What Good Is a $30K Home If Land Costs $100K?

What Good Is a $30K Home If Land Costs $100K?

The Real Truth About Land Costs in the U.S.

(And How to Actually Find Affordable Plots)

One of the most common questions we get is: “What’s the point of an affordable $30,000 CHOMEX home if land is $100,000?”
Or: “Do I need my own land? Where do I even find land?”

Here’s the reality: land feels expensive because people usually search in the same saturated areas: major metros, booming suburbs, and high-demand regions. When you widen the search radius, the entire picture changes.

The U.S. Has Hundreds of Thousands of Lots Under $10,000

Across the country, there is a huge inventory of land priced between $3,000 and $10,000, often in regions that make it straightforward to install compact, efficient homes like CHOMEX.

You can find affordable land in states such as:

  • Texas
  • Arizona
  • New Mexico
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Arkansas
  • Tennessee
  • North Carolina
  • Missouri
  • And many rural or transitional-growth areas across the U.S.

If your goal is ownership without a heavy mortgage, this is where the value lies.

Why Land Seems Expensive

People often start their search in areas with strong population growth, limited inventory, or popular city-adjacent zones. Naturally, prices spike there.

A more balanced view:

  • High-demand locations cost more
  • Transitional or developing regions offer the best affordability
  • Rural areas near upcoming infrastructure projects often provide strong value

So when someone says “land is $100,000,” it usually means the specific area they want is expensive, not the entire market.

Do You Need Land for a CHOMEX Home?

Yes, CHOMEX units are placed on land you own or secure.

Land ownership keeps the overall cost predictable, protects your investment, and gives you full control over your setup long term.

CHOMEX is built around:

  • Lower upfront cost
  • Fast installation
  • Minimal maintenance
  • Straightforward long-term ownership

Land is part of that equation.

Where to Actually Find Affordable Land

1. Ask a Local Land Broker

Many realtors only work with houses.
A land-focused broker is the person you want.

What to tell them:

  • Your budget
  • Your ideal regions or counties
  • Your timeline

They often have access to plots not listed on mainstream platforms.

2. Follow These Accounts Posting Daily U.S. Land Deals

These pages consistently feature affordable plots across the country:

They post hundreds of listings weekly, ranging from budget-friendly rural parcels to mid-tier lots in growing corridors.

3. Land Websites With the Largest Inventories

These platforms aggregate national listings and off-market deals:

County auctions in particular are one of the most overlooked sources of low-cost land.

The Real Math: A $30K CHOMEX + A $10K Lot

A realistic scenario looks like this:

  • A CHOMEX home starting around $30K
  • Land between $5K and $15K depending on state and county
  • A property you own outright
  • No 30-year mortgage
  • Housing stability that doesn’t require a high income or massive debt

This is the core of the CHOMEX philosophy: simple, efficient housing aligned with attainable land ownership.

— Shia Halpern
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