Is land expensive where you are?

**Sara Noel** · 12-29-2001, 12:21 AM

I saw my "dream-land" listed. 20 acres, pond, rolling hills.
It was listed at 83K. I know that sounds high, but is it? The govt pays 3K a year for maintaining a section for wildlife.

I have no idea how much it costs to build. My brother could do all the heating and air in it, so there's a savings.

I am just dreaming at this point. We're still saving and aren't quite ready yet.

Sara

**milach** · 12-29-2001, 07:59 AM

In my state (NH), the price of land is dependant on where it is in the state. Land in the southern part, by Massachusetts is extremely expensive (like 3 acres for $60,000). I'm in central NH, and I got my land at $4,000 an acre (which is about the same as what you're looking at). That was 2 years ago, prices has since doubled, so I'm thrilled we bought when we did!!!

I'd definitely go take a look at it if I were you. Ideally, you want a flat piece of land, but this one could be straight up hill or straight downhill, making it unable to build on. It seems like every piece we looked at here was like that, and they wanted top dollar. But then again, with 20 acres, there's gotta be a flat spot on it somewhere!

So I guess to answer your question, yes it is a good deal when you look at the price per acre, but the only way you'll know if it is worth it is to go look at it. Best of luck!!

Laura

**wife228** · 12-29-2001, 10:24 PM

We have 5 acres of land and I would say that land is pretty much the same price here.
In Ohio(here) they pay $90 an acre for wildlife preservation. You have to sign a 10 year contract too.
20 acres would be great but there is more to building then just HVAC. Is there any lines for water and electric? That is big bucks to do here. When we bought our house 3 years ago we checked into buying some land and building and in the long run it was cheaper to buy a house with the land. By the time all the licenses and permits were bought and contracts drawn up it was almost $30k MORE than what we wanted to spend.
I live in an old farmhouse and love. My house is 150 years old.It would have been nice to have new but I didn't want a mortgage that was more money then we make.

**Jerseygirl** · 12-30-2001, 07:28 PM

I can't help you with land prices-I live in Jersey and well, there is precious little land anywhere, a postage stamp lot is $100,000. I can say be very aware of what you can or cannot do with the land--Our house is on a double lot, it goes straight back to the next street, but the township will not allow us to subdivide, I also have friends that have bought land in NY state and been very limited in the building they were permitted to do even though they bought 50 acres, others have had problems not being able to get public utilities etc to what they bought as vacation homes. Make sure you really do your home work--good luck!

**milach** · 12-31-2001, 09:55 AM

Anna's post just reminded me- if you can find land that already has all the permits, that will save you big dough!!! Our land came with the septic design, perc tests, driveway permit, the permit for construction from the state. All we needed to get was the town building permit (which was $300.) Like I said before, we really fell into a bucket with this in all aspects. They ran our power lines and set a pole for the standars hook-up rate ($30). My neighbor paid $3000. In our case, we ended up saving $30,000 by building instead of buying. I wish everyone could get a steal like this.

But it's true, before you buy, go to the Selectman's office and tell them what your intentions are... they'll tell you if you can/cannot do it. In my town, depending on where you live, you can't have livestock, they don't allow mobil homes.

Also too, you want a piece of land with no restrictions. We ran into that alot when we looked at land. Some land we looked at with restrictions were insane- like if you buy this land, you have to buy the piece next to it, or the present owner must approve what you plan on building, you can't cut down trees, easements (right-of-ways). You want to be able to do whatever you want. You'd have to look at the deed to get that info

Laura

**Sara Noel** · 01-07-2002, 08:55 AM

Did you guys go with owner financed or a finance company? What percentage were you required to put down?

Sara

**milach** · 01-07-2002, 10:51 AM

We went thru a local bank (I don't believe in going to anyone else) and we had to put down 20% and got a high interest rate (11%, I think). We refinanced for our construction loan, we got a lower rate at 6.8%- and didn't have to put down a down pay because we had enough equity in the land since the market value doubled and we had put $4,000 down to begin with. HTH!

Laura

**bamamomto4** · 01-13-2002, 04:37 PM

Here in Alabama,most land is about $2,500-$3,500/acre. There's alot of "Buy here pay here" (which cost more) type places and you can get 3 acres for $15,000 plus finance charges for 30 yrs you would pay over $50,000

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**QuilterMom** · 10-25-2004, 02:35 PM

How are land prices looking for everyone now? One acre undeveloped/uncleared lots here are going for $100,000+

**Missy** · 10-25-2004, 02:41 PM

it's expensive here in town. We paid 25,000 for less than a 1/4 acre. it needed a great deal of excavation as well...we were told we got a great deal too

Back home prices are soooo much better. Sigh...

**kimmee** · 10-25-2004, 02:46 PM

We paid $70,000 for 40 acres of farm land. We have owned it for a little over one year. I believe they are currently asking $85,000 firm for the rest of the parcels in this plot.

**Dixie** · 10-25-2004, 02:50 PM

I live in rural, northern Ga and land prices here are skyrocketing. Just last week, I saw 2.5 acres about a mile away from here, listed for $85.000. I can not believe it!! My parents orginally owned the land and house where I live and I remember they paid $1500 an acre back in '72. My uncle who lives about 3 miles down the road, paid a few hundred dollars an acre for his 25 acre riverfront tract, back in the sixties. Today, it's worth several million. That just blows my mind. Maybe if more people still thought all us hillbiliies were straight out of the movie, 'Deliverance" , they wouldn't want to buy land here.

and land prices would go back down.

**forestdale** · 10-25-2004, 03:23 PM

That land sounds ideal, Sara. It looks like it's the same as buying land here. It depends on where it is, mainly. Other factors affecting price are if the land has a view, if it's on the beach, whether the land it flat, whether it's prone to floods, near power lines, etc. etc.

I found this site you may find interesting. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_real_est...389636,00.html

**Ellise** · 10-25-2004, 06:30 PM

I saw a sign Saturday and it said 5 + acres $249000.00!

I about wrecked!

**DaisyLady** · 10-25-2004, 07:36 PM

For a two acre property in the "rural" part of Ottawa, what they are calling estate lots you will pay about $80,000 to $100,000. But you have major restrictions on type of house, exterior finish, fencing etc. Out side the city land is more reasonable except for tiled farmland which can go for a small fortune.

We are looking for about 10 acres with or without a house and have found some listed at about $60,000 to $300,000 + depending on location etc.