<prompt> Human: 28 years old. Making 90k a year. With union mandated raises I should see around 140k - 10k over the next 4-5 years where itll max out. Currently renting a house with two friends. Im paying 850 a month for my room. I live in one of the most expensive counties n the US and lately Ive been toying with the idea of buying property. Average home prices in my area is 450k for a decent slightly outdated home. Out of curiousity I started looking at land in a more rural part of my state and I noticed I can get 50 acres with a lake for 150k. Even less acreage with no lake for less. Some of the properties already have homes built on them. Just seeking advice or if anyone has experience with purchasing land for a future vacationretirement home instead of buying a home in your current area. Ideally Id rent where I am now for the next 25-30 years and then retire someplace quiet. Im a little nervous to buy something in my area since Ive seen what maintaining a home entails cost wise. Thanks in advance.Assistant: It is a big expense you will not use for 30-40 years. If you do rent it, it will likely be a vacation home, and will need to have someone tidy up between every visitor, so either you are going to be making a lot of trip, or you will have to pay someone to clean it. The money is better served in a 401k or IRA where it can grow at 7 per year tax free.If you want to buy a property, get a 3 bedroom, and charge 800 a month in rent to the people you live with now.Human: I shouldve mentioned I put 12 into an unmatched 401k. 3K a year into a roth ira and I have a pension worth about 45k a year when I retire at 55.Assistant: Why not kick in another 10k into retirement accounts that allow you to lower your taxes. That money is 10k and will be taxed when it comes out, so right off the bat, it is an actual 10k instead of a post tax 6-7k during the contribution. The growth does not suffer rental income tax either, which saves a lot of money.assuming all contributions are traditional and not ROTHHuman: Great idea! The IRA account is a roth and Im not maxing that or nor my 401k. Ill definitely change my take out Ignoring the idea of purchasing property with a home, would it make sense to find land now for cheap and in 25 years built a small home on it?  <response>: Historically land will match inflation. Beyond that you are gambling if the location will be deserted or booming in the future. I would wait until you are retired. There is just so much that can happen in 25 years. 