Buying tractors help

[woodswalker]

Smaller tractors have limitations...but with patience you can get it done.  But if you are moving a LOT of dirt (100s of Cu Yds) you will make 384,711 trips.  With the small ones (Kubota BX23/24) you can get a small backhoe which is great for putting in water lines and power..but bigger holes will try your patience.  The advantage is that once the place is done you still can get around things that a larger machine wont fit near.  I'd get a BIT bigger one, like the HST series, a bit bigger backhoe, front loader bucket and more lift.  But wont fit everywhere.

[Grit dog]

So if a guy bought some acreage (7) and is going to need a tractor for mowing, plowing snow, moving dirt, landscaping and general hobby farm use and is considering doing his own excavation for a house and shop, what is the minimum class/series that will get the job done. Lot is pretty level, not rocky(was hay field). Im thinking since I will need a tractor eventually anyway is it possible buy a compact tractor to do my own excavation to offset the cost by not hiring the job done.

Personally, I would get a tractor for home use on the wet side unless you only planned on using it for less than half the year. Tracks will get you where you need to go. Who wants to wait till summer to do years work just because the ground is wet?
But if you're mowing with it then different story.
For digging the foundation, I'd save the misery and rent an excavator for a day or 2 and be done with the dig.
For mowing, 7ac isn't that much. Tractor do the job if you're just mowing hay field. We have 5 AC and I first used a tow behind deck behing the 4 wheeler. Great bang for the buck. Cost me $300 for 4 years of mowing.
Sold it and bought a good old zero turn. 60" ZT mows about 4.5 AC in 3 hours.
Jist tossing out ideas.

[Knocker of rocks]

What brand is that orange tractor for sale on FB?   Just wondering.

Content with my fully mechanical 1983 950 w/ ~770 hours.