Posted: 3/1/2026 5:07:04 PM EDT
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We have a great neighbor that is next to us, and lets us go on his property (he knows we like to hike). The land is vacant and he lives about 45 minutes away on a large farm. He was there before we moved here. I heard from someone local that he bought the land as an investment. I have the neighbors phone number. I wanted to ask him if he was ever going to sell to let us know first. We would love the land but are in no rush. I would hat for it to get sold to someone else and get developed though. Is there a property and polite way to ask? Thanks |
have gun will travel
Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
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Well you seen much combat? ......... I've seen a little on TV.
We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns.
Lifetime NRA member SADLY
now GOA and ASA member!!!!!
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Story time Similar here. I want to buy about 5 acres from my neighbor's parcel, to protect a big line of trees that runs down the property line, but almost all on his property. He had about 80ac with an old house in the center. I want a 100'-wide slice covering our 2,000' boundary. That would mean even if it develops to multiple houses, I would have a buffer. Old farmer neighbor passed away last year, we've only been here a couple years but I got to know him pretty good. He had transferred ownership years ago to his two daughters who live ~2 hours away. Both are ~50 years old, have families and seem pretty well off. At the memorial service I met the two daughters, they said their dad had mentioned me. I just gave my contact info and told them we would miss him, and to let me know if anything needed doing on the farm since we were neighbors. The next week they called me since they had heard from other neighbors that I was interested in the property. I had to tell them I couldn't afford the whole thing but I wanted the 5ac. Laid on a little "keeping it the same like Mr. XX would have wanted". Could buy that for more per acre than they would get for the rest, and I would take care of the surveying etc. They said they would think about it. Basically I would pay e.g. $20k/ac versus the $10k/ac they will get for the whole thing. But I know it is annoying doing multiple deals. Did not hear anything for 8 months. Occasionally heard shooting on his place. I was hoping one of the grandkids would fall in love with grandpa's old place for shooting and camping out, and convince the daughters not to sell after all. Then one day it was listed for sale. And has sat there for 6 months. List price is pretty high for the area these days, no sign of activity on the place. Still listed as 1 parcel. Trying to figure out how to talk to daughters or real estate agent. Maybe if daughters were wanting to cash out, $50k each now beats an uncertain future gain. I also noted that the appraisal district does not even record there is a house on the parcel, so with ag exemption it is costing them only a few hundred $$ each year in taxes. |
"And I never did get my lawnmower back!" - Bandit 6
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"On the bright side, the money we saved by not going to Mars in the 1970s, we spent on welfare and public schools." - @MorlockP
| They may not be getting any offers... Its a buyers market... wife was reading something about it being the highest ratio of sellers to buyers since they have been keeping records... |
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This information is a general statement of law and procedure and not a substitute for specific legal advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
This information is a general statement of law and procedure and not a substitute for specific legal advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
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My realtor asked me "you know how much you pay for your neighbors land?" "Too much"  But yea, just call and ask, and at least plant the seed. |
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A visual aid, like an overlay to an existing survey that shows what you’re interested in buying, might help. Beats waving your hand vaguely in that direction and leaves fewer chances for misunderstandings if everyone can see exactly what is being discussed. |
Never ask a man if he is from Virginia. If he is, he'll tell you. If he isn't, you don't want to embarrass him.
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My neighbor has XX acres he doesn't use. There was a guy leasing the shop, but that guy retired recently. I saw the owner while walking my pasture and told him that I'd be interested if he ever wanted to sell. "I know what I want for it, and you can't afford it. Besides, I don't want to sell right now." "OK. Just keep me in mind." Three weeks later it was listed. The asking price....$60k/acre. I paid $6,300 in 2015. It's way over the price of anything around except for what data centers are paying for land. I was told by the realtor it was "priced for development." Heart breaking. Hasn't dropped a dollar in 18 or so months. Then the tenant dumped shitloads of liquid that was used for his business outside of the shop. I'm talking there was a 5,000 gallon tank inside the building. I don't know what the fluid was, but it killed the grass between the shop up to about 5 ft from my fence. I wanted to sell him out, but that would burn the bridge. I'd like to know what he dumped for my own sake. I asked a friend to get with the realtor and then ask what the dead grass was for but he wouldn't. They let it sit that way for many months and then recently they covered it up with road base so potential buyers can't see it. If they get reported, they will be 90% certain it was me that did it. Sucks. |
| I've tried to buy my neighbors land for years. It is in rough shape now, nothing is ever done to keep it up aside from mowing a little near the house. The old guy died a few years ago but the widow keeps hanging on, she said her daughters would want a pretty penny for it. They have always thought it was worth way more than market price due to their emotional attachment to it. |
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. In the end, the one who wins is the one who thinks he can! - SCI, NRA
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Originally Posted By Urimaginaryfrnd: Call and talk to him, tell him you appreciate him letting you hike across his land and let him know that if he ever sells that tract you would really like to have a larger acreage than what you have. See what he says. Pretty much this. As a seller, he would get the obvious benefit of avoiding realtor fees and other hassle that goes along with selling a property. |
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Originally Posted By abnk: Pretty much this. As a seller, he would get the obvious benefit of avoiding realtor fees and other hassle that goes along with selling a property. Originally Posted By abnk: Originally Posted By Urimaginaryfrnd: Call and talk to him, tell him you appreciate him letting you hike across his land and let him know that if he ever sells that tract you would really like to have a larger acreage than what you have. See what he says. Pretty much this. As a seller, he would get the obvious benefit of avoiding realtor fees and other hassle that goes along with selling a property. I've been on both sides of neighbor transactions. There is a lot of good will earned once proven as a productive, good neighbor. Worse thing in the world is to have some jackwagon move in because he was willing to pay a few thousand more but generating a lifetime of headaches. |
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Couple years ago I approached a neighbor I hadn't spoken to in years. After a little catching up, I asked them if they were ever going to sell all or part of their property, could they let me know first to see if I could buy it. They said they would, and then asked me to do the same. About two months ago I approached a neighbor of another property that I also hadn't seen in years. She didn't even recognize me, but I had a great visit. I wanted to ask the same thing of her, and before I even got to it she asked me to let her know if I ever wanted to sell. |
Gotta enjoy the little things.
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Originally Posted By Chadnutz: My neighbor has XX acres he doesn't use. There was a guy leasing the shop, but that guy retired recently. I saw the owner while walking my pasture and told him that I'd be interested if he ever wanted to sell. "I know what I want for it, and you can't afford it. Besides, I don't want to sell right now." "OK. Just keep me in mind." Three weeks later it was listed. The asking price....$60k/acre. I paid $6,300 in 2015. It's way over the price of anything around except for what data centers are paying for land. I was told by the realtor it was "priced for development." Heart breaking. Hasn't dropped a dollar in 18 or so months. Then the tenant dumped shitloads of liquid that was used for his business outside of the shop. I'm talking there was a 5,000 gallon tank inside the building. I don't know what the fluid was, but it killed the grass between the shop up to about 5 ft from my fence. I wanted to sell him out, but that would burn the bridge. I'd like to know what he dumped for my own sake. I asked a friend to get with the realtor and then ask what the dead grass was for but he wouldn't. They let it sit that way for many months and then recently they covered it up with road base so potential buyers can't see it. If they get reported, they will be 90% certain it was me that did it. Sucks. I am very much a MYOB guy but dumping thousands of gallons of an unknown chemical next to my land would make me call the state environmental dept. Do you have a water well or grow a garden? You have no clue what they dumped and what the health impacts might be. I would call and no fucks given if they thought it was me. |
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Originally Posted By USCG_CPO: I am very much a MYOB guy but dumping thousands of gallons of an unknown chemical next to my land would make me call the state environmental dept. Do you have a water well or grow a garden? You have no clue what they dumped and what the health impacts might be. I would call and no fucks given if they thought it was me. I've never seen the realtor showing this place, but I have a full time job. It's probably been a year since this happened. There are probably enough people aware now that I could get away with it. I had hoped to buy this place one day, but if hes going to ask for such an exorbitant amount there is no way I'll ever be able to. Only one problem.... Because I brought it up with that friend, there is a big chance that the beans will be spilled when the culprit starts bitching that someone sold him out. I should have kept my mouth shut. That friend has known all these people for decades. I just got here 11 years ago. |
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Originally Posted By Chadnutz: I wanted to sell him out, but that would burn the bridge. I'd like to know what he dumped for my own sake. I asked a friend to get with the realtor and then ask what the dead grass was for but he wouldn't. They let it sit that way for many months and then recently they covered it up with road base so potential buyers can't see it. If they get reported, they will be 90% certain it was me that did it. Sucks. You want to buy what has now turned into a superfund site? And aren't worried about what was put in your groundwater? Report it while he is still responsible for cleaning it up, and/or has to drop the price to sell that contaminated land. Edit, I should have kept reading. That "neutralized" acid--if that's what it was--certainly doesn't sound harmless. Who gives a shit what he thinks? |
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W. Churchill
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