At first glance, a former Army concrete and steel munitions bunker, within a prepper community of two hundred like-minded residents, may sound like the perfect place to ride out a doomsday. Better yet, you could pick up one of these 2000+ square foot, igloo-shaped structures, protected by eight feet of earth for as little as $50,000.

Before rushing off to South Dakota to get yours, I strongly recommend you read further.

Now, if this scenario of ammo storage bunkers being turned into off-grid homes sounds a little familiar, it’s because you’ve probably read the fictional version of this in my last book, REVOLUTION. If you’ll recall, Grimes and Aimes were locked in a similar type of bunker in Texas, which was previously part of an army ammo storage facility.

The real-life bunker community represented in this photo was the model for my fictional one. In my book, the developer went bankrupt. In real life, this developer is said to be doing well (over two hundred sold) and is selling bunkers today. Only this real-life version has a serious flaw which “buyers” should consider before signing on the dotted line.

On paper, an earthen bunker for $50,000 may sound like a great deal, even if you don’t mind South Dakota’s cold winters and the lack of physical aesthetics. Inside, some of these dwellings have already been tricked out and are now back on the market for as much as $275,000. This one example even includes prepper supplies. It’s a fully functional, off-grid, 2000+ square foot, three-bedroom home with substantial improvements.

There’s only one problem with this bunker and any of the 575 others in this community…

Each is on leased land.

Why is this an issue? Because you are a tenant and not an owner. No matter how much you invest in your “purchase,” you technically don’t own any of it. Again, you are just a tenant, and this corporate landlord has already tested the limits of its lease agreement, going so far as evicting others who didn’t follow the terms laid out in its leases.

The property owner is the Vivos Corporation, which develops and manages multiple prepper communities like this one (in the article’s picture) in South Dakota. Yes, the listings are legit, even though the land is leased. You’re offered a 99-year land lease, which has traditionally been considered a sale. However, your “purchase” comes burdened with a multi-page lease agreement and multi-page community rules list. Don’t follow your agreement terms or community rules and the corporate landlord can evict you and resell your property to someone else.

It’s for these and other reasons that this place has made the news recently. It was reported that one resident claimed they were threatened by the dog of the landlord’s subcontractor. The resident pointed a weapon at the dog as a warning. Later, the resident and his family were evicted for violating their lease. Now they’re fighting the landlord in court. If they lose, they will forfeit all the improvements they had made, all personal property left after their eviction, and all monies paid to the landlord as part of their “purchase.” And this is just one of reportedly a dozen other lawsuits. So I ask, would you want this potential threat to your off-grid sanctuary, even if the buy-in is relatively small?

The plan of living in a community of like-minded preppers is a compelling one. But for such a plan to be sustainable, especially after a SHTF event, it must be on purchased land, fully controlled by the purchaser. In other words, it is not leased. Leasing your homestead could be akin to agreeing to a serfdom, like those from the Middle Ages: you must always bow to the whims (AKA rules) of the land’s actual owner or lord (this is where the term landlord is derived).

Don’t be a serf. Be the lord.

If you’re looking for an off-grid homestead, purchase the property outright. There are many available, all over the US (check out https://www.survivalrealty.com/ for fun). The cost is certainly more than the Vivos option of leasing, but at least you are in control.

Finally, if you haven’t picked up REVOLUTION, the exciting climax to the Highway Series, what are you waiting for?

Image changed from original on Wikimedia Commons.

Published by ML Banner

ML Banner is a USA Today bestselling author of Apocalyptic Thrillers

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7 Comments

  1. Ray White says:

    Mike, you make some really good points. I’d add to them that when you buy a place, be sure it doesn’t have an HOA as they can be Nazi’s. I’m lucky enough to live in a community full of Preppers–like minded folks who live on one acre or more lots, many gardeners, and a few like me who also have chickens. Lots of retired military too.

    1. ML Banner says:

      Love that you’re living in such a community, Ray. You definitely live the prepper life as you espouse in your newsletter (recommended reading BTW).

      As to HOA’s, I could tell you 1st & 2nd hand stories that would make your blood boil. They are soul-sucking organizations, often run by Neapolitan-types who never ran anything in real life and are there for their own agenda.

  2. Terre Ingalls says:

    Great info. Love your writing style and your books. If you ever need a Beta Reader, just let me know.

    1. ML Banner says:

      Thank you Terre for your kind comments and offer!
      I plan to do something that will require “beta readers” soon. I will put out the call to my VIP subscribers shortly.

      1. Cheryl Bergerson says:

        Add me to your list as a “beta reader”.

  3. Rita A. Jones says:

    Thank You

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