When buying land for farming, hunting or otherwise, we’ve got the top five things from one of Minnesota’s top real estate agents, Adam Benedict, with RE/Max Advantage Plus, to consider to help you make a wise choice.
There are many factors to consider when buying land that will vary depending on your intention for the land, but here are some blanket items to investigate that you’ll want to consider regardless of what your land use.
1. Think of the long term. What do you intend to use the land for? Do you want to grow gardens or raise livestock? Is it land strictly for hunting? Regardless, you’ll likely want to have a water percolation test conducted, also known as, “perc test.” This will test the soil to measures how quickly the water will drain into the ground.
Why this matters: It’ll determine the type and size of septic system you can install. It’ll determine where you can build structures on the land. It’ll also help you determine what parts of the land are suitable for growing food or raising livestock. Even if you don’t intend to ever develop the land, it’s still worth knowing what your options are for resale value.
Soil testing is also key when planning to grow food or raise livestock. Soil testing will reveal any contamination or lack of nutrients in the soil.
2. Zoning regulations. You’ll want to know what the regulations are on the land in case you decide to build.
Why this matters: This determines what type of buildings you can build on the land. If you were hoping to run a small business from your farm, for example, you’ll need to know if that’s legally allowed. The zoning regulations and laws will impact the development of your land in general and it is imperative to know your limitations.
3. Easements. Look into easements on the land. Make sure there is direct access to road frontage to put a driveway, for example. Even if you don’t have any long-term intentions of adding a house or any structures, look into it for resale purposes down the road.
Why this matters: An easement on the property could drastically decrease the value of your land if it limits the use of the land.
It’s also important to understand utility easements. This allows companies to dig, remove and install things on your property so it’s important to check with the county before you buy.
4. Understand the topography of the land. Let’s say you are buying land to hunt on. Depending on the type of game you are hunting, each animal will have different needs. Understanding the animal’s habitat will help you determine if the land is a good fit or not.
Why this matters: If you’re looking for land for deer hunting, deer live in forests with natural vegetation and tree coverage. If you’re hunting ducks, make sure that the land has water access since ducks live near ponds, rivers, and marshes.
In addition to the topography mattering for animals, it’ll also impact your ability to build any structures on the land. It will directly impact site planning, the cost to build, it’ll help reveal possible construction challenges that may be an obstacle, and it’ll show floodplains, wetlands and so on.
5. Survey the land. Know the exact parameters of the land before you buy.
Why this matters: This will help you avoid legal issues down the line if you have the exact parameters of the land before you purchase it.
There is much more advice to offer on the topic of buying land, but these five tips will help you get the process started. For more information on the subject, you can follow Adam Benedict.
This article about buying land was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
