Buyers Guide

“Touring properties on acreage requires a can-do, not afraid to get dirty approach.”

When searching for rural property, individual property features are much more difficult to discern because most websites, MLS databases, and other search engines have been designed for houses. Finding properties with certain characteristics like river frontage, water rights, privacy, hunting opportunities, and other similar features are all difficult to search for online. Working with a buyer’s broker who is familiar with these kinds of characteristics will streamline the search process and dramatically reduce the viewing of properties that do not meet the needs of the buyer.

The actual property tour experience will also vary widely from broker to broker, and this typically comes down to how much relevant information the broker has prepared for the property tour (maps, water rights, land use information, and other pertinent information outside of the typical house information) and what the actual tour experience is like, especially on larger acreage. Is the broker physically prepared to be able to traverse the land either on foot or by off-road vehicle? Many large acreage properties require the use of a UTV/ATV to truly see the property and keep from having the tour turn into a multiple-mile hiking experience that is often time-consuming and less than enjoyable day after day.

Martin Outdoor Property Group sets itself apart in finding properties for buyers through an in-depth knowledge of the region and a “can-do, not afraid to get dirty” approach to property searches and tours. We have the tools including great property research capabilities, hi-tech GPS mapping, UTVs for touring land, and more. Each broker has the willingness and ability to delve into the details of each property, ranging from the intangible attributes of water rights, land use entitlements, etc, to the physical features like live water, farming potential, hunting opportunities, etc. Our team is not afraid to have fun, get dirty, and spend quality time during the property tour and inspection processes.

“Experience counts during negotiations, due diligence, and closing.”

Most consumers think of the transaction phase as synonymous with making an offer and negotiations on price. While this is the first step and definitely a major part of the transaction process, the pricing negotiation may not actually be the most impactful part of the process during the long-term ownership of the property. Often, the most impactful part of the transaction process is the due diligence and inspection phase. This is the phase of the purchasing process where the buyer, with the assistance of the buyer’s broker, will peel back the onion on all of the important features, improvements, and entitlements that have been represented with the property. In addition to the physical inspections, common areas of concern include land use (meaning what you can and cannot do with the property legally), easements, water rights, and other similar, less-than-tangible aspects of the property. The final stage of the transaction process is the financing and closing process. During this part of the process, timing becomes paramount as both the seller and buyer are trying to navigate the delicate dance of two parties almost simultaneously moving out of and onto the same property. While the real estate broker is far from in control of this portion of the process, the broker does have the unique ability to dramatically impact how smooth this last phase of the transaction is through timely and effective communication with the buyer, seller, escrow company, lender and any other parties involved to keep everyone on the same page and getting ahead of any needed adjustments to the schedule.

Martin Outdoor Property Group pulls on all of the team members’ experiences, ensuring that every client benefits from the collective knowledge of the group during all phases of the transaction process. Our team believes that every transaction starts long before the first offer negotiation. Even before the first property showing, we are already laying the groundwork for a successful transaction. This groundwork includes property research, pricing analysis, a complete and thorough property tour, due diligence on seller motivation, and more. During due diligence and through the closing process, our team approach extends beyond the MOPG group to the network of experts with whom the team has developed great working relationships over the years of selling rural property. This network includes real estate and land use attorneys, water rights examiners, land and irrigation specialists, farm consultants, contractors and home builders, inspectors, designers, hunting and fishing guides, lenders, title companies, and more.