News

Posted January 2nd, 2017 by & filed under Land Ownership.

A Few Important Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Buying Ranch Property

Farmers, ranchers, and other landowners have created upwards of 2 million miles of conservation buffers, which serve to improve soil, air, and water quality where they’re placed. If you’re interested in contributing to this initiative, you may be considering a ranch property investment. But be warned, ranch estates aren’t something you can just leap right into.

To ensure you’re ready to purchase the best ranch real estate possible, here are a few important questions you need to be asking before investing.

Does it have potential?

Unless the land has great potential or you have the means to completely revamp it, it might not be a great investment. For example, if the barn is falling apart and you don’t have the resources to fix it, you should probably continue your search elsewhere. But if you’ve found a real diamond in the rough and have the means to fix it up, then go for it.

What are the winters like?

Whether you plan on raising livestock or starting a farming operation, you need to know what the seasons look like, especially winter. If you’re not adequately prepared for the winter, then you may be in for a rude and chilly awakening.

What are the neighbors like?

If you’re looking in a very rural area, you may not have a ton of neighbors. But the number of neighbors you have doesn’t matter so much as the quality of your neighbors. If they’re making a living with their large ranch property, they may be able to help you out during the first short while you’re living there. On the flip side, if your neighbors have turned your potential ranch property into hunting property, then you may have a problem. Consider your neighbors carefully.

How much will improvements cost?

Every ranch with land is going to require some fixing up before it’s exactly the way you want it to be, but you need to make sure you’re estimating the numbers before you go and overspend.

Looking for ranch real estate can be tough, but if you consider these important questions, you should be well on your way to investing in a beautiful property.