In recent trends, the term “farmhouse” has been used in the interior design world to refer to an aesthetic involving barn doors, wooden fixtures, white kitchens, and luxury stone. But, at their core, farmhouses are simply any buildings or houses that farmers use to as stables, sheepfolds, and other places where they can care for their livestock. These farmhouses usually have adjacent dwelling houses, where farmers and their families live.
From money-managers to rappers—the affluent are slowly moving into the farmland, and there are plenty of incentives to do so. If you’re thinking of investing in a piece of land, here are the benefits of choosing one that already comes with a farmhouse.
There is a level of stability in owning farmland.
When simple economics is applied, we can see that having a piece of agricultural land can be a stable asset. This is because farmlands in the United States are slowly decreasing at 3 acres per minute. This is happening while the global population continues to demand food at a growing rate.
The simple law of supply and demand applies here: As farmland decreases in number, its value also increases at the same time as food continues to be demanded and price increases as well. Getting your hands on your own ranch now is a worthy investment that might ultimately pay off later.
A land with a farm will diversify your portfolio.
Any smart investor should never place their eggs in one basket. If the COVID-19 crisis taught us anything, it’s that we need to rely on more than just the usual suspects like the stock market, gold, or bonds, because no asset is truly 100 percent stable or invincible all the time.
The best part about having farmland and a farmhouse is that they are not particularly correlated with major types of assets—they are like real estate. They are effective in diversifying an investor’s portfolio. And according to TIAA Nuveen, the research they conducted suggests that adding farmland to a model portfolio decreased its volatility and boosted its investment returns.
It’s a worthy investment in more ways than one.
Buying farmland and choosing to work the land will teach you to finally have a say in how food and crops are grown, produced, harvested, and ultimately distributed. In the past few decades, corporations have taken over America’s agricultural lands, which has led to farms becoming fewer and bigger.
If you want to pass something of incredible value to your children, something that money can’t buy, teach them the value of working their own land by allowing them to live on a farm. Go against the grain by being a small American family who owns and grows their own produce in their own land.
You can rent out the farm.
Getting married on farms is still very much on-trend for a lot of couples. It’s a wonderful alternative to having the ceremony and reception in generic hotels, and farms have a natural romantic feel to them.
While most farmhouses need a lot of work when you purchase them, many farmhouses, when renovated, represent an added value should you decide to resell the property one day. No matter how old, a gorgeous farmhouse, with its paned windows, wide-plank wood floors, and a massive barn, already has a lot of things going for it before you even decide to remodel or renovate it. If you hire the right design and construction team, you might be able to do a stunning remodel without spending your fortune on it.
You can start slow by upgrading the basics like the electrical systems, HVAC system, and water pipes, and work your way from there. And even an untouched barn, when styled with stunning string lights and dainty white flowers, can be a romantic and dreamy location for any wedding. Just make sure to hire professionals to clean the driveway and every other path the guests will have to go through.
You can also rent the farm out to production companies, like film and print. If your land is picturesque, there will be no shortage of producers who might want to create in your ranch or property.
Living on a farm can provide personal benefits.
And lastly, living on a farm can be good for your overall health and well-being. If you find that you’re tired of living in densely-populated cities with all their stresses and hustle culture, being surrounded by nature might be good for you. Not only will you be living a more peaceful life, but you will also be building something of value.