Why We Want to Homestead

A few people have asked what makes us want to move away from San Diego and build a homestead and we are going to answer that for you in this post. Do we have it all figured out? Of course not. But we talk about it daily and are making plans that will be shared in later posts.

One of the reasons we want to move into the country, or further from the city, is the cost of living. Living in the country isn’t cheap—land, livestock, and equipment all come with costs—but it’s still far less expensive than the skyrocketing prices of San Diego. We want to invest in a life where our money goes toward something lasting, rather than getting eaten up by rent, traffic, and the high cost of city living. Our current rent for a two-bedroom apartment in San Diego is a jaw-dropping $3,800 a month. That’s $45,600 a year—and not a dime of it is building toward our future. Instead, we’re basically handing over stacks of cash every month to make someone else richer while we get… what? A tiny balcony, shared walls, and the privilege of hearing our neighbor’s dog bark at absolutely nothing? No thanks. We’d rather put that money toward land, a home that’s actually ours, and a life that doesn’t feel like we’re stuck in an overpriced hamster wheel.

According to data from RentCafe, the cost of living in California is 38 percent higher than the national average. But this is highly dependent on where you live within the Golden State: For example, in Bakersfield, that figure is 11 percent higher than the national average, but in San Francisco, it’s 71 percent higher.

Using the bankrate.com cost of living comparison tool, we learned that:

The cost of living is 40.54% lower in Topeka, KS than San Diego.

42.46% lower in Amarillo, TX.

40.74% lower in Des Moines, IA.

40.26% lower in Branson, MO.

42.88% lower in Ashland, OH.

40.47% lower in Muskogee, OK.

When we break down home prices, San Diego's average is $1.1m without the acreage. That is a mortgage payment of over $6700 a month with only $5000 of that going toward the principle. In Muskogee, the median cost is $365,245.00, 67% lower.

2755 Amulet St San Diego, CA 92123. (Not my image). 3 beds 2 baths 1,200 sqft.

Similar-priced home in Muskogee. 2791 E 129th Ct S, Bixby, OK 74008. (Not my image). 4 beds, 4 baths, 4,695 sqft. On a half acre. With a $6500 payment, with $5200 going to principle.

With all of that being said, do we want to spend $1m on a property? No. We can spend a fraction of that and be happy with 20 acres.

42 acres. $395,000 7265 SE 69th St, Berryton, KS 66409. (Not my photo)

Here is more of a breakdown:

City Living	Country Living
1000 sqft, rent: $3800	40 acres, mortgage: $2100
Traffic, trash trucks, airplanes	Open spaces, birds, crickets
Fluorescent lights and city lights	Sunshine and bright stars
Concrete everywhere	Trees, fields and fresh air
Takeout for dinner	Homegrown veggies
Pet policy restrictions	Every animal you can imagine
City stress, burnout	A simple, intentional life

Yes, we’ve spent so much time on Zillow the site probably thinks we’re real estate agents. We often discuss what we want from a home. When we first met, we played a game where we closed our eyes, and on three, said what we wanted most from a home. "One, two, three wrap around porch" we both said in unison. We will never find exactly what we are looking for, and may look into building a home. But there are so many opportunities on the market.

Disclaimer, I do have a California Real Estate license, 02223557, this post in no way is intended to illicit your business.

This brings us to reason number 2 that we want to homestead. Land is one of the most valuable things a family can own. It’s an investment in the future, a space to build dreams, and a resource that only becomes more precious over time. We want land because it’s finite, irreplaceable, and full of possibility, and the one thing they are not making more of.

Land provides the opportunity to contribute to our lives in many meaningful ways. Through sustainability & preparedness, having more of a connection to the land, the ability to live a healthier and natural lifestyle living slowly and more meaningfully, and it all comes with the challenges and rewards of self-sufficiency.

With our own food sources, water supply, and energy solutions, we can reduce waste, minimize our footprint, and ensure we’re prepared for whatever life throws our way. Homesteading is about living in a way that benefits both our family and the planet. Living on a homestead means being in tune with nature’s rhythms—planting in spring, harvesting in summer, preserving in fall, and resting in winter. There’s something deeply grounding about working with the land rather than against it. We will get to enjoy the fresh air, homegrown food, and an active lifestyle make for a healthier, more fulfilling way of living. We want to eat nutrient-dense food, raise animals ethically, and avoid unnecessary chemicals in our food and environment. Imagine waking up to the sound of chickens clucking, the smell of fresh bread baking, and a sunrise over rolling fields instead of a freeway jammed with traffic, or jets always flying above our head. Our city life moves fast, but a homestead invites us to slow down, enjoy the little things like Emma growing, and living with purpose. Instead of being consumed by screens and schedules, we’ll spend more time outdoors, working with our hands, and appreciating life’s simple pleasures. At the end of the day, there’s pride in knowing we built something with our own hands. Homesteading will be hard work, but the rewards—fresh eggs in the morning, a thriving garden, and a home that truly feels ours— will make it all worth it. One day, we’ll look back at our San Diego apartment and laugh. We’ll be sipping coffee on the porch, watching Emma chase the dog through the fields, and wondering how we ever lived without that much space. We are already planning what we will be doing with our land, coming in a post soon. If you could design your dream homestead, what’s the first thing you’d add? Chickens? A giant vegetable garden? A pond with ducks? Feel free to share!