Important Land Buying Mistakes To Avoid

Whether you’re buying land as an investment or a place to build your dream home, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of the actual purchase. While most land purchases go off without a hitch, it’s essential to avoid the following land buying mistakes. Avoiding these blunders when evaluating the land you want to purchase will ensure its actual worth and what you can do with it. 

Zoning & Deed Restrictions

Do you have plans to build a pool house or separate mother-in-law quarters from your house? Make sure you research any zoning and deed restrictions that come with the property. You don’t want to purchase a plot of land only to discover you can’t build a second dwelling aside from your main home. This will ensure you can use the property according to your plans. 

Keep in mind that not all zoning and restrictions will be listed on the first page of your sales contract or deed. In fact, many of these restrictions can be hidden or hard to find in these documents. That’s why it’s important to have a lawyer or real estate professional check all the zoning and deed restrictions that come with the land to ensure you don’t get stuck with something you can’t develop.

Environmental Or Historical Conditions

You can find yourself living in a nightmare if you purchase land with any environmental or historical conditions. The last thing you want to deal with is a historical graveyard, endangered species or archaeological site on your property that’s legally protected.

To avoid these unwanted scenarios, it’s important to take the time to have an environmental survey done of the land. You won’t want to purchase property only to be restricted on how you can use it. You also don’t want to have to remediate any environmental contaminants that can be costly to clean up. 

Acreage Discrepancies

When purchasing a plot of land, you’ll want to ensure there aren’t any acreage discrepancies. For example, a previous description of the land may indicate 20 acres, but a recent road-widening project reduced it to 15 acres. To avoid this scenario, take the time to conduct a land survey and obtain appropriate title insurance to confirm the actual acreage of a property. 

Keep in mind that you should never rely on the legal description cited in a seller’s deed. An up-to-date land survey will avoid any acreage discrepancies that may have developed in recent years or when surveying methods were different when a source deed was originally drafted. It’s essential to make sure the information in a source deed matches the reality of the land today.  

Potential Boundary Disputes

You don’t want to purchase land with a tree you want removed or a building you want taken down only to discover a neighbor partially owns it. While a land survey can help you avoid lot line encroachments, you should take the time to research whether any potential boundary disputes can cause problems down the road. 

Purchasing land with any boundary disputes like an unauthorized structure or a neighbor that believes part of your property belongs to them can be a big headache to deal with. To avoid this, a simple discussion with a neighbor that results in a written agreement can help you avoid any future boundary issues. 

Mineral & Logging Rights

You don’t want to purchase land that someone else owns mineral and logging rights too. This can result in the scenario of waking up one morning to the sound of chainsaws cutting down your trees. Many first-time buyers don’t know that someone else can own these rights to a plot of land they are interested in buying. That’s why you should make sure you have a clear understanding of what you're getting into by checking your deed and sales contract carefully to confirm no one else has any rights to your property. 

If someone does own the mineral and logging rights to a property you are interested in buying, you can face a wide variety of problems ranging from construction delays to property destruction. Know exactly what you’re purchasing to avoid these off-guard situations. 

Liens Or Encumbrances

If a seller is in a financial situation that allows you to purchase land for a great price, you could potentially face lien or encumbrance problems. When buying a plot of land, you should always make sure it is free and clear of these potential issues. Nothing prevents a land seller from deeding property that is burdened by an unpaid mortgage, liens, judgments, or other encumbrances. These issues can be easily avoided with the help of an attorney and title insurance policy. 

Access Issues

You don’t want to purchase property that you thought you could access on a private road - even if a seller used it. The use of a private road isn’t something that necessarily comes with the land. Again, have an attorney or real estate professional conduct a survey that confirms you have recorded access to the land. If you don’t, the property may as well be located on the moon. 

Land Resellers 

Thousands of land purchases are made every year without encountering any of these problems. However, they can and do happen. That’s why it’s essential to consider the factors above to make your land buying experience a pleasant and stress-free process. It will also ensure you can do what you want with the land you purchase without any restrictions.  

Ready to start your property search? Land Resellers is a new online marketplace that makes the process of looking for land easier than traditional real estate websites. With us, you have the ability to search specific land properties in different areas of the country and choose the options that best match your required criteria and budget.

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