Searching for land near you can be intimidating, but it does not have to be. As long as you know how the searches work, what is shown and not shown, and what to think about when doing your search, there are specific websites out there that can help. These sites cater to different types of land, such as residential, commercial and farm.
Searching for land nearby takes time and effort, but it helps to know where to look and what to look for. Things such as where the land is located, the physical features of the land, the utilities available, accessibility, and future improvements should be considered.
There are comprehensive websites out there that are helpful resources for searching land for sale. They are easy to use and save time from actually driving around your town in search of land for sale. Read on to find out how to use these websites and narrow down your search so that you save time and find helpful information.
Article Contents
How Does the Search "Land for Sale near Me" Work?
You may think doing a Google search for land for sale near you is the best way to go, but there are specific websites that may save you time and money. Commercial real estate professionals list land differently than simply putting a home for sale on Realtor.com. There are specific sites that show land sale listings and off-market options:
- Craigslist
- Land and Farm
- LandCentury
- LandFlip
- LandHub
- LandLeader
- LandSearch
- LandWatch
- Lands of America
- LoopNet
Each of the search sites above offers different benefits depending on where you live and what type of land you are looking for sale. For example, LoopNet is well-recognized for commercial real estate listings while Craigslist can be used by commercial or residential individuals selling land. LandWatch has more than 1 million listings of land, including:
- Ranches
- Farms
- Waterfronts
- Hunting grounds
Land and Farm and LandSearch are both extensive, with more than 10 million acres of commercial, residential and farmland each. LandLeader specializes in everything from waterfronts and hunting land to recreational land and farms. It is safe to say that each site is a great place to start when searching land for sale near you.
Many of these sites are also easy to use because you can search your specific area. For example, LandHub gives the options to search by state and then even more specific by county, acreage, and price. That way, you do not need to sift through different real estate Websites and, instead, search for land for sale all in one place.
What is Shown vs Not Shown When Searching for Land near Me?
Depending on which site you used to search for land, you may only see what the realtor or seller wants you to see. For example, listings on Zillow.com come directly from real estate professionals, third-party feed providers, or an MLS feed. This means a piece of land may be sold on an MLS feed but not be updated on Zillow until it is too late.
As noted, websites specialize in certain types of land, meaning some types will be shown and others will not. LandsofAmerica and LandWatch will show rural listings while LandandFarm shows everything from farmland, residential land, commercial land, and recreational land. No matter the site, the sellers’ goal is to make a good first impression.
When you start searching for land near you, you will more than likely see a property photograph of the land and a drawing of the specific acreage. Some land sellers even give you a 3-D virtual or video property tour of the land so you can explore the property from the privacy of your own home. This will follow with a detailed property description:
- Type of land (i.e., residential, commercial, farm, recreational, etc.)
- Number of acres
- Price
- State
- County
- City
- Address and mapping information
- Property description (elevation, topography, access to sewer, water, power, soil types, zoning specs, etc.)
- Status (available, sale pending, sold)
Although there is not a specific list of what must be shown on land searches, it is unethical to lie or present inaccurate information about a land. Reputable sites, like Land Elevated, LandHub, and LandWatch, will even offer important information about how to buy land, what decisions to make, and how to find the best land properties.
5 Things to Think about When Searching “Land for Sale near Me”
Now that you know where to search for land for sale near you and what information will be provided, there are five things to think about when searching for land. First and foremost, location, location, location is key. Just because the land you found is located in the county in which you live does not mean the location is lucrative to your needs.
Land sellers are motivated for one thing, selling their land. Therefore, they should be transparent in answering any questions you may have about the land for sale near you. Start by looking for land by location so that you can narrow down the amount of land for sale near you. Then you can start asking the right questions to get the right answers.
Once you find the right location for you, then you can start thinking about the physical features of the land itself, depending on your desires for the land. You will also want to consider utilities, such as cell towers and electricity, legal road access so that you can drive to and from your location, and how conducive the land is to future improvements.
Land is a limited resource, which means the more areas become populated and gentrified, the more the demand for land will rise. Searching for land near you can be a lucrative investment as long as you take the time to think about the following five things listed below. That way you will save time and money down the road with your purchase.
Know the Location
Many of the Websites discussed allow you to search by location, which is the first major consideration when searching for land for sale near you. In fact, location is probably the most important consideration when it comes to searching for land or any type of real estate. This includes proximity to recreational, economic, and residential properties.
Depending on the acreage of the land you are considering, you should research the proximity of your land to landowners, homeowners, or economic activities. For example, if your land is close to a concert venue, you may be able to rent out part of the land for parking during the summer concert season depending on how the land is zoned.
Other features that should be considered include access to water, sewer, power, and bodies of water, and its proximity to trees, fields, and wildlife. If you have trees on your land, you may be able to consider the value of the timber, which could add value to your land. You should also find out the following when determining the timber values:
- Volume of timber available
- Type of trees, whether hardwood, pine, or a mixture
- Species in the forest areas
- Forest products
Certain areas are also known for recreational possibilities, such as hunting, biking, snowboarding, or rafting. If your land is near areas that could be gentrified or progress economically in the future, it could end up raising the resale value of your land or become a nuisance if you end up being near populated areas and you want quiet.
Consider the Physical Features Listed
The last thing you want to do is purchase a piece of land only to realize it needs a considerable amount of work and money to become desirable for your needs. If you live in the Midwest, for example, what is the elevation above sea level and topography? Are roads in inconvenient places or no roads at all? How convenient is overall access?
The physical features of the land will also determine what areas can be used for timber, what could be used for producing crops, and what could be built upon depending on the elevation and soil. Soil is also important if you are planning to be productive on your land. Unproductive land includes steep areas, wetlands, and stream buffers.
Water is also an important consideration when thinking about searching for land. If there is natural water, such as a lake, stream, or pond, it is usually acquired during the initial purchase of the land property and could augment the appeal of the land itself. For example, a natural water outlet could be the perfect money-maker for recreation.
A physical feature that may not be discussed but is ever-so important is any minerals found on the property. You should do your research as to how the presence of mineral rights, such as gas, oil, or other precious and valuable minerals, may affect the overall sale of the land in question. Some minerals will add value to the land because of rarity.
Utilities
What are you going to do with this land? Do you want to eventually build your family’s dream home, start a business, farm the soil, or provide recreational facilities? All of these possibilities and more will need to consider utilities, access to the area, and any improvements that may be needed to turn the land into your dream area.
Utilities that are present either on the property or adjacent to it must be examined when searching for lands for sale. For example, landlines for the telephone are becoming less and less popular, so cell towers may make or break the land purchase. The utilities that should be researched fully when searching for land near you include:
- electric power,
- telephone and cell towers,
- cable,
- high speed Internet,
- sewer, and
- public water
Access
How your land is accessed is another important consideration for how you will use the land now and in the future. You need to find out if the property even has legal access because, if not, you probably will not be able to use the land productively or efficiently. Public roads, whether they are paved or dirt, are key to the value of the land.
Improvements
Finally, you should examine whether you will make any man-make improvements to the land you are searching. These improvements could be anything from homes, buildings, and sheds, to irrigation systems, access roads, biking trails, or duck ponds. Any of these improvements will add value to your land in the future.
Conclusion
There are so many land purchasing opportunities on the internet, you will more than likely have no problem searching for land near you that meets your specific needs. However, you need to consider where the land is located, the physical attributes, and what exactly you would like to use the land for in the future.
