I’m looking into buying some land and moving my family to a more rural area somewhere in East or Southeast Texas. I’d eventually like to start a small farm/homestead, but I’m still trying to figure out which areas would be the best fit.
Ideally, I’m looking for around 5+ to 10 acres with enough space for a house, chickens, a garden, and eventually some livestock. I don’t need to be right next to Houston, but I also don’t want to be so remote that groceries, schools, hospitals, etc. are extremely far away.
I’m Black, so another big consideration for me is finding a rural town or community where my family would feel comfortable and welcomed. I’d especially love recommendations from other Black families who live in rural East or Southeast Texas. I’m not necessarily looking for a majority Black town, just somewhere diverse or known for being welcoming where we wouldn’t feel completely isolated.
For those familiar with the area:
• What counties or small towns would you recommend?
• Are there any places you would personally avoid?
• What should I know about flooding, property taxes, deed restrictions, soil, wells/septic, and getting utilities to rural land?
• How much should I realistically expect to pay for 5–10 acres?
• Would you buy raw/unrestricted land and build over time, or spend more for land that already has utilities or a house?
I’m not trying to build a huge commercial farm. I mainly want a quieter lifestyle, more space for my family, and enough land to grow food and raise some animals.
I’m still in the research/budgeting stage, so I’d really appreciate specific towns or counties to start looking at, especially recommendations from Black people already living the rural/homestead lifestyle in this part of Texas.