The Pros and Cons of Escaping to Your Own Western Ranch Retreat

Modern city living is unpleasant with the population and traffic continually increasing while the cost of living continues to rise. It is no wonder more and more of us are feeling stressed and overwhelmed while going about our daily commutes and routines. Some people have already had enough and moved away, but this is not the reality for all of us due to family and work commitments.

There is, however, a solution that a large number of families have started considering, and that is following in the footsteps of our forefathers and heading out west. Buying a ranch gives you and your family the opportunity to break free from the drone of the city whenever the kids have holidays or if you just feel the need to get away. Escaping to your own western ranch retreat offers a respite, even if it is currently impossible to move out west full-time.

Benefits

There are many advantages to owning your own ranch from an investment side, but there are also significant personal benefits.

Family Time

Spending the summer on the ranch gives everyone in the family a chance to spend some quality time with one another, learning new skills together and enjoying the various recreational activities available in and around the area.

Health

Being far away from the city will give your lungs ample oxygen to recover from the polluted air of the cities. Spending time in the great outdoors is extremely relaxing, which can reduce stress, and there are many jobs and activities that will get you in shape in no time.

Nature

Interacting with the local ecosystems is hard work but extremely rewarding. Just going for a long walk will reinvigorate you, while spending time with flora and fauna will give you a sense of pride.

Great for the Kids

There is so much to see and do on a ranch that it would be difficult for even the grumpiest teenager to be utterly bored. There are new skills to learn, and they can also be empowered to take responsibility for specific ranch tasks.

Potential Problems

While owning a ranch is a great investment and can provide a considerable amount of joy for you and your family, there are also some potential pitfalls that a new rancher can fall into.

Always Work to be Done

A ranch is a big responsibility, and unexpected costs are likely to be incurred during the year. It is possible to get a ranch management team in to run the day-to-day, but you will still have to sign off on the expenses.

Different Way Of Life

Living on a ranch is a world away from the city life, which can be boring for some people. Depending on the location of the ranch, you might not see many other people. Teenagers might not be happy being away from social media and friends for the whole summer.

Location

This is an important consideration but one that might get overlooked. You need to find a retreat that has useful transport links and is a realistic distance away, but this might have an impact on your overall budget. If your ranch is too much hassle to get to, your investment is likely to be wasted.

Not Understanding the Small Print

There are many things to consider, such as water and mineral rights, conservation policies, state zoning laws, easements, and tax issues, which new ranchers might not truly understand. Most of these issues are incredibly complex and easy to get confused by, which can lead to problems later.