land ownership
 

I'm not a big fan of public land, luckily I have access to 2 private spots to hunt.
I just got a call from one guy that owns 100 acres of swamp that we hunt, he has permission from neighbours for another 400 acres (the good land). Well, 1/2 of the good land is up for sale (maple and oak hardwoods), and we would be screwed if another hunting party moved into the area.
Now I'm faced with a very big decision, take a loan for $25,000 to buy 1/2 (100acres) of bush that I've been hunting for 15yrs (with no road or water access), or basically get pushed out and use what we have for waterfowl only.
One friend called it a no brainer, buy the land, and I agree, I desperately want a piece to call my own. On the other hand, I'm 30+ yrs oldrenting a basement, I would love to get laser eye surgery, and my teeth could use some aesthetic work. On top of that this land is a 2 1/2hr drive one way.

Being out there is my passion, I live in the city but leave 9 out of 10 weekends to get away from everything. I'm told that I'm always welcome at a few places, but I'd like to be the host rather than the guest some day.

Any thoughts, I'm not looking for financial advise on this site, just wondering if any of you are as hard core with their passion as me to consider buying hunting land before a home.

RE: land ownership
 

Thats not even a question.

Buy the land & eat soup you don't need teeth.

RE: land ownership
 

No brainer in my booktoo.
Go get that loan , your decendants who hunt will also thank you forever .

RE: land ownership
 

I bought a 100 acres about 20 years ago. Its right on a Mule deer runway. I have sure never regreted it. I have access to several thousand acres of private land but things can change and whatever happens, I have my hunting spot.

RE: land ownership
 

You can't go wrong buying land, It will go up in value and you have the piece of mind of having your own hunting spot.

RE: land ownership
 

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Wait a minute. Don't just jump up and run a race because you hear the gun go off!! Get the facts first! You stated that this land has no roads, but does it have an easement or right of way in from a main road? If not you would be landlocked. So, in the event that you lost the access from adjoining land you would own a piece of property that you could only set foot on if you own a helicopter. If you want the land make sure you will have legal access to it. Do your homework first then enjoy the land.

RE: land ownership
 

Thanks Criggster, but we have a verbal from the seller that an easemet (4 wheeler trailer) would be written into the deed. There is alot more to think about than that, it is a 200 acre lot that I would own 1/2 of, and I'm single and hate my job. What if I find my dream job on the net 1000 miles away? I would have to negotiate with long time friends that have entertained me for more than a decade, or walk away and own a portion of land that I can't use.
The partnership would be between only top notch people, so we don't want to spend a bunch more on land surveyors, severance taxes, etc.

RE: land ownership
 

You definitely want to buy it. I'm 16 and I'd buy it myself for $250 an acre. Around here most land is going around $2000 an acre, so this is dirt cheap.

RE: land ownership
 

You need more than a four wheeler trail easement. Check the local land laws, here in NC you can't sell land without a regular easement.

RE: land ownership
 

My wife and I are looking for a new home and we can't afford much but I am really trying to find something with a small patch of woods so I'll always have a place to hunt. Here in Tx leases are getting rediculous so having my own land means alot to me. Get the land if you can.

RE: land ownership
 

I have a house and 50 acres 30+ miles away but always looking;)you really should not pass that up. IMO. I have a standing order for 225 more that my brother in law has (his grand father died and he got it). I would sell a kidney to get more Land!! Just remember GOD ain't making no more land! BUT THAT IS JUST ME.

Good luck to you no matter what you decide.

RE: land ownership
 

25,000 for 100 acres is a great price. Unless there's a nuclear waste dump adjoining it!:DYou can't go wrong buying land, but you really need to be careful about the legal agreements. I have heard too many stories about buddies going in together on hunting ground, only to have them end up disagreeing on how to best use or manage it. You need to get all that straight beofre you put up the money.


GH

RE: land ownership
 

I see a couple of problems. I wouldn't go in a partnership on a piece of land with anybody. I would definitely have at least a 40 foot easement, and you need to look at the area to make sure it is a feasible route for unencumberedingress/egress. The last and most important, can you afford to commit financially to the land purchase. Good luck.

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Cheap buy it or I will

RE: land ownership
 

Having the chance to own and hunt your own land is a great feeling. BUT before buying into a partnership, thereshould be a lawyer involved, even though I hate lawyers, and there would be a time that my partners in ownership and I sat down with the lawyer and had all the details put into writing, and having all said partners sign the agreement. And, I'd make darn sure, again, may have to have the lawyer varify and get in writing, the part about the "verbal agreement easement" part of the deal. When I bought my last two pieces of ground, I paid for title insurance, and it turns out that I got my moneys worth on the second piece, as there were discrepences from the past owners/transactions of the land.
As was said before, land is a great investment, if you can afford to buy it, and can but it at a resonable current market value!

RE: land ownership
 

lets see 100=$25,000....for $25,000 over here you can't even get 2 acres of good hunting land...buy the land...a long term investment is always a good choice

RE: land ownership
 

Just remember,it doesn't matter how cheap it isif you can't make the payments. I could have bought 40 acres of prime hunting ground that was in the family for over 100 years. The bank would loan me the money, but I knew I couldn't swing it. Still ticks me off to see other people hunting on my grandpas old ground...oh well. If you can swing the payments, do it!! If you can't without adding a second or third job....let it pass.

RE: land ownership
 

A few years ago I had a chance to buy 40 acres of mixed agricultural land and woods for 1400 an acre. At the time, I didn't think I could afford it, and turned it down. Three years later i start off every day by mentally kicking myself for not taking the plunge because the value has nearly doubled since then. If it looks good to a lawyer, then go for it.

RE: land ownership
 

That type of land here in Southern Maryland is between 16,000.00 and 18,000.00 per acre. I just met with a guy last week that wanted $250,000.00 for 15 acres.By time I put a home on it it would be well over half a mil. It's mostlywooded and would be geat hunting, but like others have said...you have to be able to make the payments.

RE: land ownership
 

Tschaef , if you can get 100 acres of prime deer land for $4,000 per acre then do it , you can always put a home onit later and hunt the rest . The way Ontario land is appreciating you'll never have this chance again . Squint and don't show your teeth when you smile , but get that loan ! You snooze , you lose .

RE: land ownership
 

kevin, It is $25,000 for 100 acres, or $250 per acre. I'd go for it, but make sure you have right of way and as someone above mentioned, all the rules are agreed upon with you and your partner before you buy. Worst case scenario, you have to sell. Seems to me at that price, it will only go up in value.

When I bought my property that is almost 4 hours away, I was trying to figure out how much I could afford. I had the option of buying as much of an adjoining property as I could manage. Anyway, I went for a chunk of the adjoinging property, but wish in hindsight I had bought even more of it. Generally, wages increase over time, so you will be able to grow into it pretty easily. This is especially true withonly $25,000! If I were you, I'd borrow $27,000, get the laser surgery and buy the lot.

RE: land ownership
 

First I would say you should think about your job. I don't know what type of job you have but if you hate it, then you can't truly enjoy the rest of your life. I have a friend that I go to church with and he got fed up with his regular job. He started a weekend business, where he travels to various weekend craft shows and sells food from underneath a tent. Now he travels about 20 weekends a year and makes more money than he did at his regular job. I know have tried this when I need extra money and have made as much as $2000.00 profit in one wekend before and I only sold just a small variety of food items. One reason I don't do it more is I know this is something I would not want to do as a regular job. Anyway my point is if you are not happy with your job and you think you may move at some point then I would say don't buy the land, but if you think you are going to be living where you would use it then buy it, the price is great. But make sure you have a perment way to access your land. Just my 2 cents.

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I'd buy it but not as a partnership. For me in business that has always turned around and bit me

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I purchased my first 15 acres for $42,000 when i was 25 now I am 26. I had a CD mature and didnt know what to do with it. I didnt want to blow it on a new car or something stupid. I sold it last year for $62,000.We then turned around purchased 22 more acres of great hunting land lots of deer,mountain lion,bobcat,Rabbit, and Ducketc.. Of course we paid way more than $62,000..

DOnt get me wrong owning a home is he best thing I could of done.Ive figured owning a home their is no real savings vs. renting in ashort 3-5 term once you consider the interest on the loan, taxes, upkeep..I wished we kept renting till we found a place we really wanted.

Dont go buy a new truck go get ya some land.That way later in life you will have a reason for owning a truck!

RE: land ownership
 

The price of land will not go down. They are not making any more.

RE: land ownership
 

buy and then sell it for profit :D

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[:o] Never said I was a math geek , and a dozen wobble pops didn't help curb my enthusiasm either . :D

RE: land ownership
 

I agree with what everyone is saying about the legal aspects of everything get EVERYTHING in writing,thats the most important thing in my opinion.around here people are givin away trailers left and right,we gave ours away after our house was done.cant be any worse than the basement.gettin our land was the best thing ever to happen in our lifes,its alot of work and we're broke but we love it.

RE: land ownership
 

"Now I'm faced with a very big decision, take a loan for $25,000 to buy 1/2 (100acres) of bush that I've been hunting for 15yrs (with no road or water access), or basically get pushed out and use what we have for waterfowl only."

Don't want to be the naysayer but consider,

no road or water access. Basically your saying this land will always be worthless. YOu need road access so that at some time in the future it may actually be worth something. Without road access forget the deal. You ain't rich enough to be buying land strictly for recreational purposes. The option that it may be developed must exist for the land to increase in value even if you have no intention of developing it. DEMAND a road easement and utility easement or no deal. As it is you can't even put a house on the place.

Seems like your talking about getting this landstrictly for hunting and not even as an investment(as stated above). IF so consider a lease as you aren't getting any more rightsthan a standard hunting lease would provide.


Forget the partner stuff,you buy 100 acres and your friend buys a 100 acres.Get the survey if needed or use an older one. Taxes etc will all come in the future and risk a possible falling out. Also you areprobably being pushed into this deal in order to carry your fair share by your friendas you been freeloading off his investment for a number of years. He may start expecting you to pay a little bit more of the taxes and costs etc since you also hunt his other land and it will create friction when he sees you paying half the tax bill that he is and getting all of the same benefits,(just human nature). Keep it separate so that you maintain your friendship.

Finally, Look around and see what 25k buys in other areas in the same vicinity or distance from your home that aren't landlocked. If your going into debt for land you owe it to yourself toget the best value for your dollar and this may or may not be it. Maybe your land should be in a different area so that you guys have more places to hunt, no friction with your friend,and the investment potential of the landis greater even if you don't get as much land. Maybe its better to get 50 good acres instead of 100 lousy ones.

Good luck and hope it works out for you whatever you choose. get a lawyer.