How to Buy Farm Land Without Making These “Little-known” Mistakes
We want to help you understand these little-known mistakes that many people end up making when buying land.
And as a quick aside --- we are here to help you purchase a new tractor when the time is right.
Let’s get to it.
Professionals
First and foremost --- When buying any property always consult with the proper professionals including attorneys, tax experts, title companies, bankers, government officials/offices, investors, builders, utilities, locals, inspectors, and realtors. Also ask about any associated fees with financing, buying, and servicing the land.
You want to make sure all the details are exposed and taken care of.
This will be a huge advantage for you to make a good deal and not leave stones unturned.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s move on.
Legal Access
Make sure that legal access to the property comes with the title deed.
A huge mistake that many people make is that they buy a piece of land that comes without the legal right to access it. This has been known to cause problems between the buyer and the people who own the surrounding land.
Even if the land comes with legal access --- it may not have a road. You would need to build one at a huge expense.
Roads and buildings need a large infrastructure. You may have to add utilities such as gas, water, sewer, and others. They need to be hooked up to any buildings you plan to add. This can get very expensive.
Financing
Always budget wisely.
You need to consider all your available cash. Also, you need to know if you have a chance to have your loan approved.
Mortgages for existing homes are different than financing for raw property or loans to build.
Home mortgage loans tend to cover a higher percentage of the cost. Discuss this with your banker or other financier.
You may have to pay cash for the property --- followed up by a construction loan for the structure. Talk to a loan specialist about the possibilities.
Also --- determine the land's actual value. This way you will know if the asking price is fair.
You can find out what land or a home's value is by checking out other similar properties in the nearby area and comparing prices. Look at all the features, like access to water, existing outbuilding, and other aspects of a property that will affect its value. A good realtor can help you with this process.
Zoning
If you are going to build or otherwise change the property, you will need to check into local zoning and ordinances.
Some areas are not zoned for houses below a certain square footage. Call the county where the land is located to find out the details.
If you are planning to use the site for business, make sure the property is zoned for what you want to do.
Some municipalities keep farms and hotel-type businesses a certain distance from residential areas. Make sure all your plans are within the legal restrictions of the area.
There are other ordinances and mandates you may find out about in the process.
Sometimes a property can get rezoned. It depends on the local council and government. Nothing is usually easy.
Visit Often
Visit the property at different times of the day.
With property, you need to constantly investigate the land.
Learn about any invasive plant species that are native to the area. Search for them on the land where you are considering building.
Check for trespassers. Inspect areas where you want to install fencing.
If you have a realtor --- ask them to take you out to the property at different times of the day so that you can listen for noise from nearby highways or railroad tracks.
You may find that people use the property for dumping or even doing drug deals. Two things you will not want to deal with.
Visit often and keep your eyes wide open.
Research
Be thorough. Research everything.
As part of it --- make sure you do the proper surveying and environmental testing.
Google the address. Was it ever in the news? If so, what for?
You can also visit a nearby town. Ask about the area and land. Just keep your plans to yourself if you are going to build or try to change the zoning. Some residents may not be happy with your idea and can make it harder for you.
Ask the owner why they are selling it. Their answer can be very telling.
Buying
You are now ready to start searching for land without making these “little-known” mistakes.
Always hire professionals, check the zoning and legal access, consider your cash and financing options, visit the property often, and do a lot of research.
Hopefully, this brief article has helped you bypass some of the mistakes and pitfalls of buying land.
If you need any further help, or have any questions about buying farm land, tractors, or anything else, please contact your dealer, local mechanic, or call us at 602-734-9944. Please ask about our current new and used tractor supply.
Team Tractor Ranch - #1 Tractor Dealer in Arizona. We sell and service most major brands of tractors including Yanmar, Kubota, John Deere, TYM, Mahindra, Kioti, Case, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Ford, Deutz, Case IH, Farmall, International Harvester, Branson Tractors, LS, Shibura, Claas Tractor, McCormick Tractors, Valtra, Solis, YTO, Montana, and Nortrac.
