Land for Sale in Louisiana
Louisiana is known for its food, swamplands, jazz music, Creole culture, and the annual Mardi Gras celebration that has been going on for years. What you may not know is that if you’re looking for some affordable land, then Louisiana might be the perfect place in which to purchase it. It is no secret that agriculture has been one of Louisiana’s primary industries for a long time, but what does that mean in terms of availability when looking for land to purchase?
In total, more than a third of the state’s land is used for agriculture and forestry, which provides fertile soil and moderate land prices. There are also opportunities to raise other types of livestock, like fish.
Finding the perfect Louisiana land for sale can seem like a challenge for many. In truth, you will more than likely spend quite a bit of time sifting through web results, searching for the land that meets all of your criteria. Even if a piece of property seems perfect, it may not be in the right area or have the amount of acreage you need. Below, we will be going over what to expect as you search and tips to make your hunt for land smoother.
Finding Land for Sale in Louisiana
Simply typing “land for sale in Louisiana” into your search engine is going to yield millions of results for you to sift through. This can be a bit overwhelming, and it isn’t the most efficient way to go about finding land to purchase.
When thinking about your search, try to be as specific as possible. Consider things like budget, perish, and what you plan on using the land for. Are you looking for land by owner? Are you in the market for swampland or farmland? Do you have a specific area in mind? What kind of existing infrastructure do you need? Is it easily accessible? How far are you willing to be from the city? All of these will help you narrow down your search.
Using an online property tool or land real estate site is one way to save a lot of time and frustration. Many of these sites have search filters to help narrow down the results to match your criteria. You can also save these searches so you can quickly find updated matches each time your sit down to search.
To help you get started, we’ve created a list of the most popular platforms that have land available for sale. All these platforms have different interfaces and offer various search tools:
Working with a real estate agent or a land planner can also help simplify your search.
Farmland for Sale in Louisiana
One of the most challenging aspects of farming and ranching is finding good land. And it can be difficult to know who to talk to or what to ask about it. As a new and beginning farmer, your options are vast and may not be well-defined just yet. Luckily, there are a lot of resources available to help guide you in the right direction. There’s also plenty of support from agriculture specialists who can make you feel empowered in this tough endeavor.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or taking over a family business, it pays to invest in high-quality property. Not only can this help you achieve what you set out to do and create a long-lasting and successful business, but it can also provide an asset for your family.
USDA has several resources to assist those looking to buy farmland:
- Call the service center. Calling the Louisiana service center can help you located farmland in your community by contacting your local Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency.
- Ask for a farm loan. USDA provides loans to farmers who can’t get them from other sources. By doing this, they’re helping these farmers continue farming and providing the nation with food. FSA’s lending assistance can help producers in those tough times by providing relief from financial problems. They can give you a helping hand by either borrowing money for living expenses, acquiring farmland, or buying animals and farm equipment.
- Get information about FSA Land Contract Guarantees. FSA land contract guarantees are an essential tool for retiring farmers to use when they want reassurances about the future of their land and financial interests when selling to a new farmer or rancher. It also benefits new and beginning farmers who can enter into rent-to-own situations.
Purchasing and selling farmland is easier said than done. If you’re looking for land, farmland auctions are one of the most reliable ways to buy, sell and rent. Farmers usually have more land than most people, and sometimes more than they know what to do with. You could look for farmers who might be willing to do owner financing, or you can also rent land for a while until you do find the right property.
Land for Sale by Owner in Louisiana
There is a lot of land on the market, but it’s hard to find the best piece of land that suits your needs. You can avoid hidden costs and stressful negotiations by finding land for sale by the actual owner.
If you want to find a nice piece of land for sale at a reasonable price, buying land from the owner is the cheapest way to go. They usually have less overhead, and there are no extra brokers involved in the process. It’s also much faster, and it saves you time in finding an agreement on a price.
If you are looking for land for sale by the owner, there are a few ways to go about this:
- Use an online tool or property portal. Many of the sites we listed early allow you to customize your search for “by owner” sales only.
- Look through classified ads. You know, those ads that many people skip because they’re usually at the back of newspapers? These are the same ones that have other people selling their land to you. There are also online classified ads you can look through as well.
- Try out a public auction. Both the government and private owners have the property that goes to auction. This happens when the owner doesn’t know the price they want for it or if it was a repossession.
When you purchase land directly from the owner, these are properties that often never make it to the public market. There is a lot of land for sale out there, but these properties won’t be advertised and other land available, so there isn’t as much competition. When you deal with owners directly, you can also skip the middleman and save yourself and them money.
Where is the Cheapest Land in Louisiana?
Do you believe that there is no land for sale that is cheap? Think again. One of the nice things about Louisiana is how affordable property costs are. For retirees seeking a more budget-friendly option, Louisiana is often the first place they look. When it comes to finding deals, you need to research where you are able to find them. Comparing the number of acres is something worth doing as well.
Location-based searches will help you hunt for land throughout the state with a variety of different specifications to prioritize. For instance, if you’re not in a hurry and want a bargain, you can search by acres or price range. If time is tight and money isn’t, then filter by location or land use instead. You’ll be able to find what you need in many cases.
If you’re looking for the cheapest land in Louisiana, your best bet is to look in the northeastern part of the state. Parishes along the Mississippi border like East Carroll, Winn, Avoyelles, Caldwell, and Franklin, tend to have a lower price per acreage. Areas on the western side of the state and near the coast tend to have higher prices.
How Much Does an Acre of Land Cost in Louisiana?
According to the USDA, there are 8 million acres of farmland and 27,400 farms in Louisiana. The average farming area is 292 acres. In 2020, the average cost of Louisiana farmland was $3,160per acre. Nationwide it was $3,160 the same year. The average cost of cropland across the state was $2,930/acre, while the cost for pasture was $2,870/acre.
These prices are fairly low compared to those in the corn belt or some of the states in the northeastern part of the country.
What is the Prettiest City in Louisiana?
Something to keep in mind when shopping for land in the surrounding area. If you asked anyone what the prettiest city in Louisiana is, each person will probably give you a different answer. Each of the cities has its defining characteristics that become must-see tourist attractions for anyone who visits.
- Baton Rouge: The second-largest city in Louisiana and the state capital, this city is known for its flourishing technology and research industry. It’s considered one of the US top 10 places to start a business and one of the top 20 cities in North America when it comes to economic strength.
- New Orleans: As the largest city—and probably most well-known—New Orleans offers a mixture of big city life with outdoor recreation. With a fast-paced vibe and various amenities, there aren’t many who can’t find something to love about this city.
- Lafayette: This is often considered the heart of the nation’s Creole culture. The population in Lafayette is fairly young, with about a third being below 34, creating a colorful and vibrant nightlife with lots to do.
- Metairie: squished between Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans, this active city is full of parks and pastures for those looking for a bit more greenery.
- Prien: This city has that small-town appeal with the natural beauty of two nearby lakes. Prein has also seen rapid growth recently and is considered one of the best places in the state to buy a home.
Key Takeaways of Buying Land in Louisiana
Finding that perfect piece of land in Louisiana is an involved and time-consuming process. A lot of research goes into finding land that matches your unique needs. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you know what steps to prepare for and how to limit your searches to your specific criteria, you should be able to find what you’re looking for.
If you do get overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to seek help from a real estate agent or land planner. When it comes to land purchase, experience and expertise are crucial. Especially when it comes to finding the perfect farm for sale, having an expert on your side may just save you time and money.
Hopefully, the above information is helpful in making your land research and buying experience as seamless and stress-free as possible.