Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book! I give it 5 of 5 stars.
Review: A captivating story. I seldom ever finish a magazine article, let alone a book. I received Ralph's book in the mail and began reading it to myselft at around 5pm, took a break for dinner and then started over reading it to my wife this time. By 1am, we had read the entire book. As I had hoped, it has stimulated our interest in the subject. I just wish more people would use Ralph's "story telling" or "narrative" format when writing books about their experiences in buying land and homes - it is so entertaining to learn through the experience of others.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book! I give it 5 of 5 stars.
Review: A captivating story. I seldom ever finish a magazine article, let alone a book. I received Ralph's book in the mail and began reading it to myselft at around 5pm, took a break for dinner and then started over reading it to my wife this time. By 1am, we had read the entire book. As I had hoped, it has stimulated our interest in the subject. I just wish more people would use Ralph's "story telling" or "narrative" format when writing books about their experiences in buying land and homes - it is so entertaining to learn through the experience of others.
Rating:
Summary: Country Property Dirt Cheap
Review: After reading this book I really became even more convinced that I could find and buy a retirement farm for myself. I have since delved into many book for a more indepth study before venturing out on my own. I want to thank the author for pointing me in the right and realistic direction, which I now know will save me a lot of grief when I finally find that piece of happiness for myself.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, easy to read, First Person Quest for CHEAP LAND
Review: I just got the book yesterday from Amazon.com and read it cover to cover. In a non technical easy to read first person account, the author tells his tale of CHEAP LAND quest. The boyhood dreams of a small quiet. peaceful place in the country that is low maintenance and CHEAP is not the authors alone. Others myself included have had similar fantasies. The book reads like a novel, not a tech manual. Besides being easy reading the book is informative and worth the price. Its light and introductory and may not satisfy the more advanced and professional reader. The techniques are sound and can be expanded to suit your individual needs. The chapters on buying a cheap tractor and the chapter on building moving are both interesting and different from other country real estate books. One old time farmer told me the tale of buying 100 acres for $6,000 and then buying a tractor for another $6,000. Years later with the appreciation of land he lamented that he had bought that tractor instead of a 200 acre farm! Land is such a thrilling and basically fulfilling purchase. It has the lasting power of no other purchase, and the appreciation potential of few other investments. It may not make you as rich as Microsoft stock, but there is a strange spiritual satisfying feeling attahced to a land purchase. The author brings out the peace and quiet calming nature of a country land purchase. I recommend both the book and the land purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book....
Review: It's interesting that Turner comes from a background of technical writing, yet he manages to write a book that is genuinely from the heart. This book, which is his autobiographical account of his passionate search for solitude, simplicity and a peace of mind, bridges the gap between ethos and pathos. Turner is very focused, very detail-oriented in achieving his objective and his account of that process is an uplifting tale that bears his soul and leaves the reader inspired to "live the dream." He also manages to throw in some very good real estate advice!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book....
Review: It's interesting that Turner comes from a background of technical writing, yet he manages to write a book that is genuinely from the heart. This book, which is his autobiographical account of his passionate search for solitude, simplicity and a peace of mind, bridges the gap between ethos and pathos. Turner is very focused, very detail-oriented in achieving his objective and his account of that process is an uplifting tale that bears his soul and leaves the reader inspired to "live the dream." He also manages to throw in some very good real estate advice!
Rating: 
Summary: Very entertaining...
Review: Not a reference, just one man's story of how he went about purchasing his getaway property dirt cheap. Although not a how to, it does show some of the pitfalls to watch out for when looking for and buying country property. The author writes in a nice conversational style that makes this an easy read.
Rating:
Summary: The story of a quest
Review: Ralph Turner tells an interesting and useful story of his quest for a piece of land in rural Iowa, and an antique tractor and a tiny house to go with it. He feels that the key to his success was to eliminate middle men. So he gives eighteen different ways to find sellers on your own. This is a great book to read for entertainment and useful tips, but if you're seriously interested in rural land, you probably also should have Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country by Les Scher.
Rating:
Summary: Useful and entertaining
Review: This book is essential for anyone that is thinking of buying rural land. The book is told in a story format which makes for easy and entertaining reading. The author offers plenty of advice that even experienced real estate buyers would find useful. Having said that, if you desire technical details of buying land, you may want to look at other books as well as this book does not get into extreme detail.
Rating:
Summary: You'll feel like Ralph is a good friend after you read this.
Review: This book is one of those great mixes of story telling and teaching mixed in a way that is entertaining and enjoyable, like a good talk with a good friend. Ralph Turner (author) takes you on his frugal search for a 15 acre place in the country. The lessons on how to meet people in rural areas, how to work with agents, lawyers, courthouses, and county departments are told not in a check list way but in a story of how he figured it out. He helps you figure out what maps are available. All the way along he finds the cheapest and really most fun way to get the job done. Truly a great read if you have the slightest interest in rural living or even just enjoy reading the story of a gent that is obviously in love with being out on a remote property alone. I read it in two short sittings in the evening after work and really couldn't put it down.
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