Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado, Partner, Ranch Sales | Licensed in MT
Dear Vinny,
I am an excited first-time land investor! I know the areas of the country that I am interested in, but I don’t know specifically where I want to buy. I feel overwhelmed when it comes to what area of the country has all the amenities that I want; there are so many different and unique properties on the market! How should I start narrowing them down?
- First Time Land Investor
Dear First Timer,
This is a common question! Do you have any friends that own land assets/ranches? Most of our new clients who want to invest in property are referred to us by other clients (their friends) who already own a ranch. If you know someone who owns a ranch, I would ask what attracted them to a particular area or property and why. If you don’t have any of these resources, my best advice would be to start dissecting areas by state/region and why they attract you. Is it proximity to other recreational components like skiing, fishing, hunting, ease of travel, or being close to a city with amenities? Once you have narrowed down an area, it is time to hit the ground running. Diligently research and interview successful land brokers in the area and plan to put boots on the ground. Spend a day or even a week in each area and try and find a geographic region that gives you an overwhelming sense of why you should relocate to this area. I have had several buyers think they wanted one thing in one area and completely change their minds after just a short time of looking. I have also had buyers that take two or three years to look at ranches, and once the right one became available, there was no question this was going to be the place for them. Either way, take your time, study different locales, and once you have found the right spot, you will know it.
- Vinny
