Posted: 1/30/2013 6:26:51 AM EDT
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I have read online all of the steps that are recommended to follow, and have done the following:
With three phone calls to the courthouse, I found out more information that the realtor was telling me (no surprise). If the courthouse is telling me that there are no liens, the property is paid off, and no major restrictions on the parcel, what else should I be checking into? I just called three surveyors, and requested estimates, found out that the health department doesn't require permits for septic systems on more than 5 acres. I have the plat book and page info when I go to the courthouse to check on mineral/water/logging rights Just spoke to the county, no building permit is needed for that fire district. Anything else I am forgetting? |
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Neighbors - both current and any impending development nearby. Highly doubtful that any development is pending, and I have searched the real estate listings, and not many near this one. Any guidance on where to check to see if development is pending? Will be visiting neighbors when I check out the property in a week. |
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Ask about water and trash service. My parents live on an acre in unincorporated Ellis County, and their only options for water and trash are private services. Their water is really soft (the one where you feel like soap never washes off) and tastes funny.
It probably won't be a deal-breaker, but it is good information to know. |
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Neighbors - both current and any impending development nearby. Highly doubtful that any development is pending, and I have searched the real estate listings, and not many near this one. Any guidance on where to check to see if development is pending? Will be visiting neighbors when I check out the property in a week. I recall reading from one person who purchased what seemed like good property only to find later that a new school was being built nearby. Property for development like that wouldn't likely be in recent sales data either. |
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Aerial photographs current and historical. Many counties have these on line now thru a GIS(Geographic Information Service) program. Some counties you still have to visit in person.
We did that on all the properties we looked at. What are/were the land uses of the subject property and in the area? Is/was there anything that could effect ground water? Is there anything hiding behind all those treelines or over the hill that may effect the value? We walked away from a couple properties based on discoveries made when looking at the aerials. |
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Neighbors - both current and any impending development nearby. Highly doubtful that any development is pending, and I have searched the real estate listings, and not many near this one. Any guidance on where to check to see if development is pending? Will be visiting neighbors when I check out the property in a week. Ask around at the township hall. Zoning/Planning/Building departments. They should be able to tell you of anything on the books. Check with all departments available. A project may be at a stage where one department may not have seen it yet. Just like my aerial post above, we walked from another one of our "perfect" properties after snooping at the township hall and finding out a development was going in on contiguous land. |
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Ask about water and trash service. My parents live on an acre in unincorporated Ellis County, and their only options for water and trash are private services. Their water is really soft (the one where you feel like soap never washes off) and tastes funny. It probably won't be a deal-breaker, but it is good information to know. Friend owns 50 acres in Fannin county. The water company wants $50k to upgrade the line from 1 inch to 3 inch for whole county road if he wants a meter. |
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Ask about water and trash service. My parents live on an acre in unincorporated Ellis County, and their only options for water and trash are private services. Their water is really soft (the one where you feel like soap never washes off) and tastes funny. It probably won't be a deal-breaker, but it is good information to know. Friend owns 50 acres in Fannin county. The water company wants $50k to upgrade the line from 1 inch to 3 inch for whole county road if he wants a meter. Drill baby drill... |
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Lots of great information here guys, thanks.
Yes, there is an easement, I had been fighting with the realtor about it for a few days She kept saying "oh we'll just write the warranty deed contingent on the road share agreement, etc." I can't count how many times I told her no way in hell. The easement records appeared 2 days later. I will have to check with the county to see if any planned developments, and also talk with the neighbors. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Neighbors - both current and any impending development nearby. Highly doubtful that any development is pending, and I have searched the real estate listings, and not many near this one. Check for transportation projects. They can often be decades out. For example, it would suck to buy land here in NTX that will one day be a free way. http://www.co.collin.tx.us/commissioners_court/mobility_projects/outerloop.jsp Landfills are also planned a decade in advance in many areas, so check that too. |
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How is the property accessed? (Road frontage, deeded easement, etc..)
Are there any water features on the property? (rivers, creek, lake, springs) Are utilities available to the property?Ease What is the timber like? (stand types, age, planted or natural) Has the property been surveyed? (Are boundaries marked?) Who are the neighbors surrounding the tract? Can I get a clear title to the property with title insurance? Do the timber, mineral and water rights convey with the sale? Are there any easements on the property? (adjoining owners, conservation, utility) Are there any known environmental concerns or latent defects with the property? How is this property zoned? (agricultural, residential, commercial?) What are the annual property taxes? Have the owners received notice from any governmental agency about possible assessments or actions in the near future that would affect this property? Will the property be conveyed subject to covenant and restrictions? (If so, what are they?) How does the land lay? (slopes, bottomland, elevation change, etc…) Are there internal roads and trails? Do all of the improvements to the property convey with the sale? (gates and fences, shooting houses, out buildings, etc…) Does the land drain well or does it stay wet for much of the year? If I had to sell this property again in a year, is it desirable to other potential buyers? Can I pee off my porch in privacy? |
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How is the property accessed? (Road frontage, deeded easement, etc..) Are there any water features on the property? (rivers, creek, lake, springs) Are utilities available to the property?Ease What is the timber like? (stand types, age, planted or natural) Has the property been surveyed? (Are boundaries marked?) Who are the neighbors surrounding the tract? Can I get a clear title to the property with title insurance? Do the timber, mineral and water rights convey with the sale? Are there any easements on the property? (adjoining owners, conservation, utility) Are there any known environmental concerns or latent defects with the property? How is this property zoned? (agricultural, residential, commercial?) What are the annual property taxes? Have the owners received notice from any governmental agency about possible assessments or actions in the near future that would affect this property? Will the property be conveyed subject to covenant and restrictions? (If so, what are they?) How does the land lay? (slopes, bottomland, elevation change, etc…) Are there internal roads and trails? Do all of the improvements to the property convey with the sale? (gates and fences, shooting houses, out buildings, etc…) Does the land drain well or does it stay wet for much of the year? If I had to sell this property again in a year, is it desirable to other potential buyers? Can I pee off my porch in privacy? Quite a list |
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If its not too late - buy this book to make sure you are doing whats needed
Finding and buying your place in the country it covers everything you should be considering Brian |
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One of the best parts about my property location is the fact that it is on a dead-end street. There is only one access point.
Criminals do not come to our homes because if they do get spotted, or trip an alarm, they will be blocked in. Also, it reduces the amount of non-local vehicles. New cars stick out. Less likely to have vehicles passing by at 70 mph as well. Locals still drive too fast, but, the lack of a thru-way means no real issues with litter, dumping, joy rides, kids parking on the weekends, etc. TRG |
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One of the best parts about my property location is the fact that it is on a dead-end street. There is only one access point. Criminals do not come to our homes because if they do get spotted, or trip an alarm, they will be blocked in. Also, it reduces the amount of non-local vehicles. New cars stick out. Less likely to have vehicles passing by at 70 mph as well. Locals still drive too fast, but, the lack of a thru-way means no real issues with litter, dumping, joy rides, kids parking on the weekends, etc. TRG Good point. I am buying a parcel that is 500 yards off of a rural highway with a gravel road leading to it, so I am definitely on the same page. |
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If its not too late - buy this book to make sure you are doing whats needed Finding and buying your place in the country it covers everything you should be considering Brian BUY THIS BOOK! Les is a lawyer who homesteaded many years ago. He knows his stuff! 
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