Millennial couple buy "dream" home in middle of U.S. national forest (2024)

A video about a couple's stunning property in the tranquil setting of a national forest in the U.S. has captivated users on TikTok.

The couple, who are 28 and 29 years old, shared scenes from the ongoing renovation of their home, including some before-and-after shots, in a viral video posted from @lysslanghomestead. This is the TikTok account of Alyssa, one half of the couple. She did not share her last name or the exact location of the cabin with Newsweek.

The clip has amassed over 423,000 views since it was shared on June 22, with users expressing admiration for the remote property and their ongoing efforts to restore it.

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A message overlaid on the video reads, "My husband and I bought a cabin in a national forest," adding that it is "perfect and also a total gut job." The footage showcases various stages of the couple's progress as they transform their dream home.

"We had always dreamed of owning property," Alyssa told Newsweek. "But, in the state where we previously resided, it seemed out-of-reach financially."

The couple eventually found the 900-square-foot cabin, listed on the Zillow property website for around $200,000, in a remote location that met their needs. "We wanted to swap the busy lifestyle of being in a crowded neighborhood for the peace and serenity of the woods," Alyssa added.

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Homeowners across the country continue to struggle with high housing costs. A 2024 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University found that "millions of potential homebuyers have been priced out of the market by elevated home prices and interest rates." The home price growth was seen in 97 of the top 100 markets, with higher increases in the northeast and Midwest regions.

'Living the Dream'

The couple's homesteading lifestyle also aligns with their personal interests, such as hunting, hiking, and gardening, Alyssa said. The property itself spans 10 acres and offers views of a field and access to a nearby creek. "My favorite part of the house is the land that it comes with," Alyssa added. "It backs up to a creek and mountains and couldn't be more of what we dreamed of."

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For Alyssa and her husband, the cabin represents more than just a home—it's the fulfillment of their dream to live a simpler life surrounded by nature. "We wanted to find a place where we could connect with the land, grow our own food, and live more sustainably," she said.

The renovations on the cabin have been significant, with Alyssa saying that the couple have been "redoing the floors, redoing the kitchen counters, redoing the bathroom in its entirety, including the tub and toilet, and painting the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms."

Alyssa and her husband have handled most of the work themselves, which has both saved money and brought them a sense of accomplishment. "The renovation has likely cost us around $10,000 doing all of the work thus far ourselves," the TikTok user said.

Despite the financial challenges and physical labor involved in restoring the cabin, the couple find satisfaction in their efforts. "Some of these projects can be stressful, but doing it ourselves has brought us satisfaction in knowing that you can accomplish things that seem insurmountable at first," Alyssa said.

The couple still have more projects planned, including replacing the old wood-burning stove, which serves as the cabin's only source of heat. "We have many more projects ahead of us," Alyssa said, adding that they plan to install cedar wood planks on the ceiling, sourced from trees they cut down on their property.

In addition to the cabin renovations, Alyssa and her husband have big plans to expand their homestead in the future. "We recently got married at the property," she said. "In the near future, we plan on expanding our homestead with some livestock, such as mules, donkeys, chickens, ducks, and perhaps some cattle."

TikTok users have flooded the comments with admiration for the couple's new lifestyle, with several expressing their desire for a similar life.

One user, Kayla, commented, "My absolute dream. You are so lucky, I could never afford this lifestyle," while others praised the beauty and tranquillity of the property.

"Stunning property. After a ton of sweat equity, your home will be a dream," wrote annie120565.

Adrien Allen agreed, saying: "This is living the dream." Others echoed the sentiment, with Phoenix Rising Sun writing, "I would be at the creek daily," while daz n mila added: "That looks so peaceful."

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