Selling Land - Avoiding the Pitfalls

Land is one immovable resource that has the power of quality compound interest. All over the world, people buy and sell land for various proposes. Becoming a landlord or land owner is indeed one of the greatest achievements you can ever make in life. It makes you secure your future especially when you retire from active service.

Indeed, selling land these days demands real diligence and carefulness. Ever since the ages began, man has been in constant pursuance of land. In various villages especially in the traditional African setting, lands belong to head of families who do divide them according to the number of the males in their families. In some parts of the world, major lands belong to the government of the federation while minor lands belong to individuals especially in remote villages.

However selling land has not always been a fun fare. It is one vital decision you must have to really think about before you dabble into it. Oftentimes, people sell their landed properties because of one challenge or the other. Most times, people do so to raise funds for other pressing needs. In any case, there's nothing wrong in selling land but there's everything necessary for you to think twice before you sell. Land is a real income multiplier. It can double your income overtime as the future comes.

In selling land, there are some pitfalls to guard against. You need to be aware of certain factors in order to make the most out of the land you want to sell.

The first pitfall to avoid in selling land is rash decision. You don't need to rush into the selling of the land because of the pressures around. You need think over it and then take the right decision. This is because, once you sell the land, it ceases to be yours forever.

Another pitfall you also need to avoid in selling land is that of doing everything between you and the buyer. You need to follow due process in order to avoid legal proceedings that might occur in the future. Hence, you need to engage the services of a lawyer or land sales agent.

In most states, of America and elsewhere in the world, there are people known as estate surveyors or estate agents, they are also known as land sales agents. These individuals are known for their dexterity in helping you to sell your lands. Such agents usually have the duty of getting a good buyer for you. Many times, agents usually get the highest bidder for the land in question. Most agents are doing the work as a real business. Hence, you need to pay them for it. Usually agents will do the bargaining for you. Many times, they can add more cash on top of the particular price you want to sell the land. From such increases they make their own gain.

Finally, you need to be very careful when it comes to selling land. Lands are immovable; hence, they are wonderful properties to keep. But if for any reason you have to sell, make sure you do so in the right manner. If you're the head of the household, it is very vital to let every other members of your family to be aware that such step is in the offing. Thus, always be very diligent, careful and determined when taking such a decision to sell a land.

Steven Martin is an experienced land purchaser and also provides a Quick Land Sale service. He works at http://selling-land.co.uk/

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Land Realtors - Advanced Training

Is Your Realtor Qualified?

RealtorsR working in land now must have education and greater competence specific to land. The National Association of RealtorsR added the discipline of "land" to the National Association of RealtorsR - Code of Ethics in December, 2009.

Article 11, of the RealtorR Code of Ethics, says that land is now recognized as a specialized, professional service. Article 11 describes that RealtorsR are in violation of the code of ethics if they participate in a land listing or land deal if outside their level of competence and training.

RealtorsR with little or no training and experience in land sales need to hire a professional with sufficient brokerage experience, such as a professional Accredited Land Consultant, to help them if they wish to work on a land related transaction. Otherwise, the RealtorR must disclose in writing that he or she does not possess expertise, education or competence so parties in deal are aware that the RealtorR they are working with does not have the specific marketing knowledge or training.

Knowledge and experience is one of the keys to success in real estate sales. A real estate license allows an agent to sell any kind of real estate. Most select a certain area to work in, a specific market and product to sell. For most RealtorsR, it's a type of residential real estate.

The World Organization Land Federation (WOLF), The American Land College, and The RealtorsR Land Institute each offer advanced land education and marketing courses, lectures and events for real estate practitioners relating to: (1) farm and ranch; (2) undeveloped tracts of land; (3) transitional and development land; (4) subdivision and wholesaling of lots; and (5) site selection and assemblage of land parcels (6) land development and land brokerage; (7) Site Selection. (8) Timber.

Each of these organizations offer valuable classes real estate agents and brokers can complete to fully understand all the options and operations in the land brokerage business. And each offers instruction and mentorship leading to various land brokerage designations. The ALC (Accredited Land Consultant) designation is one such designation a land broker can attain and is indicative of a broker who has conscientiously applied themselves, to acquire the knowledge and practice of a professional.

Agents and brokers should take advantage of the educational opportunities available specific to marketing and selling farms, ranches, timber, land development that will enhance their credibility with clients, streamline learning, and accelerate earnings potential. RealtorsR who list and sell anything specialized need to make sure they are in compliance with Article 11 of the National Association of RealtorsR - Code of Ethics.

For more information on educational and marketing opportunities, contact John Knipe at john@knipeland.com Knipe served two terms as Regional Vice President, Region 12, of the National Association of RealtorsR - RealtorsR Land Institute.

John Knipe is:

President of Knipe Land Company, Inc. http://knipeland.com
Accredited Land Consultant with the RealtorsR Land Institute
Past President of the Idaho Chapter of the National Association of RealtorsR - RealtorsR Land Institute
Past Regional Vice President of National Association of RealtorsR - RealtorsR Land Institute

Director at the World Organization Land Federation http://www.worldorganizationlandfederation.biz

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Land - Your Most Important Decision For Self Reliance and Off Grid Living

You have looked for land for a long time. If you are like me, you have found that the resources for finding property are almost limitless on the web. Unfortunately, that can also freeze you into indecision with so many choices. I am having to solve this problem for myself, so we may as well solve it for all of us. When you go looking for acreage, property, farms, ranches, mountain land, garden land, crop land (enter your own search terms because they are legion), it gives EVERYTHING!

Often, you can waste a lot of valuable time viewing land descriptions and falling in love with a place only to find out that it will fail to meet the needs you have for a piece of property. For instance, did you know that you can actually find land in West Texas that is amazingly cheap? You can get 10 acres that are isolated, with annual property taxes below $100 for a grand total of $2,500. That is not the down payment. That is what the entire TEN ACRES costs!

That is a great price. BUT, will it grow food? Can you get water? Will it support a septic system? Are there building materials on the property that I can use to build a shelter, a house, outbuildings, furniture? What about livestock? I am not saying that you cannot get all these things, but it is certainly the beginning of a list of questions that you have to have answered before you consider buying land. Let us suppose that you already have an image of the life you want in the country fixed in your mind.

How does that life look? What is your routine? When do you get up and what kind of weather will you enjoy? What are you going to have for breakfast? Where are you going to get that breakfast? Will you have water from the well, a stream, a cistern (storage tanks)? Will you have dairy products such as milk? Are fruit trees growing on your property? Is there a vegetable garden that you need to go tend? These questions do not even begin to scratch the surface, because honestly, these questions deal with only the most basic stuff.

When you envision the life you live, the things you do throughout the course of a day, the problems you solve, and the things you create, you are actually loosely defining the uses to which you will need to put your land.

So then, when you start your search for land, a very detailed list of questions, composed by you, needs to be answered. When you find land online, now you are armed with a set of questions you may not have thought you needed before, but they can be quite helpful in determining the answer to the overall question: "Will this land fit my particular needs?"

For the answers to all these questions, your research will necessarily be highly tailored to your own desires. Yes, I know this is a lot of work, and we all have to do this step ourselves because our needs are so individuated, they are almost like a fingerprint. No two needs will really be alike. This is not like building a birdhouse. But once you have done this step, you will feel as if you have the tools you need to make a good decision on a land purchase.

I highly recommend the land search sites on this page to help you locate your dream property, but do the homework. It will save you a lot of heartache in the long run. Suppose I had a list in place, and each criteria I need met for the land starts out with something close to "I want my land to..."

Maybe that phrase could read something like, "I want my land to have water at 75 feet," or "I want my land to grow fruit trees," or "I want my land to be level with rich dirt to grow a garden," or "I want my land to get lots of sunshine so that I can use solar power."

It does not matter how long your list is. Your list could go on for hundreds of lines or several pages. What matters is that you can hold a prospective piece of property up to the magnifying glass of your wishes and you can make a judgment as to whether this property will meet all, or even most of your needs. Of course, we may not be answering these criteria with a simple "yes," or "no." We may want to have a sliding scale to the right of the criteria that goes from 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst match to the criteria and 10 being the best match for the criteria.

Look at the following examples:

1. I want my land to have water at 70 feet: Bad Match 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perfect Match - Running Total ____

2. I want my land to grow tomatoes well: Bad Match 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perfect Match - Running Total ____

3. I want my land to accommodate a gravity septic system: Bad Match 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perfect Match - Running Total ____

4. I want my land to have trees/forest: Bad Match 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perfect Match - Running Total ____

These are only four questions. But then, this is only an example. The running total off to the side adds the current line's numeric value to the running total from the line above. Some of the questions or criteria you use will be less important to you than others. For instance:

"1. I want my land to have water at 70 feet: Bad Match 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perfect Match - Running Total ____"

May be less important to you than

"3. I want my land to accommodate a gravity septic system: Bad Match 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perfect Match - Running Total ____"

This is a totally subjective criteria match measuring system, but I would recommend weighting each line when you circle a number. Maybe what you want to do when you total a line is actually circle 7 because the land is that much of a match, but you want to multiply it times.70 because its importance level to you is only 70 percent of 100 percent. Because of this, the total for that line would be (getting out my Excel spreadsheet tool here), 4.9, or go ahead and round it up to 5.

You may ask, "Well good grief Alex, why not just circle 5 on the line and be done with it?" I do it to supply myself with more data. It tells me exactly how much of a match it was, but it also tells me how important it was to me if I want to investigate more closely.

If I want to stack my land prospect sheets by the Grand total of the running totals for each property (because you will fill out one for each property you look over), then theoretically, the property that is best for me will be on the top of the stack while the property that is the most horrible for me will be on the bottom of the stack. Answer each of your questions. I put the running total out to the side to make the addition easier. You may want to put this data in a spreadsheet so the math will be done for you. In any event, I am supplying my personal land selection criteria form, and you may change it, rewrite it, or redesign your own.

The point I need to make, is that you want to find a systematic way of selecting your property for EACH property using the same criteria. If you fail to systematize your land search, you will end up by relying on your emotions. And I am sorry, but making an emotional purchase of a property could very well be the worst decision you could make.

Best Regards and Good Luck!
-Alex

http://daretoescape.com A website designed to teach anyone how to become self-reliant and get away from the city.

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Land Investment - Buying and Selling Land For a Profit

For hundreds of years land investment has been used as a vehicle for making money but was often reserved for the rich. However, nowadays, with the emergence of new cheaper land markets and the ability to invest in small plots of land the market has been opened up to a whole new category of investors.

It is essential with land investment that people don't get carried away with simply buying cheap land. Obviously a low-cost piece of land can seem appealing, however it is important to remember that your profit will only be made when selling the land and therefore there has to be some reason for the land to increase in value. A cheap land investment is great but if it has no reason to increase in price then how do you expect to make any profit?

So, with land investment there are a few important factors to consider when looking at a plot of land, no matter how large or small. The first to consider is obviously price. Is the land you are investing in worth the price today that is being asked? Secondly is how long you intend on holding your investment. You then need to compare that time with a realistic projection of what your land will be worth when you intend on exiting the investment. For example, if you only want to hold your land for 3 years but projections show that land values in that area are not likely to rise much for the next 5 years then you are investing in the wrong land investment!

More importantly you need to consider what makes your land investment so potentially profitable. Are you simply buying a cheap piece of land and hoping it will increase in value or have you done your homework? If you are investing in an area that has reason to increase in value fast then this is the true investment that brings big returns. So, look for factors that could contribute to this. For example, is your land inaccessible at the moment but that is likely to change over the next few years by the introduction of a new road, railway access or airline route? Maybe it's cheap at the moment because the area is rather unpopulated or unappealing to tourists but the area is beginning to gain a growing amount of tourism each year and is looking to become a hot spot in the future?

Land investment can be very simple but the most simple thing is to forget the price you are paying and concentrate on what the cost you will sell at and how realistic it will be to achieve the returns you are looking for from your land investment. If you can't see a reason why the land value would increase then you're probably investing in something that will not give you the return you were hoping for.

If your land investment carries reasons for growth in the future then make sure you are paying the best price you can and take into account how other costs could affect your return. For example, a great priced piece of land is no longer a great priced piece of land if you have to add 60% to the price to cover legal costs, transfer fees and other associated land investment charges.

Land investment can be one of the easiest and most financially rewarding types of investment there is. The secret is to keep a cool head and select the right area by not looking at what makes the land good right now, but what makes the land look much better in the future!

For more information on Land Investment including investments with guaranteed returns, visit Blue Rock Investments

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How Land Values Are Determined When it Comes to Selling Land

Being able to get your land sold off in the United Kingdom can help you to get a great amount of money. However the money that you will be getting for every acre of land that you sell can vary in accordance with a number of things. These include land locations, the ability to access the land and the ability to get new things planned on land. Here are many things to see with regards to selling land in the UK.

First there is the location of the land. Depending on where you are in the United Kingdom you should be prepared to earn more or less depending on where your land is located in. Places that are near some more populated areas are generally going to be ones that can be worth more money. Areas that have land that is especially fertile and welcoming for agricultural duties will also be worth more money. The main thing about the location of the land is that if the land is located somewhere where the land can be utilised well and can have many things happen on it the value of that land will be greater.

Next for selling land there is the ability of people to be able to reach the land that is available for sale. While some pieces of land can be appealing to some people those people could have some reservations with regards to how they can get access to their lands. Land that is located near major roads and highways can be worth more money because of how easy it will be to get somewhere. When people are more likely to be able to get somewhere values can increase pretty easily.

The amount of development near the land is something to watch for as well. Land areas that have more new developments near it will be worth more money because of how the land can be more accessible to more people. A good example of this comes from how the values for land in the Stratford area of London have increased since the construction process began for the new Olympic Stadium that will be used in that area for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Land values in the Stratford area have gone up several times since this construction of the new stadium for the games began.

The most important factor though comes from the ability to get property to be developed on the land. In order for new things to be built on a piece of land planning permission must be used in order to allow for things to be built on that land. If people cannot develop new things on the land you are selling then you will have a very difficult time with selling land in order to get a good amount of money off of your land.

However you can check with your local government to see if your land has been approved for developments and if you can allow people who want to buy your land to develop new things on that area. This is an especially great thing to do in areas of the UK where housing is at a premium and new developments could always be built in order to cater the growing population of an area.

These are all useful factors to check out with regards to how much you can get per acre with regards to selling land. Your land can be worth plenty of money if it is accessible and has had a good amount of development around it in recent time. You will especially need to see if the land you have can work with new developments and is legally capable of handling those developments.

Steven Martin is an experienced land purchaser and also provides a Quick Land Sale service. He works at http://www.selling-land.co.uk

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Land With Timber

Land and timber, independent of the other, have value. Sometimes when land with timber sells, not long after the sale, the new owner harvest some or all of the timber, and the timber pays the new landowner what he just paid for both the land and the standing timber. When this happens, everyone quickly realizes that the buyer had better or greater knowledge than the seller. The buyer knew what he was buying. The seller did not know what he had and what he was selling. If you are buying, selling, or if you are an agent or broker representing a buyer or seller with timber on the land, you need specialized knowledge. You need know know that timber has value. Timber can be a valuable asset. Land with scattered timber may not be worth much at all. But land with nice, thick timber, close to a mill, and land with a higher better use may be worth $10,000 an acre or more.

When buying or selling land with timber - the timber may be worth a lot of money. A buyer may be able to use the standing timber to help pay some of his costs of the deal or as immediate profit. Forestry-land-consultants can provide a buyer or a seller with great advice with an interest or opportunity to be involved in the sale of the timber. Transactions happen where one side values the timber too high or too low than the actual timber value. For example, the landowner with the help of a qualified land consultant - determined the value of his timber was $400,000 with the timber and the land combined. A buyer decided on his own that the value of the land and timber was worth nearly $2,000,000 and paid $1,400,000. The opposite is also true. A buyer determines the value correctly is higher than what the land owner will sell for and the value of the trees helps pay for the transaction. Coincidently, this can be true of any natural resource a property may have. For example, gold, silver, fresh water that the buyer in turn bottles and sells, etc.

Buyers and sellers of land and timber need to be educated on the values of timber and the costs of harvesting. There is a procedure to be followed in determining the timber values. Buyers and sellers need to know the process. Agents and brokers working with buyers and sellers need to know the process. They need to know how to read and how to understand maps and photos, measure acreage, timber inventory procedures, products and utilization of the products, and they need to know market value. There are different types of timber and timber sales. Buyer, seller and brokers of this kind of real estate need to know the types of sales available, why they exist, and how they work. Computer growth and yield programs showing how timber stands grow is specialized information land agents and brokers who deal in land need to know and understand to best serve their clients. A correctly performed profitability analysis of various scenarios from the buyer or seller's qualified agent or broker is highly valuable to the buyer or seller. Regardless if buying or selling, a forestry - land consultant is knowledgeable in the timber business can make you money.

The RealtorsR Land Institute are agents and brokers who specialize in land sales. And the RealtorsR Land Institute offers advanced education to agents and brokers relating to timber, agriculture, farms, ranches, land development, site selection, and transitional land. The Institute awards the designation of Accredited Land ConsultantR, awarded to agents and broker based on completing advanced land education and closed sales experience. If you are buying or selling, contact the author for assistance with locating, buying or selling land with or without timber.

John Knipe is:

President of Knipe Land Company, Inc. http://knipeland.com

Accredited Land Consultant with the RealtorsR Land Institute

Past President of the Idaho Chapter of the National Association of RealtorsR - RealtorsR Land Institute

Past Regional Vice President of National Association of RealtorsR - RealtorsR Land Institute

Director at the World Organization Land Federation http://www.worldorganizationlandfederation.biz

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Surveying in the Public Land Survey System

The Public Land Survey System, or PLSS, is a surveying method used in the United States. Its purpose is to identify separate parcels of land, especially rural or undeveloped land. The Public Land Survey System divides land into townships and sections, and is sometimes called the rectangular survey system because these areas of land are usually rectangular, although this is not always the case.

The PLSS has been described as both the first mathematically designed land survey system, and the first cadastral survey conducted nationwide in any modern country. The methods used for PLSS surveys are described by manuals produced by the General Land Office of the United States. Today, Public Land Survey System guidelines are still used to survey public lands across the nation. These principles are also being considered or adopted. by countless foreign nations.

The Public Land Survey System was created by the Land Ordinance of 1785, though it has been expanded and modified considerably over the last two centuries. The system was needed because the original colonies used the British surveying system of metes and bounds, describing boundaries based on local markers, often manmade. Points were described in terms of their location when compared to nearby creeks, trees, rocks, and other landmarks. The system was often supplemented with town plat maps. The issue with this system is that irregularly-shaped properties make extremely complex descriptions. As streams erode or dry up, trees die, boulders move, and homes are built, the landmarks used to conduct the survey may no longer be in the same place. Plus, it was not very useful to those who could not actually see the land in question, such as land in the west being sold to speculators.

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 controlled the survey and settling of new lands. According to these ordinances, the western land of the United States would be surveyed using a new, rectangular system, the Public Land Survey System. The first area surveyed using this system was in eastern Ohio; today, the area is a National Historic Landmark. These first lands were surveyed somewhat haphazardly, with an eye towards speed rather than accuracy. To the west, land surveys were typically more accurate. In each area, typically covering a state or even more, a major north-south line (meridian) and east-west line (base) provide the basis for land descriptions. In the west, many county lines follow these surveying lines, which is the reason why many counties are rectangular.

Under the Public Land Survey System, the meridian and base lines are used to divide the land into intervals of about 24 or 30 miles, forming a lattice pattern. Each township is a square of approximately 36 square miles. These townships are divided further into 36 sections, each 1 square mile. For the purpose of selling land, these sections can also be further divided into quarter-sections, each 0.25 square mile. If necessary, private surveyors can survey this land to further divide it, though most government surveys stop at quarter-sections. Each section is labeled using a system of numbers and letters, precisely pinpointing where this section of land lies in relation to other sections. Homesteading depended in the PLSS, which provided the basis for assigning land to settlers.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Residential land surveys are a specialty.

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Buying the Right Plot of Land

Before buying any land for development, there are plenty of factors to consider. First, you'll want to consider the general area. Is it urban, suburban, or rural? Is it in a community where you would like to build or live? Choosing a location largely depends on your commitments and personal preferences. These questions should be considered before you select a general area, and certainly before you begin examining specific plots of land.

Next, consider the size and orientation of the lot. How many acres do you want? Can you afford a plot of land in the size required in the area you'd like to build? Consider purchase price along with the amount of land required for your plans. Is there a minimum lot size that you will consider? Once you have a specific plot of land in mind, a land survey can confirm the exact size of the parcel. It's also important to consider not only the size of the land, but also the composition of the soil. Soil type can greatly affect the building process; some soil types may be unsuitable for building, while others require extensive work before you can even lay the foundation.

Perhaps just as importantly, does it have the right topography for your intended use? Although grading and other work can create more level terrain, this is costly and time-intensive. If you want to build on the land you're purchasing, consider access and building logistics before selecting a plot of land. A topographical land survey can help you evaluate the overall terrain. If you have specific plans in mind, consult an engineer to determine if the survey results show the plot of land to be suitable for your purposes. When purchasing land for the purpose of development or building your dream home, always consult with a developer, builder, or engineer, depending on the project type. It is also critical to hire a land surveyor so that you can be sure the plot of land you have chosen will meet your needs.

Always involve a land surveyor when purchasing any piece of property, developed or undeveloped, to avoid such messy consequences as an unclear title or a plot of land that cannot be built on legally. There are many possibilities that may only be discovered after a survey of the land, such as a situation in which neighbors have built fences or homes encroaching onto the land you are considering purchasing. Hiring a land surveyor before the purchase can help you avoid long and drawn-out disputes that could stall your intended construction project for years.

It is too easy to fall in love with a totally unusable lot because of what you see on the ground. Don't purchase an unsuitable plot of land, only to find out later that you won't be able to build what you want without breaking zoning regulations or spending a fortune preparing the land for construction. Even though it may seem a lot simpler to purchase undeveloped land than to purchase land with existing construction, you should never assume that the land you're considering will work for your purposes

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Commercial land surveys are a specialty.

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Investment Land Vs Personal Land - The Difference Between the Two and Which is Best For Your Needs

People and companies buy land for a variety of reasons, some personal reasons and other reasons having to do with business. Investment land is all about business and profit, whether it be through re-sale of a particular lot or through development of that lot. Those who invest in land for personal reasons may do so for their own businesses or for their living purposes. Let's take a look into the difference in land investments in a bit more depth.

Investing in Land for Personal Use

Investing in land for personal use is still an investment; the difference between business and personal investment is that the benefits of personal land investment are different. The gain is not in dollars, but in use. People invest in land for personal use for things like the building or expansion of homes, the building of structures for business, or personal things like pleasure. Although there are benefits to this type of use, the investments are not made for immediate gain as business investments are.

Investing in Land for Profit

Both individuals and companies can invest in land for profit. There are multiple ways in which this type of profit can be gained from such an investment.

Land Flipping: Land flipping is a popular way to invest in land for profit, especially for those who are new to the idea. This type of investment has to do with purchasing land, holding it for any length of time, and then reselling it for a profit. This may be done for a variety of reasons and is most profitable when land is obtained at a discount. The best way to get cheap land is often when it is distressed, like through a public auction. Pocket listings are another great way to get land cheaper, but these are often a bit more difficult to obtain.

Developing Land: Developing land is another great way of investing in land for profit. This can be done through flipping the land and selling it to someone for development or actually purchasing it and developing it yourself. Land development is a profitable way of investing in land, but proper surveying and zoning is an essential part of this process, often making it a type of land investment with a more costly start-up budget.

Investing in land for business is a great way to make money, but investing in land for personal use is a great way to invest in yourself, your family, and your future. Decided what type of investment is best for you and take steps toward accomplishing those goals.

For Discounted Land For Sale, Visit Discount Land For Sale.com. List your land for free or search through our discounted land for sale!

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Land As a Historical Legacy

Land is indeed a historical legacy as it signifies the heritage from the past. Land has always been the major cause of wars among nations as it represents power. Its possession is highly esteemed since it entails a propagation of one's values, culture and religion through control of land Thus land has acquired historical legacy as it has been conquered by different people.

With the historical aspect to land its value only increases. People also buy land according to its historical value. Land is protected too and considered as national sites by governments to preserve its historical legacy. America was discovered by Christopher Columbus and the vast territory of the country has been subject to conflicts and wars with the Indians in the past. It can be said that land has a memory of its own. The state of Washington for example is named after General Washington who was commander in chief in 1770's in military campaigns for American Revolution. Since many battles have been fought and many lives lost to achieve Declaration of Independence, land's value has soared dramatically.

America has made the nation by an act of their own free will to liberate themselves from British colony. The aggregate area under the sovereignty of the jurisdiction of the united state is 9, 06500 km. Thus, this vast area has an ancient heritage of struggle and desire for freedom. Land in America is symbolical of liberty and if one owns land it is even more valuable. The history of America is one denoting autonomy and freedom from bondage. Visionaries found in this land a place for virtuous life to help the oppressed of all lands. People across the world still view America as a land where they can fulfill their wishes. This is also known as the American Dream. This intrinsic concept of land as liberty has appreciated its value. Immigration to America is one of the great migrations of human history. Thus, the land was highly prized and still is. Land is mostly needed for production and the limited portion is filled with people in crowded cities like New York and Los Angeles.

In the past, the American Indians have occupied almost the entire landscape of North and South America. Since their economy was mostly based on intensive cultivation of domestic plants, this has safeguarded land from pollution and destruction. Land was not used for industrial purposes by these people. They principally lived on farming before European contact. Precisely because land is a precious natural asset, many battles have also been fought to appropriate the plains and acquisition of territory in North America. Although land was frequently obtained through agreement, force was also used. The Anglo-American campaign against the Indians had a momentous effect on land expansion as these lands were needed for widening plantations. In 1830, the Indian Removal Act called for the transfer of all Indians east of Mississippi to lands west of river. In 1900's, an Act allowed president of U.S to parcel tribal land called allotments. It was a mechanism to acquire more Indian land Thus we can see that land is at the center of much conflict as it cannot be dissociated from its historical side which only highlights its worth.

Land represents its people, customs and above all its history. Whenever people buy land they are eager to know about its history so as to live in harmony. The past defines the nature of the land Without history, a land is barren. So, by preserving land history is perpetrated and along with it the financial value of terrain.

For Discounted Land For Sale, Visit Discount Land For Sale.com. List your land for free or search through our discounted land for sale!

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Different Purposes of Buying Land

Land is invaluable. It has been traded over time and many revolutions have been triggered due to land conflicts. This ascertains that land is bought for different purposes and objectives. The common reason for buying land is the extrinsic benefit of its possession. Land is purchased for various reasons. These may include nearness, income (production and investment) and self-centered objectives. There are a dozen of other purposes such as simply to settle down in a new area or to purchase a first plot of land.

Nearness Purposes

The transfer of ownership of land has facilitated the mobility for people. It is easy to sell a parcel of land and to re-locate to another area. People do consider nearness similar to convenience. The lesser the proximity that exist between workplace and shops towards the home, the better do they consider the area. The nearness factor will save time in travelling and it will also reduce stress derived from long tedious journey from home to work and back. This is a major reason why families buy land.

Income Purposes

Another famous purpose why people buy land is for production. Land is usually bought in quantity by farmers and investors. The farmer might be focusing on expanding their production by increasing the number of acres owned. A large portion of land is required if farming is to be done on a large-scale, the benefit of expanding production is lower cost per unit and higher profits as a result. The investors will also buy land. They will similarly focus on profit. A profit that will be derived either through setting up factories or by other real estate projects. The investors earn a huge portion of profit when land appreciates in price. They do also focus on income that can be generated from rent and plantation of different crops similarly to the farmer.

Self-centered Objectives Purposes

There is another type of buyer, who does not necessarily purchase land for profit. They rather buy the land for self-centered objectives. These aims could include building a splendid and luxurious house. There are also people who simply purchase a plot of land to spend their holidays or for future projects. The future projects could include a retirement plan in a new region. People do often relocate by purchasing land in different regions because of a change in personal roles. The purpose of buying land is to satisfy the self and they usually possess an ample amount of capital for survival.

Uncommon Purposes

There are odd purposes of buying land as well. There are some individuals who buy land simply to have a place to play or swim. Other people, who have pets or ponies, usually buy land to nurture these animals. However, it is also true that some individuals have purchased land as a gift or to transform it into a family cemetery. These are extremely rare cases but it is prevalent.

There are numerous purposes of buying land. The ultimate reason usually depends upon our own objectives and financing capacity to pay.

For Discounted Land For Sale, Visit Discount Land For Sale.com. List your land for free or search through our discounted land for sale!

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How to Buy Through Government Land Auctions

Land is one of the most important investments that you will ever make. Many people find that buying land through a government land auction is a less expensive way to add a bit of security to their future by adding the valuable asset of land to their lives. The easiest way to do this is to visit government land auctions.

Land is seized by the government every day, all over the country. There are many people that have really learned how to take advantage of the common government land auction. Some people have been able to make a living out of buying land and then re-selling it. Still, others find that land is a good long term investment that does not necessarily need to be sold.

When people are not able to make a payment on land, that property may be repossessed by the lender that gave the loan for that property. This is most often a bank. The land will be put up at a government land auction. When the land is sold, the bank will take the amount that the borrower did not pay.

When this happens, you can go to the public government auctions and put in your bids. You may be able to purchase land for an incredibly low price, but there are several things that you need to keep in mind when you go to a government land auction:

First, remember that you always need to inspect the land first. There are a lot of reasons why it might be a great idea to invite an inspector with you. They will be able to ask all of the right questions and inspect the property thoroughly to give you an accurate assessment of how much it is really worth. You will find that most public auctions will have time set aside for anyone to come inspect the land or property before an auction begins.

That brings us to the next important matter. Make sure that you know your precise limit before the auction begins! It is very easy to get excited once an auction starts and you may find that you feel like you could bid just a little bit more than you wanted to. But if you do that, you will find that it is just as easy to go way over your price limit for something that you really want.

A very important thing to remember is to have your identification and other appropriate materials with you when you are at the government land auction. If you have these important materials ready to go, the entire process will go much more smoothly for you and for those auctioning off the land.

Also, have a plan ready for how you will be financing your purchase. A lot of people will not have enough money just laying around to fund a land purchase, so you may need to look into loans in order to finance your land purchase.

There are so many government land auctions that take place everyday, even normal people like you and I can take advantage of them. If you are in the market and looking for land, there is almost no better way to get a great deal than a government land auction.

If you're interested in finding a government land auction near you or would like to learn more on the subject of land investing, check out Investing In Land blog for more info.

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Buying Land on a Tight Budget For Your New Home Site

Purchasing land for the purpose of building a new home site can be fun. You may go it alone or seek the help and instruction of a professional (real estate) agent or broker. I always advise you select an agent that is quite familiar with your target area which can be a benefit, as much of the information required upfront is done for you. But in reality, how much information will an agent extract on a given parcel of land? This is where you, the land buyer, must do some homework. You need to become aware of several key factors before you sign on the dotted line.

Remember, it is always advisable to select a parcel that isn't overly expensive to develop. Take for instance, a parcel of land that won't leave you running to your bank for more money to put out thousands of dollars in a septic system, if one is required. In many cases, one of these systems could ruin the aesthetic view of your home site i.e; Mounded septic systems, where gravity flow is not obtainable except through the workings of a lift station.

What must I absolutely know about a parcel of land before I buy?

1.) Where to buy; You have probably chosen an area to purchase land due to your wants and needs.

If you are on a tight budget your needs may have to prevail. For example, you may want to live near a city, but the tax ramifications and cost for permits may lead you to search in another area, even a different county. Seeking an area that will provide your children with a highly rated school system may be your top priority. What you want and what you need should be put onto paper where you can gather an image of what is most important to you and then come to a conclusion.

2.) Never buy the first property you see and always walk each property; If you decide to buy the first parcel of land you visit, then how will you draw a comparison or know that you've made an educated decision? Its likely you will always wonder if you gotten a good value. To make a wise decision, you must compare prices, aesthetics, cost (for the property and cost to develop) and feasibility. You should make it a point to visit many properties and narrow your selection down to three choices. If you use this method and find out that your first selection is non-buildable, then you won't have to search again. You'll have your second parcel of land ready to buy. If you come across a piece of land that is heavily wooded and the price seems very reasonable, there may a catch. So comb through the bushes and trees to see what is hidden. This property could be on a slope, it could be environmentally sensitive such as wetlands, flood and even a habitat for protected animals. Also, the cost to clear the land could be very expensive and wasn't in your budget. There are many people who buy property sight-unseen or by viewing pictures. If you can't walk it, don't buy it.

What questions should I ask before before purchasing land?

The more you know about a parcel of land ahead of the purchase, the more you'll save in time and money after the closing. Here we come to the meat of the subject of buying land on a tight budget. A complete book can be written on this subject. It is imperative that you obtain the answers to several key questions when seeking to purchase land for whatever reason. The object is to locate a parcel of land that fits within your budget needs comfortably and is visually pleasant or can be brought up to your standard of what appears pleasant to the eye. But first things first.

Now that I have chosen my three favorite properties, what do I do and where do I go?

You'll need to access the parcel identification numbers (PIN) that will give you specific details about your property of interest. You need to have your agent or yourself go online, if you have internet service to access the information. In most cases undeveloped land will not have an address, so the (PIN) will have to do. You can view information about a specific property such as past warranty deeds, past property taxes paid, the legal description, county or jurisdiction and even maps that detail topography. This information is generally called a property card. Take the information you are able to obtain and visit the jurisdictional zoning /building department. Tell them you want to put a home on the property. Ask them if your first choice is a lot of record and can a home be built or placed on that parcel. Even if it is buildable, you will want to know if any flood, wetlands or any other sensitive situations exist on the property. Once you receive a positive result, continue on to your second and third choice parcels of land you have an interest in and have them check those too. Doing this will save you trips to building department. You will also want to ask them about the the cost for permits, water and sewer tap fees, if applicable, and any impact fees that are associated with developing new property. Be extremely cautious of impact fees as they can be a costly burden to overcome. You will also need to know that you have legal access to and from your property.

To stick to your budget requirements, you must learn more about what lies beneath the ground. This may have a direct impact when determining which of the three parcels to purchase. That being said, your next question will be pointed in two directions and it involves the type of sewage system required for your three lots of interest. If you are wanting to move to an area where water and sewer are provided by the city or a small community, pay close attention to the costs of water and sewer tap fees. These fees will vary depending upon where you want to live. Charges for these tap fees can be tens of thousands in one area and several hundred dollars in others. If you search for a home site that puts you further out in the country, you can expect to have a septic sewer system.

Septic Systems

Never Buy a parcel of land until you receive septic approval. Without septic approval you will not have the ability to build. The first thing to do is contact your Environmental Health Department and tell them your PIN and ask them if you can expect to receive septic approval for your target property. If he cannot guarantee septic approval, then you will have to either ask the owner of the property if he is willing have a perc test performed or share the expense. A perc test is a soil analysis to determine whether or not a property has suitable soil for the filtration of liquid waste water. It can also determine the type and cost of a system if septic approval is granted. Also, you should contact a minimum of two state licensed septic tank installers. You can receive a lot of information regarding the size and the estimated costs of a septic system based on the soil test and number of bedrooms you propose to build. Their experiences in your general area will provide the answers you seek. Keep in mind, sandy soil conditions are conducive to lower septic system costs. Lime rock, clay and high water tables, to name a few, will cause your budget to spiral out of control. Knowing ahead of time what to expect is key when budgeting your money for land improvements.

Water wells

When you choose to live in an area outside of town you may be required to have a well drilled. It is advisable to contact a minimum of two drillers. You will want them to give you information on the well depth averages for your general area of interest. An experienced driller will be the best source to gain an idea of well depths for your target areas. You wouldn't want to purchase a piece of property and later find out that your well depths are approaching 500 feet. An experienced well driller can also be a source of keeping you abreast of the quality of drinking (potable) water in and around your area. If the expected well depths are exceedingly deep, its best to look elsewhere, even if its your first chosen property. If the well water for your first choice property has a significant chance of having lime or sulfur, expect high maintenance costs especially sulfur and avoid the stench and ongoing costs. A well driller will be able to give you information on water quality in your area. Its better to move on to your next favorite choice of properties with just a hint that your water could be tainted. Also, you can check with the jurisdictional water management. They can also give you vital information regarding water quality and depths of wells.

Power Companies

You will need to locate and contact your potential power (electrical) company.

It is imperative that you are certain that electricity to your new home is attainable. Even if you get the green light, additional expenses to accessing power to your home from a distant transformer or even across the road can run into the thousands. So ask whether additional costs may occur. If you cannot get a definite answer, ask them to come out and visit your site and meet them in person.

Cable, Phones (land line or cellular) and internet

You must to seek out these utility providers for your target areas. None, some or all of these utilities may be available. With some investigation, you'll be able to determine which of them you can or cannot live without.

Survey

Its extremely important to know your property boundaries. If you are mortgaging land, a survey will likely be required by your lender. It would be a disaster to learn you purchased a parcel of land and find out down the road you aren't on the right property. A well drawn up survey should indicate any flood planes, easements and contour lines dividing buildable and non-buildable areas on your lot. To add to that, a clearly surveyed lot will act as a guide for you to conform to any setback guidelines required by the county, utility companies, city or other jurisdictions. It will also enable you to determine if a neighbor is encroaching your property with buildings, fence lines or junk cars, etc.

I hope this article will enable you to seek, select and purchase quality property effectively and save you thousands of dollars and a lot of wasted time in the process. You are now armed with information and food-for-thought, providing you with the tools necessary for searching and choosing that perfect piece of land you will soon call home.

I have been permitting and coordinating land developing projects for the past eleven years. Averaging between 150-200 projects annually. I have come across land buyers that have selected properties without proper research. The result, panic stricken customers wondering how this could happen and scrambling to secure additional funds to feed unforeseen costs. Not much can go wrong that I haven't seen. Unfortunately, by the time I meet the customer, they have already purchased land.

In an attempt to educate the land buyer, I authored the ebook Wise Acres Guidebook to Buying Land on a Tight Budget. My book gives practical advice on purchasing land on a budget and many tips on developing land.

You can visit my website now by going to http://www.alandadvocate.com

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Why We Believe Everyone Should Be Investing in Land Right Now!

Are you looking to make an investment that's virtually guaranteed to increase in value regardless of whether it is short or long term? Then buy land!

What's the big deal about buying land? Well, the short answer is that land is about the best investment you can make right now. Forget the stock market, CDs, venture capitalism, and even other real estate, such as houses. If you want to make an investment that will not only be safe, but also profitable in both the short and long-term, then buy land.

Why land, you ask? The main reason is because it's valuable. More specifically, its value is only going to increase. And it's going to increase indefinitely thanks to the fact that land is a limited asset. As the population continues to grow and move, more and more land is being developed, and thus the remaining undeveloped land increases in value as it becomes rarer. Timber, farm land, even industrial or residentially zone land.it doesn't matter! Every type of land for sale is expected to increase in value.

The benefits received when you buy land are many. In addition to the existing and increasing value of the land, you may also have opportunities to profit from the land prior to reselling it. You may be able to lease farm land, pasture, or timber, or enroll your land in a long-term government program like the Conservation Reserve Program (or CRP) which pays a set yearly sum to land owners that choose not to farm certain sects of tillable land.

Regardless of why you buy land of any type, it's a nearly fool-proof investment. Not only are you acquiring an asset that is virtually guaranteed to increase in value (on average land prices have doubled every decade), but the purchase of land also equates to increased collateral for larger future investments. In fact, in the current economy many banks are more willing to make loans based on land as equity than they are to make loans on home equity.

And speaking of the current economy; there is no better time than now to buy land. While land for sale is somewhat limited, the number of potential purchasers is for the first time in a long time limited too. If you happen to have the capital necessary to invest in land, then you are in luck, because for once the competition for land is reduced as regular investors struggle to make ends meet in the current economy. That means that land prices are also more reasonable than they have been in a long time. This gives you an even greater opportunity to profit from purchasing land for sale by reducing your initial investment. Regardless of how quickly the economy rebounds, land will continue to increase in value as the available amount of it decreases. With reasons like these, perhaps the better question is not, "Why buy land," but "Why buy anything but land?

FYI: Anyone can buy cheap land online right now with 100% owner financing at: http://www.landsalesco.com

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This Information Could Change Your Attitude Forever on Vacant Land

This article could change your thinking completely on how to buy land! I'm talking about the old myths of Vacant land, that you may think are still true.

Most people have the thoughts that there is no way to produce a fast income with raw land. Well, you certainly can produce a great income and it's not that complicated. When you have the old myths dispelled, you will never look at land in the same manner again.

Working with vacant land in a "simplified manner", (no improvements such as streets), can be much faster and more profitable than working with houses. Plus you don't have the financial risk!

DISPELLING MYTHS

MYTH #1 Raw land is just an expense.

This is one of the most common myths. Vacant land can be an expense if you use the conventional methods of going to a bank and getting a loan and making payments. However you don't have to go to the bank and you don't have to make payments, if you know what you are doing. It's easy to avoid making payments as I advocate that you get in and out quickly and not stay married to a particular piece of land. Instead of it just "being an expense", I can show you how to produce an income with vacant land!

MYTH #2 You can not acquire land without a bank loan.

Most people don't think that you can... however the fact is that you don't have to go to a bank to beg for a loan! I used to go to the bank and make the big loans and it seemed that every time I did, I got myself into trouble. Now I really preach to operate so that you don't have to worry with bank loans.

MYTH #3 Only experienced investors profit from land.

I developed techniques that can be used by the experienced as well as the inexperienced, to produce fast profits. You do not have to have real estate experience to work with land in a simplified manner. Plus if you are not interested in producing profits but simply want a parcel of land for your personal use, I can show you how to get your land paid for quickly.

MYTH #4 It takes a lot of time to find the right property.

Now you can learn exceptional techniques for finding land before it goes on the market... before the real estate agents find it. Recently I conducted a test in my area and in three weeks, located 39 people who had land that they wanted to sell but who had not signed a contract with a realtor!

MYTH #5 You need a real estate license.

Not if you are working with your own land. Even so, my system teaches you what most real estate agents do not know about land! If you are a real estate agent, you will make much more money using the "education in land" that you can receive.

MYTH #6 you have to have a 40-50% down payment!

Most people are aware of the fact that the banks will only loan 50-60% of the appraised value on a tract of land... so that means a large down payment, right? No it doesn't, as you can learn how to acquire land without having the down payment!

These are some of the common misconceptions about vacant land. The more "education" you receive in land, the more you will realize that there are many advantages to raw land!

There is no reason why you should be uneducated about how to produce a great income with land. Or to be uneducated about getting land paid for quickly. You could either produce income with vacant land or you could simply acquire land and get it paid for, for use by your family.

So in order to get information that you need to acquire land for your family use... or for producing fast profits, visit http://www.landsecrets.com

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Unregistered Land in the UK - Who Owns Unregistered Land?

Unregistered land is simply land or buildings that have not been registered with HM Land Registry. This means that there is no title plan of the land showing the boundary lines and there is no title register showing the proprietor, this means that the owner will have old fashioned title deeds to prove ownership of the land, these deeds could be stored at the owners home address or with the mortgage company if there is a outstanding mortgage on the land.

So how do you go about finding the owners of unregistered land? Well there is no simple answer. There is certainly no database that you can access to find out and although more and more land is getting registered as it has to now when it is sold in a process called first registration, there are still an estimated 40 million plots of unregistered land in England and Wales, most of these are in rural areas although it is surprising how many buildings in built up areas are still unregistered, most of know of a property that has been left empty since we were young.

If you do find a piece of land that you wish to buy and you can agree a price with the owner there are several legal points that are worth considering:

o The purchase of the land with an unregistered title involves investigation of the title deeds on each transaction

o Sale of unregistered land triggers first registration of the title.

o Unregistered land titles are subject to Land Charge Act of 1972

o Rights affecting unregistered land must be registered as land charges at land Registry

There are more so it is worth looking into the legal requirements of registering the piece of land with Land Registry.

Unregistered land will always be an interesting area of discussion right up until the day when all land and properties are registered but that day is a long way away.

There are several ways to find out who owns land and several land searches that you can do. You should first use a company to perform some simple land registry searches for you, these can be cheap but immediately let you know who owns the land if it is already registered. Secondly if the land is unregistered you should immediately perform a Search of the index map to see if land registry has any information relating to the property. Finally if you still draw a blank you may be best to try and obtain professional help, there is at least one company that specialises in finding the owners of unregistered land.

Good luck finding who owns land.

Rob Fellowman is a specialist in land registry documents, unregistered land searches and finding the owners of unregistered land.

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History of Georgia Land Surveying

In the rich history of the state of Georgia, land surveying has played a large role since before its inception. From weathering the shifts in power and policy regarding land distribution to rebuilding the devastating destruction across the entire state in the wake of the Civil War, Georgia's land surveyors have been instrumental in literally shaping the state into the Georgia we know today.

The first land surveyors to chart Georgia were actually Spanish seafaring explorers. The first surveys completed on the land that is present-day Georgia were geodetic surveys which charted the coast. French Jesuits would later move farther inland, charting the geography they came across as they went. Dr. Henry Woodard would later be credited with exploring and mapping much of Georgia as the first British settler, but in reality, there were not many places he went that the Spanish and French hadn't already been.

Before Georgia adopted their historical Land Lottery system, they used a headright system, which was commonplace during the settling of the Thirteen Colonies. Headrights were plots of land varying in size, given out to encourage people to cross the Atlantic Ocean and help populate the colonies. In Georgia, the headright system was instituted in 1777, although no land would be granted under the program until 1780. Families were offered 200 acres, plus an additional 50 acres per person to settle in Georgia. Surveyors were employed to parcel the land intended for grants. Some land was so highly prized that in 1784 a brawl broke out over the headright distribution for Franklin and Washington Counties.

The Yazoo Land Fraud was the greatest example of abuse of the headright system, as it not only involved corrupt business men, but also elected officials. In 1789 three companies, were formed in order to buy land from the Georgia legislature. The governor at the time, Telfair signed a deal to sell 20,000,000 acres of land to the Yazoo companies for $207,000, or about 1 cent per acre. Not only was this well below current market standards, but the members of the company attempted to pay with worthless old currency. This caused the deal to fall through. In 1794, four new companies managed to convince the legislature to sell them 40,000,000 acres of land (including the land included in the previous deal) for $500,000. The reason why the deal passed became apparent when it was learned that many Georgia official and legislators were stockholders in the four companies. When these associations were made public, outrage spread through the people of Georgia, and demands to rescind the deal were heard all the way to the capital. One of the leaders of the reform effort, Jared Irwin, was elected Governor. Less than two months after taking office, he signed a bill nullifying the Yazoo deal. They burned all copies of the bill, except for one which had been sent to George Washington. But some people who had been sold land by the four companies refused the refunds offered to them, insisting that they stay on the land. The matter was not resolved until 1803, when Georgia ceded all claims to any lands west of its present-day border.

Georgia's most well-known example of land surveying began with the Georgia Land Lottery of 1805. Again, land surveyors were called in to measure and regulate the parcels of land that were to be sold off by lottery. This job was a bit more hazardous than for a land surveyor today, as much of the land that was to be sold off had been "ceded" by the Native Creek and Cherokee tribes. The tribes fought the seizure of their lands, and in fact won a decision from the Supreme Court, which both the local state government and President Andrew Jackson ignored. The Cherokee, in particular, had to be forcibly removed, and President Jackson sent national troops in to assist Georgia in this process. In all, eight Land Lotteries were held; the last, held in 1832, would divide Old Cherokee County into the existing North Georgia Counties.

With agriculture, most especially the cotton industry, growing in northern and central Georgia post-Revolution, the government realized that they needed a more stable and speedy means of delivering product than rivers and roads. Surveyors began to map out what would become an extensive railroad system. This involved not only the route surveys to prepare for the railroad ties to be laid, but also site plan and construction surveys for the towns that would develop along the rail lines. This led to the first city of a significant size to be located inland in the United States. Atlanta would become a city of roads located in the center of the state, rather than a port. This also led to a shift in power from the coastal city of Savannah to land-locked Atlanta.

After the Civil War, Georgia would again need to call on land surveyors to assist in rebuilding the state. While marching south, General Sherman had destroyed most of the Georgia rail lines, which had been the best in the Deep South. Atlanta had been nearly destroyed, and all of Georgia was in a state of upheaval, both from the destruction as well as the social changes occurring, including the abolishment of slavery. Because of the poor economic situation Georgia was in, the rebuilding of the infrastructure took much longer than the initial surveying and building had.

In an attempt to put to work thousands of unemployed land surveyors during the Great Depression, Georgia commissioned a survey which would lead to Georgia the being the first state in the Union to have complete horizontal and vertical control nets. This was the first time in its history that all of Georgia's land and boundaries were measured, monumented and clearly delineated.

Since 1937, Georgia land surveyors have been mandated by the Georgia State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, who has the power to adopt rules, set standards for licensure, adopt mandatory standards of professional conduct and ethics, and investigate and discipline unauthorized, negligent, unethical or incompetent practice. They also review applications, administer examinations, license qualified applicants, and regulate the professional practice of licensees throughout the state.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Telecommunication land surveys are a specialty.

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Investing in Vacant Land

Though most people purchase undeveloped land with the intention of building their dream home, there are other motivations for buying vacant land. This land is also a wise investment for developers, subdividers, or land speculators. Investing in land does require some research, or you could end up paying way too much for land that is essentially worthless. Despite the current state of the real estate market, many undeveloped properties are currently undervalued, especially when you consider easy methods to make a fast profit, such as subdividing a larger property.

If you've found a plot of vacant land you think you want to purchase, where do you start? Don't just purchase the land based on what you think it is. It is essential to actually visit the land and walk around to see what it's like. Don't just rely on a map, or worse yet, the seller's description. For example, you may find that there are no roads to access your land. Clearly, this will hurt its investment potential. There are many features of the land that simply may not be disclosed on a simple map or the seller's description of the land, but are readily apparent upon setting foot on the property.

Before buying any land, whether vacant or developed, you must have a land surveyor conduct a survey of it. Depending on the type of survey deemed appropriate for your situation, the survey can include boundaries, slope and layout, natural features, roads and utilities, and other features that will affect the value of the land.

In some ways, buying undeveloped land is an entirely different process than buying a property with a house already on it. Remember, when buying vacant land there is no proof that a house ever could be built on it. It's up to you to do your due diligence in determining whether the land will meet your needs. Before investing in vacant land, find out four key features of the land. First, how is the lay of the land? Avoid properties in flood zones or with sharp hills, rough terrain, or other undesirable features that may make developing the land difficult. Also, avoid oddly-shaped lots in favor of rectangular or square ones, which will be easier to sell. Second, how accessible is it? Are there roads, and are they well maintained? Are they paved? Third, is there a source for utilities, including water, electricity, and wastewater? Without these essential features, you'll be hard pressed to find a buyer who wants to build there. Finally, how is the location of the property. Will it make a good residential location? Do current projections show the area to be growing? Is it an up-and-coming area where real estate is likely to appreciate in the coming years?

Before buying vacant land as an investment, know what you're going to do with it. You could build a home or another structure, and then sell the property as developed land. You could have the land re-surveyed and subdivided into several smaller properties, which can then be sold to individual buyers. Finally, you can hold on to the land as an investment for a few years until its value has increased. If you have a specific plan in mind, check zoning regulations and other rules to be sure that your plan is possible on the site you have selected. For example, you may be unable to subdivide the land you have purchased, or zoning regulations may prohibit the type of building you have in mind for the property.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Commercial land surveys are a specialty.

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Landed Property Or Apartment?

Landed property or apartment, this is the question always surround property investment scene or homebuyers. It is also the most common asked question. Landed property usually has a piece of own land in the front entrance while apartment building has no land for the house owner. Some says apartment is inconvenient because it is high rise and far away from car park. Some argues that landed property is not as safe as apartment because it is easier to access. Some might also say that maintenance of apartment is higher. There are some truths to these statements but these are not all of the truth. Depend on what do you want in return. Let us look at it one by one from perspective of property investor.

Note: In Malaysian term, apartment and condominium is usually high rise with more than 10 stories tall, while landed house as it implies, has a piece of land and it is usually 1 to 3 story tall only.

Freedom of land - Landed property is usually associated with owning a land and the freedom to do anything you want at anytime on your own land. However as investor, through capital appreciation or rental income, you need to think if these factors could contribute to the rate of return? Probably this is best explained in the third point.

Not an ideal rental property - Landed property is always higher in price and monthly installment. For a decent terrace house in a good area can cost up to half a million - take Bandar Puteri as example (a township name in Malaysia). The monthly installment could be as high as RM2.5K. In order to generate positive cash flow, you need to at least rent out in RM3K. Probably you don't think this is too much if the tenant has family and children and they need bigger space to live in. But do you think they would rather rent the place instead of buying it on their own? Again, a small family will opt for smaller living space such as an apartment or condominium with 3-bedroom that only cost them around RM1.5k per month.

Note: RM stands for Ringgit Malaysia, mean Malaysian currency.

Landed properties tend to appreciate more in long term - this is not new, if your grandparents owned some land back since 60s, you would have seen the price gone up a few hundred times from the time they bought it. Same as landed property, as the land get scarcer, and population grows, the land price will go up as well. The faster the population grows, the faster the appreciation. In contrast, apartment or condominium unit doesn't appreciate as much as land properties simply because the "land" is divided into so many smaller parcels. The appreciation, if any, is simply spread out to all the unit owners. Another factor probably has to do with land reuse cost. More cost is involved in reusing the land with apartment built on compared with landed property that is usually 2-3 storys tall.

Since landed properties have always being associated with higher capital appreciation, it is also very common being used in flipping. For example the landed terrace house in Bandar Puteri (township name) was sold at RM350K+ 4 years ago pre-constructed has recently appreciated to nearly RM600k. Without factoring in the other cost, we see a whopping 72% capital appreciation. The costs are anything involved during the time you purchased the property until it is sold off, which includes total installment paid plus interest, cost of rectification not covered by developer, furnishing and improvement, legal fees, middle man charges, other processing fee, etc.

Low entry cost for apartment compare to landed property - It's easier for people to make decision if the entry cost is low. For rental property, usually the tenant will need to come out with 1 month of rental deposit, 1 month advance rental and 3 months of utility deposit. If an apartment's rental cost is RM1.5k, then the initial cost tenant needs to come up is around RM1.5K x 2 + 750 (Let say 3 months utility deposit is roughly half month rental) = RM3.75K. However for landed property, tenant is required to come up to around RM3K x 2 + 1.5k (Let say 3 months utility deposit is roughly half month rental) = RM 7.5K as initial entry cost. In this case, an apartment's initial entry cost is only half of the landed.

Visible maintenance cost for apartment - Usually maintenance cost of apartment is proportion to the size of the unit. The larger the apartment unit, the higher the maintenance cost. Depending on variety of facilities provided and the quality, usually maintenance cost per square feet is around 15 to 20 cents, which is RM150 to RM200 for a 1000sqf unit. Landed property owner does not pay maintenance cost but they do need to pay for whatever exterior maintenances required such as paintings, roof repair, ducts, lawn mowing and miscellaneous efforts to keep the surrounding in proper condition. However, with some due diligent, maintenance of a landed property can be much lower than of apartments'.

Security problem - one of the reason people like apartment or condominium is because of security. For a very basic apartment there are two tiers of security system at minimum; one is the apartment compound fencing with electronic gate and security guard post and another is the security enforced entrance to the elevator area. Since apartment consists of many units in a building block it makes it harder for targeted attack or robbery. If apartment is high rise building, it will be quite rare for casual break-ins as well. In contrast, landed property owners need to invest quite amount of money into home security system such as auto gate, alarm system, window/door grill, etc. Even fully equipped, landed property still risk higher possibility of casual/targeted break-ins and robbery. However apartment security is not fool-proof as well, one example lies in security personnel being not scrutinized enough or too lenient to stranger visitors.

Property life expectancy - A well built landed property can last for twenty to thirty years or more without a question, however due to young age of Malaysia and shallow high rise living experience, no one can tell exactly how long can an apartment or condominium will last. In common sense, the value of apartment building will start to depreciate only after certain age, this usually happens when the building is deemed unsafe to live in.

Written by Zen Foo
The Author of Future Money (http://super-tanker-money.blogspot.com).

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Residential Land Surveying

There are many different types of land surveys. Residential land surveys are among the most common, and are the type of survey most likely to be encountered by the general public. Residential land surveying involves the precise measurements of the boundaries of a certain piece of real estate. This may also be called a boundary survey. Land surveys may be used in the case of property disputes or before you build on the land; title and lending companies may also require a land survey showing structures on the property.

Residential land surveying is much more complicated than simply measuring the boundaries of your land according to the property deed. Land surveyors actually research and then plot the true boundaries of the property. One step that is often forgotten about by those considering a survey of their land is the research that begins before the actual measurements may be taken.

The first step of a land survey is to search for any records concerning the property. These include title certificates, deeds, and other papers. Then, the land surveyor researches past surveys, easements, and other records which may influence his findings. Most of today's homes are built on property that was sold after dividing up a larger piece of property; this can make the survey's job more challenging, especially if this division was not surveyed or recorded properly.

Once the surveyor understands the historic boundaries of the property, the land surveyor will take the measurements of your land, determining whether the in-use boundaries conflict with the boundaries recorded in records or past surveys. Various points are marked, usually using stakes, to make re-surveying the land easier at some point in the future.

The measurements may be taken using a transit and tape measure, or an electronic tool known as an EDM. Today, GPS may also be used for land surveys, though not usually in areas that are heavily wooded. Newer technology is allowing residential land surveying to be undertaken with very accurate results.

Usually, a land surveyor will measure each location multiple times, averaging these results to determine the true position of the point. The location of boundaries and easements will then be marked on your land. After the measurements are complete and have been marked on your land, the land surveyor will generally walk the property with you, pointing out the landmarks measuring each point, such as a plastic or metal stake. Then, the surveyor will advise you on any differences between the current survey and previous surveys or records of the land, including any areas where neighboring property owners have encroached on the land.

When a professional land survey is complete, the property lines as stated by the licensed surveyor become the legal boundaries of the property. Usually, these boundary lines do not differ significantly from the previously accepted land boundaries, but this is not always the case. In some situations, your neighbors will also need to have a residential land survey conducted as well, if there is a boundary dispute. Having your property surveyed by a residential land surveyor can give you peace of mind as you gain certainty about the exact boundaries of your property.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Residential land surveys are a specialty.

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Factors Contributing to an Appreciating Value of Land

Land has been traded for years. Its value has climbed up with time and not due to inflation but to an appreciation of its value. There are various reasons why land price keeps on appreciating. It can be explained through the use of economic terminology or simple logic. Some of the causes are the population growth, economic development, infrastructure, greed and agriculture. Land has always been an alternative for investing. The lucrative appreciation of its values has exceeded inflation rate giving investors the upper hand. They become wealthier with time

Economic Explanation

It is prescribed by economic theories that high demand will result in shortage. A shortage of land will eventually exert pressure on supply (availability) which as a consequence will cause the price of land to increase. The increase in price can be due to a shortage that can resolve from population growth, increasing income, inflation or other economic phenomena.

Facts

The price of residential land in rural areas has been increasing faster than in urban areas. This was proven by a study between 1980 and 1997. The appreciation of the value of land has been greater in both absolute and percentage terms. The land in rural residential area is more lucrative to buy than land in urban areas. Farm land has been increasing at an average of above 10 percent per year.

Factor 1

In the last years a very strong factor contributing to the appreciation of land has been the demand for natural commodities. The high demand for farm land and its products has been lurking the interest of investors. They have continuously bought land for the purpose of producing bio-fuel and other commodities such as meat, wheat, flour among others. This has given farm land a higher value and has been the cause for its long lasting appreciation price.

Factor 2

Land is a resource which is scarce. It is hard to find lands for sales at specific areas. For example, if you do want to buy land near a lake, the owner can consider this area as his heritage. This would imply that he would probably not sell the land especially not at market price. To convince the owner, the offering price must be at least 50% above the clearing price. This appreciation in value is fictitious but real. Thus having land in possession at different spots can luckily attract you, a persuaded buyer, who is eager to spend money for specific areas of land.

Factor 3

Development is another factor contributing to the appreciation of land value. In economic zones, the owner of the property (land) will be offered a lucrative deal. As the value of land in highly developed areas are sky-high. Thus, possessing properties prior to development can bring great return on capital. It is hard to speculate about development but it is possible. The construction of a supermarket nearby would leverage the price at its surrounding by more than 20% in the short-run. The reason behind this increase in net worth of the terrain is the convenience that it offers to its citizens.

Land has always been appreciating. The limited supply of the resource and increasing demand through rising population will continuously purport this incremental effect. Land is an everlasting escalating value for investors or private owners.

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The Importance of a Land Survey Before Purchasing Land

If you are interested in purchasing real estate, the wrong way to go about it is to simply find a plot or house that you like, and then make an offer. There are several often-forgotten steps that you should take before this point. Many people often overlook the land survey step of buying land. The best time to have a land survey undertaken is before you complete the process of purchasing the land.

Land surveyors can determine the boundary measurements to make sure that the plot of land you think you are buying is actually what you are buying. The land surveyor can tell you whether the trees, building ,fences, sidewalks, driveways, and other features of the land actually lie on the property, and also whether anyone else's buildings or other features encroach onto the property you wish to buy.

They will also be familiar with building regulations, wetland regulations, and zoning. Land surveys are particularly helpful when purchasing a piece of real estate that you hope to eventually build on, as they can catch potential problems with this plan before you purchase the land. If you are purchasing mountainous land, land that may be considered wetlands, or land in other areas that may be difficult to build on, a land surveyor can help you evaluate the possibilities for building upon the land. If you plan to develop the land or subdivide it, a survey can help you determine whether this is possible or even legal.

Do not go off an old land survey provided by the current landowner. It may not describe recent changes to the land. The land surveyor you hire can place permanent markers on the corners of your property so that you are well-aware of the boundaries of the land that you will soon own. Before conducting a land surveyor, you may want to ask your real estate agent for a property profile, which will list the ownership information, legal description, plat map, tax information, and other characteristics. This is an excellent place to start when evaluating a potential real estate purchase. At least some of this information may also be available online. Then, be sure that you visit the property and walk the entire site, even if it is several acres, to see what it looks like with your own eyes.

Having a land survey conducted before the land changes hands is simply due diligence. Do not rely on anyone else's word, such as the landowner's, or a real estate agent's, when purchasing land. This is a big purchase, and it should not be done unless you know exactly what you are buying. If you cannot get a land survey before placing a formal offer, at least have one done before the deal closes. The land surveyor will give you the best information possible to determine whether the piece of real estate will meet your needs. If any red flags come up, be sure that they are resolved to your satisfaction before closing on this real estate deal.

You do not want to make the mistake of buying land that is of no use to you, or buying land that is not what you thought it was. Although it's especially important to have a land survey conducted when you are buying acreage or plan to develop the land, a land survey even of a small lot with a house can still catch potential problems before it's too late.

We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Residential land surveys are a specialty.

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