Just found out I inherited 15 acres of land.
I value Bitcoiners advice more than any…
What should I do with it? It’s out in the sticks. Old family land. Grandparents left it behind to me.
Discussion
Do you live nearby?
Very cool
I went all-in on a digital wealth strategy with Bitcoin 3 years ago, it’s worked wonders from a purchasing power perspective, but it’s really highlighted how important it is to control your physical space if you can (and specially with a young family)
Have a listen to the ep I publish today, as I talk through hardware vs software investing, which ofc includes land
I wonder, what productive activity could you create, implementing as much ai as possible, such that you’re not competing with tech companies, but actually the average 15 acre land owner ie you can be more efficient than them and drive better value
Which then has to be compared to Bitcoin the hurdle rate… sell, but Bitcoin, sit on it, create inter-generational family wealth that is a far better store of value than land
Choice is yours!
Appreciate the thoughtful response, Jake!
I will certainly give the episode a listen this eve!
The part I’m having the hardest time distinguishing between is whether I should treat this as an investment or not.
I’ve been stacking bitcoin since 2016, liquidation would certainly contribute to my stack but wouldn’t be life changing.
Part of me wants to just take it to the bank and pull equity out to smash buy Bitcoin. I can comfortably make the payment. Something about this generational land that dates back to my great grandparents is hard to let go of. 🤔
Great debate. Land is essential at the end of the day, BUT it’s not outpacing the Bitcoin hurdle rate right now
I like the family connection
I sold my family home of 3.5 generations when my father died 15 years ago
One of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made
I miss the land
It was still the right call in that particular scenario
Everyone is different!
What’s your priority as an individual? Wealth? Property? Both?
I know Bitcoiners will tell you to sell and buy Bitcoin. But thats it’s not always just about more numbers attached to your home. Land like that is something else, especially land with family ties and history
If it seems like too much a burden to unkept for where you are at in life, that’s understandable
I would think long and hard on this. I know many of my family members who inherited waterfront land twice, and immediately sold it for quick and drastic increase in net worth, but then they were left finding new things to purchase that they didn’t need
Appreciate the thoughtfulness of your response, Dylan.
I completely agree. The specialness of the land has me wanting to not treat it as an investment for money but more so as an investment for my family. Have my first child on the way. My great grandparents farmed the land, then my grandparents.
Then… the business side of me says keep it, but pull some equity out for Bitcoin. I can comfortably service the payment & add more sats but still keep the land.
Lots of decisions!
If you can use it to make money do it. Being in the sticks might be a good thing
Check out this guy who is an expert at building charming spots that sellout on airbnb, it could be a good idea for you with this inheritance www.isaacjfrench.com/
Long term view instead of short term. Don’t make hasty decisions. Take your time. Land is a good asset for the coming times
Land must be defended by force
My family has a plot of land near me (used to own A LOT more). We have a a pavilion and some very basic facilities on it. We have a family reunion there every year. Been going on for 133 years continuously, and even longer before that. Keep it and build a tradition.
How exciting! I’d take long term view and see what’s needed to keep it afloat like property tax and maybe insurance. See if you can direct more of your time to make things work on it (live and work).
This is awesome, congrats! Being someone who is actively looking for land out in the sticks, I vote you hold on to it and improve it!
Does it have any structures, utilities, water bodies, fencing, etc or just raw land?
What USDA hardiness zone is it? Mainly, does it freeze there?
I can give you specifics of what I would do if it were mine w those answers
Thank you! I have since decided to hold onto it and see what I can make of it!
No structures or utilities. There is a single pond and a nice creek that runs through the property. Would say half field and half wooded. In the Appalachian mountains so fairly hilly. It does freeze; normal Nov - March winters and hot summers that northern Appalachia experiences!
Wow, that sounds ideal!
I guess it really comes down to your interests and lifestyle goals- like do you want a homestead that you live on or just a cabin to get away to occasionally and rent out as a short term rental?
Sorry for more questions but I figured I'd spare you homestead ideals if you were thinking of the latter?
You are spot on with what my wife and I are sorting out now. We’ve spent a lot of time, energy, and capital to make our current place great. We live in a national park and are already pretty wooded but only have ~4 acres.
The inherited land has no visable neighbors, is off the beaten path, and is ideal for homesteading. A cabin is happening at the very least. But building and moving is on the table as well!
Nice! If it were mine I would:
1. First spend a good amount of time on the land and ask what the highest use is and what can you do to be of service to the land (yes I know that sounds crazy- but i recommend it)
2. Once you have a decent picture of that in your head, focus on access- improving roads, laneways and trails with proper grading (crowning them and putting in proper culverts for drainage, etc)c
3. Think about either bringing in utilities or DIYing it with a well/rainwater catchment, solar or hydropower, septic or composting systems
4. I'd plant trees around the perimeter of the property, maybe leaving openings for wildlife for viewing and/or hunting. You can create "living fences" with species like osage orange or other less thorny trees and shrubs (you can buy in bulk as seedlings from a state nursery like Missouri)
But since you aren't worried about blocking sight lines to neighbors- regular fencing may be worth it if you want to have animals (its pricey though)
5. I would lay out the contours of the property and see if any earthworks are needed to hold more water and improve the banks of the stream (normally with rock armoring if erosion is a problem) and see if the pond needs any enhancing (sedimentation and being too small are the main issues typically). Making it beautiful is also important whether its a rental or for you
6. Figure out your building site and then work out from there using permaculture zones as a guide..
Gardens as close to the house as possible, then animals a bit further, etc
7. Take it all one major project at a time. Make some sort of progress each week and it'll all add up.
I'm probably forgetting a bunch of obvious stuff but hopefully something in here is helpful or food for thought
Holler if you need any clarification or anything..
I've done garden, edible landscaping and permaculture consultations for the last 12 years and am getting into larger acreages and larger water body projects, so the more data points the better
Thank you so much for the thoughtful response. Let me digest all of it for a bit and I will be in touch!