The Truth About Financing Land Through Brokers: What You Need to Know Before Going Off-Grid
Many people dream of buying a piece of land and starting their off-grid lifestyle. One common way to make that dream happen is through **owner financing with land brokers**. It sounds easy — a down payment, monthly payments, and eventually the land is yours. But before you sign, it’s important to understand the **pros, cons, and hidden risks** that come with this type of financing.
—
## The Pros of Owner Financing
* **No banks required** – For many, traditional financing is out of reach. Owner financing gives you a way in without needing bank approval.
* **Flexible terms** – Some brokers are willing to work with your situation on down payments or monthly amounts.
* **Faster access** – Instead of months of paperwork, you can often start the purchase process quickly.
* **Opportunity for land ownership** – If you’re committed and prepared, this can be a solid path to owning your own property.
—
## The Cons of Owner Financing
* **You don’t build equity right away** – Until the land is fully paid off, you don’t truly own it. Miss a payment, and you could lose everything.
* **No refunds** – If you put down a deposit and make monthly payments, but later realize off-grid living isn’t for you, that money is gone. Brokers are not required to return it.
* **High risk of failure** – Many brokers know people back out. In fact, they often **make more money if you fail** because they resell the same land over and over to new buyers.
* **Unclear land quality** – Some properties sold through brokers may not meet your needs for water, access, or zoning. If you find this out too late, you’re stuck.
—
## Why You Should “Try Before You Buy”
Before committing to owner financing, **test out off-grid living first**. Spend time camping, renting a spot at a campground, or even staying on BLM land in the area you’re interested in. If you’re lucky enough to have friends nearby, spend time with them and see what daily life is really like.
Living off-grid can be rewarding, but it’s also challenging. From **extreme weather to isolation, limited utilities, and financial stress**, you need to know if you can handle it before locking yourself into years of payments.
—
## 5 Questions to Ask Before Financing Land
1. **Can I realistically live off-grid in this area year-round?**
– Test it out before committing. Spend weeks or months there.
2. **What are the land’s resources and restrictions?**
– Check zoning laws, water rights, road access, and whether utilities can ever be added.
3. **What happens if I can’t make payments?**
– Ask the broker directly. Be prepared for the possibility of losing all your investment.
4. **Am I financially stable enough for long-term payments?**
– Budget carefully. Off-grid living has hidden costs beyond land payments.
5. **Who benefits most from this deal — me or the broker?**
– Remember, brokers often profit more when buyers fail. Be sure you’re not walking into a trap.
—
## What You Should Do Before Investing
* **Research the land thoroughly** – Visit in person, walk the property, and talk to neighbors.
* **Live off-grid temporarily** – Try camping, staying with friends, or living at a campground in the area.
* **Budget for the unexpected** – Factor in costs for solar, water, septic, fencing, and repairs.
* **Read the contract carefully** – Look for terms about defaults, repossession, or hidden fees.
* **Have an exit plan** – Know what you’ll do if off-grid life turns out not to be for you.
—
## Final Thoughts
Owner financing **isn’t horrible** — it can be a great option for those ready to commit. But it’s not for everyone, and it’s important to know that **land brokers don’t care if you succeed or fail**. In fact, failure often makes them more money.
If you’re considering this path, take your time. Research, ask questions, and most importantly, **live the lifestyle before making a commitment**. That way, your hard-earned money becomes an investment — not a loss.
And if you want to learn more about the realities of off-grid living before jumping in, **join us live on TikTok at Colquhoun Entertainment**. We share our daily experiences, lessons learned, and real conversations about what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to desert homesteading, off-grid challenges, and sustainable living.
Come hang out with us in the mornings, ask questions, and get the unfiltered truth before you invest.
👉 http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
—
#offgrid
#homesteading
#sustainableliving
#LifeUnfiltered
#desert
Tag: land brokers
Realtors (Land Brokers) buying land in the Desert. Buyers be prepared
I don’t understand realtors (Land Brokers), is it only about the money? We get people driving out here lost looking for land, or they buy land not being prepared for living up here. We try to help as much as we can. But there’s only so much we can do. Many can’t even build anything until the land is paid off, but they put all their money into the property and have no where else to go. Yet they can’t make it without a solid structure to live in.
I do have to say the realtor Daniel works with his customers, he has asked us if it’s okay he sends people looking at land in this area to us. He has great communication skills, and seems to care.. (no he didn’t pay us to say that, we’ve never actually met him in person). We don’t sugar coat it, living out here isn’t easy, you have to be solid, winds will tear up anything that isn’t solid. Wells are very expensive it’s cheaper to haul water, and even though there’s a powerline you can’t access it. Don’t build or park vehicles and leave, it probably won’t be there when you get back, or you’ll have/had squatters and they tore it up. Try to build where neighbors can see your buildings, if we can’t see it, and you’re gone it’s likely to be vandalized. Become friends with the neighbors, we help watch out for each other. I can only talk about this area we live in, others I don’t know how they work.
I understand making money, we all do. But you’d think if you send buyers out with good info and they make it, continue to live on the land it’d be better, than the buyers failing and you having to resell the land? Many of these pieces of land become trashed, piles of left items, tents, poles, and then others start dumping trash.
It’s not only about the potential buyer, it’s about all of us out here, you leave something valuable out, or build and leave. It’s an invitation to vandals, which puts us all at risk.
Don’t get me wrong.. It doesn’t all fall on the realtor (Land Broker). People need to do their research and read the fine print. But a little education from the realtor would be nice too.. you’d think they would rather the person succeed in living in their property and not fail
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 