Country Acreage Wanted: How to Buy Land in the Country

Like most young adults that grew up in a small town, I could not wait to move to the big city. The thrill of the nightlife, meeting new people, and fast-paced lifestyle appeals to most teenagers and young adults. But when you get married and have a few kids, you once again long for a sleepy little town. You want to see your children enjoy nature, and enjoy the things you did as a child that are not available in a large city. The search for a country property is a roller-coaster ride. It seems there are fewer and fewer acreages available these days. And the ones that are available are out of most famlies’ budgets. Not to worry though, there are some great tips available to make your country acreage search go more smoothly.

The first thing a family should do is find out what amount their budget can handle for housing and land. You need to not only have the cost of the property in mind, but also remember there are other costs involved including realtor fees, closing costs, and down payments. Put pen to paper or grab your handy calculator and try to find out your absolute maximum amount, and stick to it! After you have your figures in mind, and then begin checking your credit scores. There are three major credit agencies that report to banks, and other lending institutions. Although they attempt to keep your information current, there are often many mistakes found. It is wise to contact these three credit agencies by mail or online. Once you have purchased and reviewed your reports from Experian, Transouth, and Equifax; you will need to correct any errors. It is a good idea to begin this process several months before you intend to purchase so you will have plenty of time. Once your credit information appears correct, it is time for the daunting task of locating a mortgage lender. This part of the process seems to be very intimidating to most people. But you need to stand your ground and shop the best deal. Do not be tempted to go with a lender because the loan officer was “nice”. Just like any other salesman, these loan officers want your money. Be smart and find the type of loan terms that suit your family’s budget.

After you receive a pre-approval from a lender, the fun part begins! Finding your new property in the country is so very exciting, but it a huge job. Locate a realtor that specializes in country acreages in the area you wish to move. If this agent does not have a property listed you like, they are at least normally knowledgeable about what is available with our agents in their area. Hopefully your agent will make the land search a serious search, but unfortunately many agents will push for their larger commission sales instead. If you find you would do better on your own, there are many resources to locate acreage property. Browse the local newspapers for real estate and “For Sale by Owner” properties.