Our Homestead Almost Didn’t Happen

The Reality of Getting Our Homestead Off the Ground

Like most families starting a new adventure, we couldn’t wait to get the ball rolling on our new way of life.

Even our big old Rottweiler, Moose, was tearing around his new yard — a far cry from the tight quarters he lived in when we were stationed in Virginia Beach during active duty. For us, this move wasn’t just about buying a house. It was about building something intentional.

We found what we thought was our dream home — roughly five acres in New Hampshire. Enough land to raise chickens, plant gardens, maybe even expand one day. It felt like the perfect setup for the life we wanted to build.

But as the saying goes… not everything is as it appears.

The Closing That Didn’t Happen

The day before Christmas — the day before closing — everything fell apart.

The closing was canceled due to a title discrepancy.

We were crushed.

After some negotiation, we agreed to a rent-to-own arrangement. We were told the title issues would take about four months to clear up — and since we weren’t planning to move in immediately, it seemed reasonable.

So we waited.

Four months passed.

We moved in under the rental agreement.

And then we learned that no progress had been made on the title.

Another four months.

In the middle of that uncertainty, we welcomed our first child into the world — not counting Moose, of course.

To say life was chaotic would be an understatement. I travel frequently for work. We were new parents. And we were living in a house we loved but didn’t technically own, unsure if the deal would ever truly close.

Under the rental agreement, we were extremely limited in what we could do. No major projects. No infrastructure changes. No real forward motion.

It felt like living in a long-term Airbnb — except this was supposed to be our forever home.

People were contesting the sale. The title was stalled. And our dream sat in limbo.

For an entire year.

Finally Closing — And Moving Forward

After twelve months under contract, the day finally came.

We closed.

We didn’t waste time.

We bought the biggest shed we could find — a 10x20 Amish-built structure from upstate New York. We picked up a 12-hen chicken coop. It felt like momentum had finally returned.

We were ready to build.

And then we learned another hard lesson.

The Easement Reality

After closing, we began asking deeper questions about the land itself.

What we thought was a wide-open five-acre homestead came with significant easements. A large portion of the property — technically ours — had restrictions.

This was my second home purchase, and my wife’s first. We didn’t know what questions to ask. We didn’t know what we didn’t know.

Discovering that half of what we believed we owned came with limitations was a heavy moment.

Given the financial investment and the emotional weight behind this move, it felt — honestly — a little traumatic.

We had some tough conversations. We disagreed on next steps. We wrestled with options.

And then we made a decision:

This is our dream.

We’re building it right here.

No matter how we have to move the pieces on the chessboard.

(There’s more to that story — and we’ll be sharing the details in our first YouTube video.)

Then Winter Hit

Just as we regained momentum, winter came in full force.

This year set snowfall and cold records across New England. We saw routine negative temperatures and heavy accumulation that buried everything in sight.

As I write this heading into March, we haven’t seen grass since the first week of December. There’s still over two feet of snow covering our yard.

Homesteading in theory is romantic.

Homesteading in a New Hampshire winter is logistical.

Water access. Snow management. Planning. Patience.

Progress slowed again — not because we stopped pushing, but because the season demanded it.

But We’re Not Done

My wife and I are stubborn. Fighters, if you will.

We don’t quit.

Our first batch of chicks arrives the third week of March.

And whether there’s snow on the ground or not, we’re getting started.

This journey hasn’t been smooth.
It hasn’t been perfectly timed.
It hasn’t looked like the Instagram version of homesteading.

But it’s ours.

And we’re building it — step by step.

Our first video drops this Sunday, where we’ll show you exactly where things stand — no filters, just the real beginning of Anchored in the North.

If you’re thinking about building something of your own — land, family, skills, resilience — follow along.

We’re just getting started.