Some enterprising individuals get rich by buying in the path of progress. When the sprawl reaches your doorstep, sell your land for many times what you paid for it and then go buy yourself another property a few more miles out where you can live comfortably until the sprawl reaches your doorstep again. REPEAT.
It's like washing your hair. Lather, rinse REPEAT.
Contrary to what every realtor says, land prices don't always rise.....if the "powers that be" decide to build subsidized apartments all around your neighborhood, it's a good bet that you'll be selling for a lot less than fair market value.
"When the sprawl reaches your doorstep, sell your land for many times what you paid for it and then go buy yourself another property a few more miles out where you can live comfortably until the sprawl reaches your doorstep again. REPEAT."
You're my kind of Capitalist, PassionFruit! I'm sitting on a little gold mine on the edge of two converging cities, myself. Selling in five years or so is planned, and in the meanwhile, I'll enjoy being one of the last small farms out here.
I've gone from City to Suburbs to Small Town to Farm.
And then I'll find another small farm south of here & "repeat" until I can't physically care for myself any longer, then me and my pile of money will move to the city where everything's more convenient for we 'Little Old Ladies.'
That's my plan, anyway. :)