I live "in the middle of nowhere". I'm not off-grid, but have friends who are. I think there are a handful of reasons that it is difficult to find a turn-key, r

I live "in the middle of nowhere". I'm not off-grid, but have friends who are. I think there are a handful of reasons that it is difficult to find a turn-key, ready to live in of grid home. Subdivisions are easy, they are all essentially the same. They have a road, electricity, water, sewer are waiting and everyone (builders) knows how to hook up to them. As soon as you go of grid you have to figure that out, much of it from scratch because each site is different. Electricity- How much solar do you need? That depends on the climate and the level of comfort the owner wants. Are they good running a generator when the sun doesn't shine or are they willing to shell out for a lot of battery? Are the panels on the roof or on the ground? Water - do you want to haul your own water or punch a well? That is a big, site specific cost that can be estimated, but is also a big unknown. Sewer- composting toilet or septic system? Septic obviously costs not and each site needs some amount of design and approval, even here where you don't even need a permit for the structure. Roads - it is likely to not exist in most properties, the cost to get that done varies greatly. Ok, so the price can swing - a lot and it isn't so cookie cutter, but why does of grid so often get coupled to DIY? Because when you live of grid (at least around here) you are the one who will plow and maintain your road. You are the one to maintain your solar system. Your generator carb needs tuned? Do you drive an hour each way to drop it off and pick it up next week or watch a YouTube video and do it in an hour and have your generator ready and available instead of in the shop? I can only speak about what I see around me, but it is mostly DIY, self-reliant, prepared people who live here (on or off grid). By building your own systems you are ready to maintain and repair them rather than wait for someone to come save you. Can't cut a tree with a chainsaw? It might be a while before someone clears the fallen tree from your road. Even old Grandma's around here have a saw and won't let a tree in the road stop them. (I keep a bow saw in each vehicle and have used it. It is slower, but not as slow as waiting!) It is a mentality that is so different than my old subdivision neighbors.