I don't know about that last statement, I just saw what would be a great little piece of property on realtor dot com for something like this except for the mountains in east Texas. 5 acres in rural east Texas a creek running along one side no real structures other than an old open shed for under $25,000 Only real downside is it was listed as being in a flood zone, which may or may not cover the entire property and make it difficult to have utilities connected. I suspect flooding is why it is now vacant land, as this is very near the area along the Louisiana / Texas line where several thousand people were left homeless earlier this year due to flooding (just west of where I live) thanks to excessive rainfall, 17+ inches of rain in 24 hours which had to go somewhere, so hundred year old houses for the first time...