Three Questions To Answer Before You Begin Searching For The Perfect Ranch Property
Posted on: 20 May 2019
Are you a city slicker wanting to get back to your roots by purchasing a ranch? If so, then you may be overwhelmed by where to start when shopping for this type of real estate since every property is very unique. While the process of finding the perfect property can be long, the following are three questions you need to answer before you even begin your search.
Why?
The first question you need to answer is why you want to purchase a ranch. Do you want a working ranch, with cattle, sheep, or other livestock? Or is your dream more of a resort, such as dude ranch or even a ranch-themed spa retreat? Or, perhaps your dream is much more personal, and you simply want to live the ranch life away from the city, but don't want nor need to generate any income from the ranch. This is the most important thing to determine first, since the size and type of land of the ranch will be directly impacted by this initial goal. Purchasing a huge working ranch when all you want is a personal retreat will be both expensive and overwhelming. On the other hand, purchasing too little land when you dream of running herds of cattle will lead to regret and disappointment later.
Where?
Location matters, and when it comes to ranching, the best location can vary by hundreds of miles. Keep your why firmly in mind when researching locations. For working ranches, you need to make sure the terrain is well suited to the animals you plan to raise, as well as ensuring there is access to stockyards, shipping routes, and water. A resort ranch needs easy access so that clients can drive their vehicles -- even those without 4-wheel drive -- to your guesthouse. If you are looking for a personal residence, make sure to research and spend some time in the local town for each ranch you see, to make sure you like the vibe.
How much?
This question isn't focused on price yet, so much as on how much land and buildings. Keep in mind that it can be easier to sell of excess land later rather than try to buy more if you discover you didn't go big enough. You need to make sure you purchase enough land to meet your needs, but not so much you can't attend to it. For example, if you purchase a huge acreage for just a personal residence, you will still be responsible for maintaining miles of fence lines and making sure prescribed burns and other necessary tasks to prevent wildfires are performed.
For more help, contact a real estate agent that specializes in ranch properties for sale.
Share