re: what would you be looking to see in a homestead/family farm property?

I can tell you what we are doing on the 10 acre property we just purchased. I have my garden put in already, with plans to install an irrigation system and a small shed near the garden. I'm working on removing a useless hedge to replace with blueberries. I will eventually put in muscadines and blackberries, as well as some strawberry beds, and have already started a small orchard. The property has about 20 Pecan trees on it, as well as persimmons and mulberries. I will probably add some plum trees eventually.

On the acreage around the house, I'm eventually going to have chickens. That will involve some form of coop and yard for them. The remaining acreage will be used for livestock--mostly small livestock, but will probably keep a cow/calf pair, with the calf being for slaughter.

There's other things we are doing as well that aren't necessarily food producing, but will compliment everything else. Native plant gardens to support beneficial insects, pollinators, birds, etc., which will serve to pollinate and provide pest control for the food crops. It's also more sustainable due to less inputs to maintain.

It's really a holistic land management approach that we are talking. It's not just about producing the food, but being sustainable. If you want something highly marketable, look into permaculture. That's the way the homestead is going.