The Amish own the land where they farm and live. They do pay for their homes and land, but they have a different approach. They typically buy their land and build their homes without taking out mortgages or loans from banks.
Instead, they save up money over time and rely on their community’s help to construct their homes. This way, they aim to live debt-free and self-sufficient lives.
Imagine an Amish family that wants to buy land and build a home. They start by saving money from their work, like farming or craftsmanship. They may save for several years until they have enough to buy the land.
Amish families are known for their frugal lifestyle. They avoid unnecessary expenses and live within their means. This helps them save more for their home and land.
The Amish Start Saving Early On
After 8th grade, Amish teenagers go out to find jobs. They work different jobs and bring home paychecks to contribute to their family.
They continue working and saving money until they decide to get married. At that point, they’ll use their savings to start their own family and household.
The Amish work really hard and live a simple life because they believe it’s what God wants.
Working diligently and managing money wisely are important rules to follow. That’s why they’re able to own the land where they farm and live.
Leasing Farmland
Young Amish families who can’t afford to buy land usually lease it from other Amish. Leasing is easier because it doesn’t require them to make a big payment to buy the land.
Instead of owning the land, they rent it, which is a practical way for them to become farmers without a huge upfront cost.
Meanwhile, they can save money to buy their own land in the future.
As for how long it takes to save enough money to buy land, it varies. Some may take a few years to save up, while others might take longer, depending on their income and expenses.
The important thing for the Amish is to avoid debt and build their homes in a way that strengthens their sense of community.
They May Sometimes Take Out Loans
When they want to buy a farm, the Amish might sometimes take out a loan from a bank. Amish folks prefer smaller, local banks over big ones. They feel more comfortable dealing with smaller banks.
After taking out a loan, they make it a top priority to pay the debt as soon as possible.
The Amish take out loans only if they can’t find other ways to get the money. Loans are a last resort for them. They generally prefer Amish-run lending funds over banks.
Parents’ Support
When young Amish adults want to start their own lives, their parents often help them get started. This could mean helping them with things like getting land or building a house.
Amish families often pass land down to their children or the next generation. It’s like a family heirloom, but in the form of land.
When the parents get older or decide to retire, they don’t sell the land on the open market. Instead, they give or leave it to their children.
This tradition of passing down land helps to keep the land within the Amish community. It ensures that the family’s descendants have a place to live, farm, or build their own homes without the need to buy new land.
The Whole Community Helps
When it’s time to build, the Amish community comes together. They help construct the house in a process called a “house raising.” This way, they save on labor costs and finish the home faster.
They gather together or frolic to raise barns too.
Wealthy Amish Remain Low-Key
In the Amish community, it’s not easy to spot who’s the richest because they don’t show off wealth with fancy things.
Instead, the richest Amish folks often invest their money in things like land, animals, helping others, and lending money to fellow Amish.
So, they may not look rich, but they’re usually the ones who own a lot of valuable assets and help out fellow Amish by paying for their land or leasing farmland to them.