After having a difficult time financially for quite some time, I realized that part of my problem was my personal housing costs. I really began evaluating what I wanted out of a home, and I realized that I needed to shop for a place that would work better for what I needed. I started paying more and more attention to real estate risks, and it occurred to me that I hadn't invested in a smart property. After talking with my real estate agent, I started focusing on changing my ways, and it was incredible to see how much brighter my future became.
If you've always dreamed of having your own sprawling ranch, investing in this type of property may seem like the perfect choice. You can find beautiful ranches with stately homes and plenty of land for whatever purpose you choose. However, purchasing a ranch does come with some challenges. Here are some things you'll want to discuss with your real estate agent to ensure the ranch property you choose is right for you.
Road Access
Depending on where you decide to buy your property, there may be limited road access to the ranch. You may find that some land is situated far from paved roads, which means you may need to drive down a dirt path to get home. You might even find that some ranches have no access road connecting to the local system of streets, roads, and highways. Building your own access road may be a significant expense, so you'll want to examine this aspect of any property you choose to look at.
Proximity To Services
Some ranches can also be in quite rural locations. The nearest town may be many miles away, with a nearby hospital even further than that. Ranches in unincorporated towns may not have access to emergency services and may only be served by a local sheriff. You may enjoy living relatively off-grid, but if you have health problems or young children, a property closer to a large town and hospital network may be a better choice. Work with your real estate agent to determine how far away from a populated area you want to live. You can then use this radius as a starting point for your search.
Utility Availability
Rural areas may have limited utility access. Your water supply might come from a well, which means you'll need to make sure that the available water source is sufficient for your needs. This is particularly important if you plan to raise animals or crops on the land. Internet and cable television service may be limited, and you might even find that you won't have access to natural gas. While all these issues can be overcome, you'll want to determine how you plan to power and heat the home and provide other basic services.
Current Home Condition
The condition of the ranch home may also be an important factor to look at. With older ranches, the home may be a country-style dwelling in need of some modern upgrades and remodeling. While the home shouldn't be your only concern when looking for a ranch, you'll need to determine the cost of any repairs needed in the final cost of owning this type of property. Talk to your real estate agent about what you want out of the house as well as the property to ensure you get the right home and piece of land for your family.