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Find Land for your Cabin
When it is time to “get away from it all,” it is sometimes difficult to find not only the time, but the ideal place, as well. Since it can often seem like all of the best out-of-the-way camping spots are taken, sometimes it is necessary to find your own way. For many people, the ideal solution is to simply build their own cabin in a remote, out of the way place. Building a cabin in a place that is both secluded and beautiful can be a daunting prospect, but there are a few tricks to learn to find just the perfect spot, and then finally make your purchase.
The hardest part of the entire process is to find land use information. Not all pieces of land are suitable for every use, and learning how to find out whether land is approved for your purposes and how to find out who owns land is not always easy.
Finding Suitable Land
The first place to start, as simple as it seems, is a local real estate office. Real estate brokers are often privy to pieces of information that most others are not when it comes to a local land deal. Often, real estate brokers will unofficially have pieces of land for sale. That means that they do not always list the land. The owner may simply want to have the land available if someone should inquire about it. Real estate brokers are typically the first to know about such deals, and whether a piece of land is available for purchase.
Of course, once you have a piece of land in mind, you may ask, “How do I find out who owns a piece of land?” The answer to that starts at the local county courthouse. Clerks there know how to find land by legal description, and the clerks can be your best sources of information. Land records are divvied up into parcels, generally. By going to the courthouse, you should be able to give the clerk the general area of the piece of land for which you want ownership information, and they will be able to find the parcel number in court records. Once you have the parcel number, it is as simple as looking up the ownership information on the county’s land records. The land records will answer many questions, including “How do I find out who owns a piece of land” and “How to find out the history of my land.”
Land use records will also help to find land elevations, as well. That is important so that you will know whether or not the land is prone to flooding, and will give a general idea of how much sunlight the land is exposed to, well. That is important for “off the grid” cabins, since solar power is becoming a viable option for those wanting to get away from it all.
What to Look For
Once you answer the question of “How do I find out who owns a piece of land” and you find land elevations, it is time to find land use information. That is important to know before you buy a parcel of land, since you will need to know how the land was used in order to know whether it is safe to buy. Was the land previously used for waste disposal? Were there undesirable previous owners, such as criminals, or are there dangerous chemicals on the site? To find that information, it is easiest to stop in at the local Sheriff’s Department. Generally, they keep records of violations that are issued to land-owners and they are also familiar with the area. They will be able to help you find land use information. If your search at the courthouse stalls, the helpful people at the Sheriff’s Department may be able to point you in the right direction to learn how to find out who owns land.
It is important when looking to make a land purchase for an out of the way cabin, that a few things be certain. One must find out if the land will fully support infrastructure, such as sewage or septic systems. Elevation data will help determine whether or not the land will support a well, so that fresh water is always available. It is also important to know the underlying structure of the land, so that it is clear whether the land will support a proper foundation. It is also important to know how much land can be cleared around the construction site, since if you are building a log cabin, you do not want the trees to be too close, in case of fire. Ideally, you will want a clearing several hundred feet across in order to create a suitable fire break.
For more land finding and buying tips visit About.com® at:
http://www.homebuying.about.com/od/
secondhomes/qt/102507_buyland.htm.
What to Pay
Once you find the piece of land that you want, it is time to figure out how much to pay for it. There are companies out there who specialize in land appraisals, and for a small fee they will determine exactly how much you should pay for the land itself. It is not necessary to close the deal through a Realtor, but it is a good idea to do so. A Realtor will know which pitfalls to watch out for during the purchase process, and will best be able to help you avoid any trouble that may arise. The Realtor will be able to assist you in sorting out a contract, as well. Contracts are a necessary part of the process, and should spell out the responsibilities of each involved party. Both the seller and the buyer should have their roles clearly defined, along with the amount that is to be paid and any improvements that are to be made before the land changes hands.
In addition, the exact condition of the land and any structures or features that are to remain should be clearly spelled out in the contract. The contract ensures that both parties are treated fairly, and should be agreed to in advance of any money changing hands. Never pay a down payment or any other security deposit until the contract is signed and satisfactory.
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