How to Claim Free Government Land Online

There is no free federal government land in the United States. If someone wants your money to put you in touch with listings of free federal land, you might as well put your money down on a bridge in Brooklyn. Or buy some swampland in Florida. But you can still find free municipal land in the United States. There are cities that find themselves with declining populations and commercial bases and are willing to grant free lots to modern-day pioneering families. Almost 150 years after the Homestead Act, there is still free land in America. It's just not in the Indian Territory. For the most part, it's in the midwest.

Things You'll Need

• Financial ability to build a house

Instructions

Homesteading in the 21st Century

1. Run an Internet search for free+residential+lots or free+commercial+lots. This will pull up some cities in the United States currently seeking to help new residents move in. In most cases, these cities have declining populations and tax bases. They need new residents who will grow and revitalize their cities by bringing their families and potential commercial growth.

2. Decide if you could live in the city offering the free lot. Consider visiting the city. It may sound like a dream come true to have a city give you a free lot of land for your house. But these cities do this because most of their residents, particularly the younger ones, are moving out. There's a reason for that. Make sure you could live, work and raise a family in this city.

3. Read the fine print. Each city offering free lots has specific promises you must make to claim the lot. In most cases, you must contract with a specific developer within six months to build a house on the lot within one year and you will move in within two years. There may also be size requirements for the house you will build. Read the contract and understand what you would be agreeing to. Consider having a lawyer look over the contract.

4. Consider the stories of other people who have taken advantage of these offers. Know what you're getting into.
   One family's move to North Dakota: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/magazine/09dakota.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.
   A family's move to Kansas: http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/22/real_estate/buying_selling/thursday_freeland/.
   Another family's move to Kansas: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-08-land-cover_x.htm.

5. Sign the contract and abide by its rules. In most cases, you will begin by signing a contract with the housing developer within six months of inquiring about the lot.

Tips & Warnings

• Some free lot programs:

• IOWA

• Marnie, Iowa, free lots: http://www.marneiowa.com/index_files/page0007.htm

• KANSAS

• Lincoln, Kansas, free lots: http://www.lincolnks.org/housing.html

• Mankato, Kansas, free lots: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Mankato/free_land.htm

• Marquette, Kansas, free lots: http://www.marquetteks.org/land.html

• Osborne, Kansas, free lots: http://www.discoverosborne.com/Document.aspx?Mode=View&id=8560

• Peabody, Kansas, free lots: http://www.peabodyks.com/docs/Free_Lots_Application.pdf

• Plainville, Kansas, free lots: http://www.rookscounty.net/free_homesites.htm

• Smoky Hill, Kansas, Development Corporation:

• http://www.smokyhilldevelopmentcorp.com/WHP.html

• Stockton, Kansas, free lots: http://www.rookscounty.net/stockton_free.htm

• Tescott, Kansas, free lots: http://www.cityoftescott.com/Free%20Land.asp

• NEBRASKA

• Nebraska Access: http://nebraskaccess.ne.gov/freeland.asp

• Curtis, Nebraska, free lots: http://www.curtis-ne.com/rollnhillsaddition.html

• Fullerton, Nebraska, free lots: http://www.fullerton-ne.com/free_lots.htm

• MINNESOTA

• Hendrum, Minnesota, free lot: http://www.rrv.net/hendrum/freelot.htm

• Halstad, Minnesota, free lot: http://www.halstad.com/freelots.htm

References

• Sample Development Agreement
• Sample Building Lot Application

Resources

• Center for Rural Affairs free land round-up
• Kansas Free Land website