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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
The key word here is cheap, since if you have enough money, a broker can find you something nice even in Orange County. The trick is to avoid brokers and get out in the sticks. In southern Iowa, Turner studied plat books, looking for odd pieces of land; he drove miles of gravel roads; he ran ads in small-town papers; he went to farm auctions; and he learned the difference between quitclaim and warranty deeds, as well as how to deal with surveyors, at what point to contact a lawyer, and how to determine the right amount to offer. Finally, he found 15 acres of timber, with rural water and power already available, for $6,000. Next he bought a Farmall H tractor for $300, and a building for $100--the most delightful chapter explains how to jack up and move a building along back roads. A modest, quirky book, well written and entertaining, by an obsessive bachelor whose like can be found in any public library and whose method would seem to be applicable in any rural community. John Mort
Review
Turner's dream to purchase an inexpensive piece of country property for weekend visiting seemed impossible given the high price of small acreage, but his perseverance proved successful. Here he imparts eighteen methods of locating potential sellers, as well as personal adventures managing the land. An entertaining, revealing account blending autobiography with practical tips. -- Midwest Book Review
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I just got the book yesterday from Amazon.com and read it cover to cover. In a non technical easy to read first person account, the author tells his tale of CHEAP LAND quest. The boyhood dreams of a small quiet. peaceful place in the country that is low maintenance and CHEAP is not the authors alone. Others myself included have had similar fantasies. The book reads like a novel, not a tech manual. Besides being easy reading the book is informative and worth the price. Its light and introductory and may not satisfy the more advanced and professional reader. The techniques are sound and can be expanded to suit your individual needs. The chapters on buying a cheap tractor and the chapter on building moving are both interesting and different from other country real estate books. One old time farmer told me the tale of buying 100 acres for $6,000 and then buying a tractor for another $6,000. Years later with the appreciation of land he lamented that he had bought that tractor instead of a 200 acre farm! Land is such a thrilling and basically fulfilling purchase. It has the lasting power of no other purchase, and the appreciation potential of few other investments. It may not make you as rich as Microsoft stock, but there is a strange spiritual satisfying feeling attahced to a land purchase. The author brings out the peace and quiet calming nature of a country land purchase. I recommend both the book and the land purchase.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Not a reference, just one man's story of how he went about purchasing his getaway property dirt cheap. Although not a how to, it does show some of the pitfalls to watch out for when looking for and buying country property. The author writes in a nice conversational style that makes this an easy read.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book was a quick and entertaining read. The author is indeed a good story-teller. He gives a lot of good information about what is available at courthouses, discusses legal descriptions, property boundaries, real estate agents, attorneys, deeds, water, utilities, surveying, house-moving, etc. But as for FINDING a piece of property or for finding one CHEAP, he really didn't offer much more than a few simple suggestions (and never even mentioned the internet!). There was no tax sale, no government auction, no re-po, no magic formula - just waiting for luck and a newspaper ad to produce a seller with the right property & price. But it was an interesting adventure.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oldie but goodie
Much has changed since the author penned this book. It reads like a novel. Still, if you are interested in finding a place in the country, you can do no wrong by reading this... Read more
Published 28 days ago by ironfox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Wonderful tale of how he was able to fulfill his dreams on a tiny budget with all the experiences along the way. Read more
Published 6 months ago by dennisjp
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid advice
Ralph Turner uses his own personal story of finding the perfect piece of rural property near his home in Iowa to teach and educate the reader on buying country land. Read more
Published 8 months ago by M.K. Reiner
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasent read and get some info. in the process.
I found this book ( Country Property Dirt Cheap: How I Found My Piece of Inexpensive Rural Land...Plus) an easy read and got caught up in the adventure of the authors story. Read more
Published on October 29, 2010 by Tell Sackett
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining sprinkled with some good advice
This fast read provides a solid amount of good information while entertaining. Many of the anecdotes offer humor along with insight into the property search process. Read more
Published on October 18, 2010 by azleslie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for newbies, also has good ideas for more experienced...
The book is easy to read and entertaining as well. It takes the reader along the path the author took when he bought his country property. Read more
Published on December 12, 2009 by John R. Doherty
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good read!
Once in a while a book comes along that I find difficult to put down, this was such a book. The author comes across as a genuine and decent person with the same hopes and dreams... Read more
Published on October 23, 2008 by Wayne Comet
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well-written Real Estate Adventure !
Every several years many of us daydream about buying some country property on a lake or a stream somewhere, away from all the demands of our jobs and modern society in general. Read more
Published on July 14, 2008 by R. Neil Scott
4.0 out of 5 stars
usefull advice, one man's success story
Turner's tale of his search for rural land is a fun read. anyone looking at this page and reading this review obviously has a little dream of buying a piece of land - and this... Read more
Published on October 19, 2007 by Peter Pavlowich
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great guide by example
For those that are looking for an A-B-C, follow the list type guide to finding cheap land, keep on looking. Read more
Published on September 9, 2007 by Larry B. Woodroof
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