I’m in the market for some land. I went and looked at a small piece today and I’m thinking about making an offer on it. This will be my first time buying undeveloped hunting land. My whole plan is buy this land at a pretty good deal fix it up and possibly sell it later down the road. Tips and pointers will be appreciated. I’m lost on the paperwork legal and financial end of it

Be sure and check for liens, or that someone's Great Granny didn't give 'em a half acre 40 years ago 😀 Seriously though there's some knowledgeably folks on here that know alot about this subject. I'm sure they'll chime in later or tomorrow...

Have a mineral title check done so there won’t be any surprises in the future.

Buy all you can, even if you can't afford it.

Do other people have permission or deeded access to cross this land to get to their's or visa versa? Is the timber under contract? Get a plat book at the county court house and find out how many neighbors there are, but be careful contacting them because if they have no idea the prop is for sale they could buy it out from under you, and the list goes on. On the three pieces I've bought and sold, either Hale Smith at Tutt Land did the digging or a real estate attorney. The first two things listed stopped me from buying, and my big mouth blew another. The one time I had a surprise was on 348 acres in Faunsdale. Place had a deep well and I shut the power off after I bought it, came back and the power to the well was on. Turned if off, came back and the power was on. Come to find out the the place was once a cattle farm and the owner from many years ago gave one of the workers a small bit of land along with a water line to their shack. When I sold it a few years later after fixing the place, that was one of the things brought up in the contract.

If you have a wife, make sure she is all in on this land purchase.

Don't buy with friends, buddies, in-laws. Just buy what you and your wife are comfortable with on the deal by yourselves.

Make sure you have a good property attorney who knows the right questions and what the answers should be, but just doesn't take people at face value, but does his due diligence.

Go out early in the morning and at dusk, as well as, during the day. Find out if this land is in the right area for you.

Have you done a check of the timber? Do the pines have beetles, when was the last time it was cut, does the land perk alright, are there any plans for roads to come through the area, and so on and so forth.

There is so much more to slapping money down on the table when it comes to buying good hunting land.

Good info, thanks. As of yesterday I'm looking myself.

All of the above is great info. Have an attorney that can be trusted do the due diligence.

I posted here before about buying some land with title insurance and when it came time to sell somebody else had claim to the land and my lawyer never paid my money to the title insurance company. With my real estate deals theres always some 1 and a million thing that happens out of my control. make sure to keep every single document from closing. in my situation the title company honored my contract that they were never paid for, but it took almost a year to get the title clear. always buy title insurance its alot cheaper than a lawyer.

Good information fellas thank yall

Have a title check done and get the insurance like already mentioned. . Have it surveyed and marked. Best to get any line disputes over and done with up front. is there any easements thru it? Are you using a easement to get to yours? is it clear and in writing? utilities already on site? if not, how far away is water and power? I knew a guy who bought a piece and he had to pay to have water run almost 2 miles down the road to get to his place. utilities already on site is a plus. Drive around and see who the neighbors are. Are they a bunch of decent looking folks, or a buncha crack heads waiting for you to leave to steal your stuff. Looked at google earth thru the timeline? See 4 wheeler trails coming in from other properties to yours?

Does it have kudzu or other invasive species in it that will cost time, money and effort to eliminate?

Spitting the truth. Been there. It ain’t fun trying to get rid of something you can’t.

If I were buying timberland I’d want to buy in a strong market with several pulp and saw mills within 45 miles.

I’d want it to have good, deeded access.

Id want it to be loggable 9 months out of the year.

I’d want no more than 15-20% in bottomland/smz.

I’d prefer it to own the mineral rights.

I’d want it to be conveyed by warranty deed.

I'd want it loaded up with high grade hardwood , heavy to white oak, wouldn't want a pine on the place.

Power is $8 per foot buried, $6 per foot overhead.

If you get a bargain. County/City water is $2500 + to get a meter set, if you have access. If you can get either for less, say your prayers and buy a lottery ticket.

Come to my town I had 2 poles set for free then ran 300ft underground for under 1500 with Alabama power...guess it depends on where your at...not doubting your experience huck

Mine was considered a "line extension". I am the last house on the line, so wanted underground. The cooperative here in North GA charges for that, as they hire contractors to do it. Charge in AL on Cherokee Electric was minimal, but that was 30 years ago.

It absolutely should be something to research before buying, as it is an unknown depending on the area. I got lucky, as someone bought the property across the road and their line extension cut my cost in half. I was looking at almost $12,000 before they had theirs done.

10-4 my man. Heck with monoculture pine.