Buying Land to Live Off-Grid? (Read This Before You Fall in Love With the View)
- Georgia Kitson
- Jan 27
- 4 min read
We’ve watched it happen so many times.
Someone stands on a piece of land, looks out at the view, feels that rush — this is it, this is the one — and completely forgets to ask the boring questions.
Jack and I nearly did the same.
After 7 years living off-grid and owning land in Spain, I can tell you this with certainty: romance fades, but the land stays.
If you’re dreaming of buying land and going off-grid (especially in countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria - the hotter EU countries), this post isn’t here to sell you a fantasy. It’s here to help you make a decision you won’t regret six months, or six years, down the line.
Here’s what actually matters.
1. Water: Everything Starts (and Ends) Here
Water is non-negotiable. No water = no off-grid life.
Before you even think about views, soil, or where the house might go, ask:
What water sources exist on the land?
Well
Spring
River
Borehole / water mine
And here’s the part most people skip:
Visit in August and in winter (February is ideal) — or at the very least, ask locals what happens in both seasons.
That beautiful little stream? It might be bone dry when you need it most.
Then flip the question:
Does the land flood in winter?
Where does excess water go?
Does it flow away from the house site safely?
We’ve seen “perfect” flat building spots turn into shallow lakes by January. Local farmers are absolute gold here — they know the land better than any agent or website ever will. Ask them. They’ll tell you the truth.
2. Fire: Assume It Will Happen
If you’re surrounded by pine or eucalyptus, you need to take fire seriously.
These trees burn fast and hot. Dense brush isn’t “wild and natural” — it’s fuel.
Look for:
Natural clearings or farmed land nearby (they act as firebreaks)
Your escape routes — plural
How far you are from help
In bad fire seasons, helicopters and planes are stretched thin. If you’re remote, they may not reach you in time.
In Portugal, it’s the law to maintain 50 metres of clearance around your house. That’s not a one-time job — it’s every year. Hard, physical work.
Ask yourself honestly:
Do I have the body for this?
The time?
The tools?
The money to outsource if needed?
Fire safety isn’t optional. It could save your life.
3. Animals: Not the Cute Instagram Kind
Living off-grid means sharing land with animals — and not all of them are welcome guests.
Things people don’t think about:
Pine trees = processionary caterpillarsIf you have dogs, these can be deadly. One sniff and you’re racing to the vet.
Wild boar will destroy a garden overnight.
Farm dogs bark all night.
Cockerels don’t wait for sunrise.
Some areas have scorpions and centipedes — not deadly, but unpleasant if you’re not expecting them.
The countryside isn’t quiet. It’s just a different kind of loud.
4. Access: The Romance Ends in Winter
That charming dirt track looks great… until winter rains turn it into mud.
Ask:
Can you maintain the road yourself?
Will a delivery truck make it up?
Can an ambulance reach you?
Can you get building materials onto the land?
Also check:
Does access cross someone else’s land?
Is it legally registered?
Could it be blocked in the future?
A truck full of cement is useless if it can’t reach your property.
5. Neighbours & Noise: The Make-or-Break Factor
Neighbours out here range wildly:
Beautiful humans
Total hermits
Spiritual communities
Families
Party people
Talk to the estate agent. They usually know exactly who’s around and what they’re like.
Good neighbours are everything off-grid:
Help when things go wrong
Eyes on your place when you’re away
Local knowledge you can’t Google
Bad neighbours? That’s a problem you often can’t fix.
Also remember:
Neighbours can change
Empty land doesn’t stay empty forever
And if you’re near a village… church bells can be every 15–60 minutes. Day and night. Some people love it. Others slowly lose their sanity.
Know which one you are.
6. What’s Coming Next?
Look beyond the boundaries of the land.
Check:
What’s for sale nearby
Planned developments
Solar farms
Wind turbines
Power lines
Roads
Even fracking in some regions
Ask the local council or check online planning records. That peaceful valley might not stay peaceful.
7. Know the Land for a Full Year (If You Can)
Land behaves differently in every season.
Ask:
Where does water collect in winter?
Which areas flood?
What gets no sun in December?
How strong is the wind in summer?
Also check the paperwork:
Correct boundaries
Permits
Habitation licences
What can and can’t legally be built
Our biggest advice? Don’t build anything permanent straight away.
Live on the land first. Watch it. Learn it. That perfect house spot might be a wind tunnel in winter or a swamp in spring.
8. Respect Where You Are
You’re not just buying land, you’re entering a culture.
Learn the laws. Learn the language (even a little matters). Build in a way that fits the local landscape, not the life you left behind.
Respect the land, the history, and the people who were there long before you.
You’re a guest in someone else’s home.
Final Thoughts
Romance fade, but reality stays.
Ask the boring questions. They’re the ones that matter.
We have lived off grid in Spain for over 7 years and learnt many of these lessons the hard way. If you would like to book an off grid consultation call with us then please do so using the link below and we can go through ALL their is to know about living off grid.