Posted: Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Author: Vinny Delgado, Partner, Ranch Sales | Licensed in MT
Dear Vinny,
I am an active investor in commercial and residential properties, and I am now looking for my first ranch property to invest in. What would you say is the #1 "red flag" to look for when viewing ranch properties, or what is the most common mistake new buyers make when purchasing land for the first time?
Dear First Time,
The most common mistake I see with first-time ranch buyers is not aligning themselves with a broker who is deeply immersed in the ranch sales world. If you called me to look at a commercial property, I would refer you to a commercial broker because that is not my area of expertise. I have seen several disasters occur when first-time ranch buyers attempt to use residential or commercial brokers to purchase ranches. Ranches are unique and require specialized attention that many brokers simply don’t have, often because they have never been involved in these types of transactions. Mistakes get made, things get overlooked, and at the end of the day, it can lead to a scary situation when investing significant money. My advice: align yourself with a ranch broker who has a proven track record of closing ranch-specific deals. When you work with someone who truly understands ranch properties, you’ll be in good hands.
