How to live in a yurt?

In light of the recession, economy, etc. I’ve been considering buying a build-it-yourself yurt instead of a house and renting an apartment. I assume, though, that you still need to buy a plat of land upon which to build the yurt. How would one go about doing this (finding the land, getting a permit, etc.) and where would be the best place to do it (if I currently live in a metropolitan area)? Also, does anyone here live in one and could attest to what it’s like to live in one? Thanks.