the right place.
Today, we’ll look at what it means to homestead or live off-grid and why this appeals to so many. Also, we’ll discuss the best counties in Georgia to achieve this way of life. You can use the services of eXp realtors to help you find the perfect Georgia property for your needs.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a better understanding of Georgia’s real estate market, how to make a home in Georgia, and get the most out of your move. We’ we’ll also look at finding a job in Georgia and how to incorporate your sustainability efforts into your work. Let’s dive in.
Homesteading and Off-Grid Living
Before we start looking at different Georgia counties for off-grid living, let’s think about what this actually means. Of course, the idea of homesteading might look a little different to everyone.
Essentially, this kind of lifestyle is often characterized by:
- producing or preserving your own foods
- hand-making crafts and clothing
- generally getting more in touch with yourself
rather than depending on the material and commercial world so much.
For some people, homesteading might mean a total separation from the way they see the world today and society, living only with essential material things and sustaining yourself one hundred percent from the land. However, for others, a more moderate approach is sufficient.
Maybe you’d like to be a little more independent when it comes to feeding your family. You could take up growing fresh produce, learn how to ferment food, and try to shop less often for groceries.
The back-to-the-land movement is the idea that people should spend more time learning about and taking part in growing their own food. This movement champions an agricultural society’s autonomy and self-sufficiency. You may be drawn to this way of life as a way to self-determine your own activities and goals and move away from external pressures and influence.
Sustainable agriculture is a big part of the homesteading lifestyle, but that isn’t all it’s about. If you feel lost or unsettled in your life, you might be ready to take a radical approach to self-determining your future. Prioritize your well-being and find yourself by living “off-grid”.
Use a Real Estate Agency
While you might be thinking about going totally off-grid once you move to Georgia, you’ll need to rely on the internet and great real estate services before you get there! By far the easiest way to find properties right for you and navigate the buying and selling process is by enlisting the help of expert realtors.
The first step is knowing what you want so a real estate agent can help you find it. Think about what size you would like your home to be and how much land you think you will need.
Buyers can search here for homes in Georgia by county, and filter by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Get to know what the Peach State has to offer in terms of land, property size, and price ranges.
eXp Realty offers better results than sites like Zillow and Redfin, and it better protects customers’ personal data and information. Also, the experts at eXp can help you narrow down your choices and answer any burning questions. Their website is very straightforward and easy to use, making it a great starting point for your home search.
A professional realtor will be able to help you not only navigate the housing market but also research which counties and towns have the best schools, hospitals, job opportunities, and other amenities. No matter what you’re looking for, a real estate agent’s job is to find it for you.
The Best Georgia Counties for You
With all of that being said, where in Georgia would you like to move to begin this new sustainable life? There are a lot of great counties in this sunny state that would be perfect for homesteading. In fact, there are 159 counties in total in the southern state of Georgia.
Notable counties in Georgia include:
- Fulton, where Atlanta is located
- Fannin County, known for its pumpkin farms and apple orchards
- Stewart County, home to Providence Canyon State Park
- Chattahoochee River archaeological site.
Georgia is also home to a number of vineyards, so if you’re interested in delving into wine farming, consider this when you choose your next home.
Now let’s look at a couple of counties where you might want to try out off-grid living in Georgia.
Brooks County
This southern Georgia county is abundant with wildlife, such as quail, dove, ducks, and deer. It’s also a great county to move to if you love fishing as there are a lot of streams and lakes open to the public.
Properties for sale in Brooks County tend to have several acres of land. Make sure the land you’re considering is fit for your needs.
Habersham County
Nature and hiking enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable county in Georgia for living than Habersham. This northeastern Georgia county is located within the Blue Ridge Mountains, which is a blue-tinged segment of the Appalachian Mountain range.
This naturally stunning county is also home to a part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. In the forest, you can find hawks, hummingbirds, black bears, coyotes, bats, beavers, bobcats, and many more fascinating creatures.
Pine Mountain
In the central-western portion of Georgia lie the counties of Harris and Meriweather. Straddling these two western counties is the small town of Pine Mountain.
The town gets its name from the Pine Mountain Range, which lies to its south. If you want to live in a quiet town close to nature, but still be well-connected to bigger cities and main driving routes, Pine Mountain is perfect for you.
The Georgia Real Estate Market
Now that you’ve considered where you might like to move within the state of Georgia, you can start to consider the real estate market. This will help you to determine what size property you’re looking for, given your budget and needs.
The good news is that housing costs in Georgia are under the national average and the cost of living is reasonable. Also, taxes are generally low.
The exact cost of a home and land in Georgia will, of course, vary depending on the county. However, on average, you can expect a home in Georgia to cost around $300,000. As Georgia is one of the top ten states when it comes to home size, this is a pretty great average. Plus, it’s easy to find Georgia homes attached to a lot of land.
Make a House a Home
Once you’ve found the right home and land for your homesteading needs, you can start to settle in. This is a crucial stage in your moving process, as you’ll want to begin to make your house a home.
What this means is that when you first get your hands on a property, it probably won’t feel like your dream home. You’ll need to put the work in to make yourself feel at home there.
Personal touches in the home will make a massive difference. Start to move your belongings into the new house and decorate the interior to reflect your taste and character.
You can repaint, renovate, landscape, and generally make improvements that make you feel more at peace with your surroundings. Plus, any family members or pets moving with you will help to make the place feel just right.
Another great idea is to build some of your own furniture. Join a local community of woodworkers in Georgia and share your creations, ideas, and innovations.
You can also learn from others’ woodworking blogs and gain inspiration from seeing what other craftsmen have made. Not only will this make your home more personal, but it will add to your self-sufficiency efforts.
Getting the Most Out of Your Move
When it comes to picking up your life and moving to a new state with the goal of living off-grid, there are two ways to proceed. You can throw yourself into your new life and get the most out of it, or you can be overly cautious and shy away from new experiences. The best thing you can do for yourself is to jump in with both feet and have an open and positive attitude.
Another great way to make sure you’re living life to the fullest and being your best self is to try out radical mentoring. By discussing your feelings in a safe setting, you can dig into the issues that you face, and issues that we all face, and explore solutions for building a more fulfilling life. There is no better time to seek out opportunities for self-improvement than when you make a big life change.
By moving to Georgia, you’re telling yourself that you’re ready for positive change and a new lease on life. There’s no need to do this alone when there are expert life coaches available to help you on your journey. Whether you need help dealing with personal concerns or career decisions, help is out there. You just need to reach out.
Finding Work in Georgia
Last but not least, when you move to a brand new state, you need to think about how to make a living. Of course, if you intend to live totally off the grid, you might want to work out a way to live purely off the land without a full-time job. But you’ll still need to be able to pay bills, taxes, and other financial aspects of modern life.
A great way to earn some money while homesteading is to try and incorporate your sustainability efforts into your efforts to earn money and survive. Remember that we’re all stewards of the skills, time, and resources we’ve been given.
You can make the most of your agricultural or handcrafting capabilities by carefully managing your time and channeling your skills toward a career path that will fulfill you.
For instance, you might want to sell some of the produce or crafts you make at home. Whether you ferment food, grow fresh produce, or construct wooden pieces of furniture, you could make enough to survive well by selling to your local community.
This is a great way to look after yourself, hone your skills, and encourage minimalism with regard to capitalistic consumption.
Big Business in Georgia
On the other hand, you might want a more stable and reliable source of income. That is absolutely understandable. Many home buyers choose to move to Georgia specifically because of its low unemployment rate, job opportunities, and affordable housing.
There are actually eighteen Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Georgia. The state’s largest employers include:
- The Home Depot
- Delta Air Lines
- The Coca-Cola Company
- UPS
These big companies provide a ton of opportunities for budding young business people to make their mark.
Outside of the cities, there are many jobs that might suit your sustainable lifestyle more. For instance, you might want to try your hand at commercial farming. Georgia’s main industries are agriculture, energy, tourism, and film production.
Hopefully, this comprehensive guide to buying property in Georgia and living off-grid has inspired you and given you some idea of where you might like to live.
The Peach State is home to 159 counties, various National Parks, fascinating wildlife, and, crucially, abundant farmlands. So, whether you decide to move to Brooks or Habersham County, or anywhere else in this sunny southern state, you’ll be able to give homesteading a shot.
You can make a house a home by becoming more self-sufficient, growing food, making furniture and clothes, and joining in with the local community. To work on self-determination, you can also give radical mentoring a go. The world is your oyster in Georgia, so start looking at properties on eXp today and take the first step toward your new life.
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