Haven't done it, but have heard of serious issues pertaining to zoning and building codes.
Make sure the property you buy is not covered by any of them.
This is the biggest challenge.
Many states, like Colorado, have some laws in place to block this exact thing. They will put in place codes that prohibit building a house without
electric, ban septic systems and other things to make properties grow into little grid cities.
A major pita. I have seen some of these laws circumvented in Colorado, by listing the house as mobile. Registering it, adding a license plate,
covering the wheels with a skirt after in place, but leaving it mobile by legal definition.
Property taxes will be due on any permanent dwelling from the assessed value of the house and the lands x whatever the tax millage rate is and most
municipalities etc will require water and electric hookup. Most places out in the country I have seen will allow septic systems, but they will require
perk testing of the soil, for absorption rates, tested by soil engineer prior to issuance of a septic permit.
Some places have awesome homestead exemptions for your property taxes.
Another septic issue would be no septic systems are allowed within x distance from a water source, so riverside builds need to keep this in mind.
I am not sure of anywhere in the us that this isn't the case.
I would dig into codes and regs in the area before dropping any cash, or you may only be able to drop a trailer there.
I just built two contemporary cabins in Iowa, not long ago. Neither were cheap, both where small.
One was set back 1700 ft from the road. After getting water and elect back with a gravel driveway, it was about $50k to get to the site before pouring
the basement. We barely passed the perk test because of the clay content in the soil and river view.
edit on 1 by Mandroid7 because: (no reason given)