Costs to consider when buying land?

Started by oracle, July 22, 2011, 06:21:03 PM

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oracle

What would be some costs to take in to the total cost of buying land? Aside from the land itself what are some fees one is to likely pay in the process?
i.e. survey of land, title company, taxes....

I have never bought land, so my knowledge on the subject is minimal. I would likely be overwhelmed by any fees I might not be aware of.

MountainDon

The offer to purchase should provide info as to whom pays what. When we bought our land the survey was to be paid for by the seller. Taxes are usually split between the seller and buyer with regards to the portion of the year each owned the land. We split the closing costs. The best way to see what is what in your area may be to talk to a real estate agent/broker. In our case there were very few additional costs for us on top of the actual land price.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.


oracle

Quote from: MountainDon on July 22, 2011, 07:22:50 PM
The offer to purchase should provide info as to whom pays what. When we bought our land the survey was to be paid for by the seller. Taxes are usually split between the seller and buyer with regards to the portion of the year each owned the land. We split the closing costs. The best way to see what is what in your area may be to talk to a real estate agent/broker. In our case there were very few additional costs for us on top of the actual land price.

Thank you MountainDon!   ;D

What are closing costs? I am not familiar with them.

oracle

I found out what closing costs are! I know now.

Squirl

There is the usual "It depends answer."

If you go to some tax auctions you bid, you pay, you own the property. That is not the usual circumstance and is high risk.

The usual "fees" to land listed in the my own personal order.
LAWYER - This is my strongest suggestion.  You can negotiate a flat fee ahead of time.  They get paid regardless of whether the deal goes through or not.  They work for you. Not like a realtor that works to get you to pay the highest price possible to get the deal to go through. 
Title report.
Title insurance.
Septic Test
Survey
Repay Seller for partial year taxes
Title Recording Fee


considerations

Another potential cost can be water rights, whether to own the right to access potable water through a local "co-op" (potable water collection, sanitation, and distribution entity)  or from another source for irrigation.

oracle

Quote from: Squirl on July 22, 2011, 10:35:32 PM
There is the usual "It depends answer."

If you go to some tax auctions you bid, you pay, you own the property. That is not the usual circumstance and is high risk.

The usual "fees" to land listed in the my own personal order.
LAWYER - This is my strongest suggestion.  You can negotiate a flat fee ahead of time.  They get paid regardless of whether the deal goes through or not.  They work for you. Not like a realtor that works to get you to pay the highest price possible to get the deal to go through. 
Title report.
Title insurance.
Septic Test
Survey
Repay Seller for partial year taxes
Title Recording Fee

Thank you that was very helpful

oracle

Quote from: considerations on July 22, 2011, 11:10:09 PM
Another potential cost can be water rights, whether to own the right to access potable water through a local "co-op" (potable water collection, sanitation, and distribution entity)  or from another source for irrigation.

Could one, if not allowed the water rights of a natural resource, then buy or get a permit to get the water? Does that make sense?

OlJarhead

Testing the water should be included by the seller but you might have to foot the bill.

If the land has trees do you have rights to them?  A lot of land in the Northwest has logging rights that were sold to others so you should investigate that too.


OlJarhead

And never forget the cost of putting in a well (could be $10k or more), septic (if you plan on living there full time), power (3 miles off the power line and you are talking a lot of $$$, phone (same thing, might be a long ways from a ped).