Not Sure Where To Get The Information You Need To Make An Informed Purchase?
Consider this.
You have dreamed of owning your own ranch for years.
Now you are approaching retirement and ready to make your dream a reality.
Even better, you think you’ve found your perfect parcel of land.
The property is 640 acres with plenty of space to run a herd of cows and live free from prying neighbors.
But here’s the question.
Can you access your land?
It’s way out in the countryside and there are no public roads leading to it.
Still, your seller says that’s not a problem.
“You see,” he says, “since the land is an intact section, every boundary line must have an access easement on it per state law.”
Is your seller correct?
Who should you turn to verify what he is telling you?
Land Is Complicated, And You Can Easily Lose Money On A Bad Purchase
One of my clients once found themselves in the above situation.
And they turned to me for help.
As it turns out, their seller was badly misinformed.
Neither the state Attorney General’s Office nor four separate private real estate attorneys could confirm that any law existed that required public easements on all section boundary lines.
This meant that the parcel of land my client sought to buy was landlocked.
And in this particular county, you cannot build on a landlocked property.
So no ranch!
Sadly for us land buyers, there are hundreds of such obscure conditions that could stop you from using a property the way you would like, including:
Local building and zoning laws
Undivided interest
Wetlands
Environmental issues
No legal access
Illegal subdivisions
And this is just to name a few.
So if you are looking for your dream homestead, cabin or weekend getaway, who do you turn to verify that the land will work for your needs?
How do you even know what you should be asking?
Well, this course is designed to give you the top questions you should ask county and city officials before you buy a parcel of vacant land.
Broken down into a series of short videos, each section will cover one of the top sets of queries you should make before buying land.
This way, you’ll be all set to start looking for your property confident that you can find the information you need.
Your land is out there waiting!
Does The Course Have Reviews From Existing Students?
Since the course is new, we don’t yet have reviews.
But here are a few reviews from students of our other courses.
Who Am I?
Curious how I’m qualified to help you?
Well, my name is Erika Benson and I am an architect by training and a former Affordable Housing Director for the City of New York turned full-time Land Investor.
My land investing company, Gokce Capital, has bought over 700 properties.
So I’m an expert at making county calls!
It doesn’t matter where the properties are located, there are a few common issues that can always potentially trip up a purchase.
In my own business, I have narrowed my due diligence checklist to a few top questions that I always ask before considering any property.
Though these questions don’t cover every possible issue that could come up (check out our Gokce Land Due Diligence Program for that), they will catch the biggest red flags.
More importantly, these 13 questions will make sure you don’t waste too much time and money on a property that will never work for your intended purpose.
While this course is not intended to replace standard tests (such as a perc, environmental assessment, survey or appraisal), asking these questions can stop you from moving too far along on a property that has clear issues.
After all, many of the typical due diligence reports are not cheap, and there’s no point in wasting money when a quick phone call could uncover major issues for you.
How Will You Benefit From The Course?
What are the benefits of learning to ask the right due diligence questions yourself?
Can’t you just rely on a real estate agent or title company to help?
Of course, you should always hire competent help when purchasing real estate.
But the problem is that land is complicated, and not even the professionals may be able to catch every issue.
Plus only you fully understand what you want to use your land for.
When you are empowered to ask the right questions and do your own due diligence you can:
Avoid costly due diligence tests on properties that are unfit for your needs
Ensure you eventually settle on land that can be used as you intend
Prevent you from making huge purchasing mistakes, like buying land without legal access
Help you to feel confident in negotiations with your seller
Is The Course For You?
Imagine this.
You just bought an infill lot in the small town you plan to build your family home.
You had an excellent real estate agent who worked closely with you throughout the process.
And, of course, you purchased title insurance.
The property is in a residential neighborhood surrounded by other homes.
The only other vacant parcel of land is the lot right next to yours, which has been owned by the town since they foreclosed on it 5 years ago.
The best part about the property is that it already has a driveway on it.
Yes, the driveway is old (it’s been there since your seller purchased the property), but it does represent a construction cost savings.
Given the number of homes in the nearby community, you didn’t worry too much about due diligence before you made your purchase.
After all, how could this one property not be buildable?
But shortly after you bought the land, you get a call from the town.
They are looking to build an affordable home on the property and discovered that your driveway is encroaching on their land.
In fact, the entire thing is on their lot.
It turns out, the title company didn’t catch this issue.
Even worse, the rest of your property isn’t wide enough to accommodate both a home and a second driveway/garage without drastically reducing the first-floor area.
This is yet another true story of a situation I have encountered during the course of my land investing.
You’d be surprised at how often problems are missed.
So, we put together this program for anyone worried about making a mistake on their next land purchase.
This course is for you if you are looking to purchase property for a specific purpose, such as:
Hunting
Building
Investing
Homesteading
Farming
In fact, everyone can benefit from having a basic knowledge of real estate due diligence.
It reduces your reliance on outside professionals and will only better position you for success.
What Is Included With The Course?
This course will cover the top questions you need to ask local government officials before purchasing land.
It is broken down into thirteen modules that include:
Zoning: You might think that owning a piece of property means you can do whatever you please with it.
Not quite!
The truth is that nearly every county has regulations governing land use, which means there are some limitations on what you can do with your land.
Here are the questions you must ask about the local zoning ordinance before you buy.
Property Taxes: Do you want to protect yourself from an unforeseen tax burden?
There’s more to ask than just, “How much are the annual taxes on my property?”
Learn the full set of tax-related questions in this module.
Environmental Issues: Wetlands, endangered species, hazardous contamination – how do you assess a property for construction-stopping environmental issues?
This module will give you a range of questions that you should ask in order to protect both your health and your wallet.
Access: You are guaranteed to be able to access your own property, right?
Not necessarily!
Unfortunately, there are many properties that are landlocked.
And often, you cannot build on a landlocked parcel.
Be sure to ask local government officials whether the property has access.
Assessed Value: Do you ignore the assessments you get in the mail for your property?
You shouldn’t!
Changes in the assessed value of a property can lead to important insights.
Here’s what you should ask when it comes to assessments.
Perc Test: No access to public sewer? No problem, right?
Nope!
Not every property is ideal for a septic system.
Make sure you do your research on previous perc tests in the area.
Demolition Liens: Did you know that many local governments have the authority to demolish unsafe properties?
When they do, they will place a lien on the property for the cost of the demolition work.
And you could inherit this lien when you purchase the land.
So you must ask the county about demolition liens before you buy.
Building Codes: Zoning is not the only way that counties regulate properties.
Even in areas without a zoning ordinance, you may find that the local building code restricts certain construction types, like tiny homes, RVs, container homes, etc.
You want to call the local government and ask whether their building code will allow you to build what you envision.
Utilities: If you’re going to build, you need access to water, sewer and electricity.
Here are the questions you should ask to assess how difficult it will be to get these resources to your property.
Liens: You’ve probably heard of liens before.
They are one of the big things you check when you buy land.
Yes, a title company will do a lien search for you.
But, sometimes, a quick call to the county can save you money on professional research.
Homeowner’s Associations: Perhaps your property is located in a homeowner’s association (HOA).
This can be a good thing since HOAs maintain roads and other local amenities.
However, you will need to know all of the rules and regulations associated with the organization.
If certain restrictions are a deal killer, you may be able to call ahead of time and understand the basic rules before paying for the full packet of HOA documents.
Public Documents: Do you really need to do your own research on the chain of title?
You may be surprised to learn that it’s a good idea.
I can tell you from experience that title companies sometimes miss certain important points, like undivided interest.
It’s not as complicated as you may think.
And a few calls to the county can make the process even easier.
Undivided Interest: Did you know it’s possible to purchase only a partial interest in a property?
When you do this, you own a percentage in the lot (kind of like owning shares in a company).
And this means you can’t do whatever you like with the property.
Even worse, it’s not always clear when the title being conveyed is only an undivided interest.
That’s why it’s a good idea to call the county to see if they have information on ownership percentages.
AND…
In addition to these modules, you also get unlimited access to future course updates
We update our course to incorporate feedback.
So you can feel secure that your purchase is evergreen.
Plus A Bonus!
Do you want a more personal touch?
Well, you’re in luck!
I have included a forum as an added bonus with your purchase of this product.
You can message me through each course module and I will respond within 24 hours.
If you have any questions about your own purchase, you can also email me directly!
So you have access to my direct knowledge FOR FREE.
Also for a limited time, you also get a FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTING CALL and COMPLIMENTARY VACATION VOUCHER as part of your purchase.
Disclaimer: We are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors. All opinions expressed by Gokce Capital are the result of personal research and experience, and our content is intended for informational purposes only. It is very important that you do your own due diligence and analysis before making any kind of investment. The information in this program is from our experience, you should still hire your own specialized professional/real estate agent/attorney to ensure you understand and comply with all local laws where applicable. You should also be sure to take financial and/or legal advice from a professional in conjunction with any information you receive from our website when making an investment decision or otherwise. Please also note that we have done our best to make sure all information on our website is accurate and up-to-date, but there may be occasional errors and misprints.