For today\u2019s urbanites, discovering life outside the city is like a breath of fresh air, and many have taken the leap to move to rural areas of the country over the last couple of years. Purchasing a recreational property in the country allows you to have your own space to fish, hunt and enjoy the outdoors with the sense of security only known to property owners. You can live on it, grow on it and hunt on it.<\/p>\n
The process for purchasing recreational property is really quite straightforward; it\u2019s only taking that first leap that proves difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone wants to do it, it\u2019s just actually taking the first step that\u2019s the problem,\u201d said Bruce Witt, real estate agent with United Country | The O\u2019Connor Agency in Cameron, Mo. \u201cOnce you\u2019ve been around the peace and quiet of the country, you want it. I\u2019ve never had anyone get angry at me for selling them land. They\u2019ve just been mad that I haven\u2019t sold them enough. Today, more than ever, the problem is that we just can\u2019t get enough land for sale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Witt is an expert at selling large tracts of recreational property with the results to prove it. One large sale he had in the last few years was 500 acres to the Army Corps of Engineers to help reestablish the Missouri River and preserve wildlife habitat.<\/p>\n
In addition to providing wildlife conservation, recreational property can be a smart investment. Even if you purchase a piece of land that doesn\u2019t prove ideal for your needs, the current market provides a climate where it can be easily sold. According to Witt, land investment can prove to be more lucrative than the stock market, as land is a limited commodity and it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll lose money if you purchase the right tract in the right location.<\/p>\n
To begin the process of buying, you must first decide where you want to be. Is it important for it to be close to where you live, or is a more remote location acceptable? The easier it is to get to the property, the more you\u2019ll use it and the longer you\u2019ll keep it. Once you\u2019ve decided on a location it\u2019s time to get connected to someone who is an expert in that area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important to find a good real estate agent with recreational property experience,\u201d said Witt. \u201cRecreational properties are like fingerprints; no two properties are alike. United Country is a great example of finding an expert. We are the only major player in real estate that\u2019s in the country on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next item on the purchasing checklist is to check out a lender. Witt stresses that financing recreational property isn\u2019t a zero-percent-down type of transaction. Large urban lenders will most likely not be as helpful as local banks that specialize in lending for land. Your local recreational property expert can likely point you in the direction of several banks that can assist you in this area.<\/p>\n