1. Decide how much land you need

Be clear about your plans before you start looking at property. Do you want just a couple acres where the kids can run? Pastures and barns for livestock? Or wooded land for hunting? The total acreage you need depends greatly on how you plan to use it.

2. Set a realistic budget

Be prepared for extra expenses that come with owning rural property. Factor maintenance, general repairs, land improvements, insurance and monthly utility bills into your budget. Also, consider real estate taxes and road upkeep.

3. Research the market

Some sellers set an unrealistic price or purposely overprice their property. Remember listing prices are simply what people are asking. These prices don’t necessarily reflect what properties are selling for.

4. Walk the property

The first step in deciding whether a property is right for you is to look it over – all of it. If the property has a house, is it located where you want it? Is there a pond or stream? Is the lay of the land conducive to building a barn?

5. Check the infrastructure

Rural properties rarely have city water and sewer service. And they may have limited or no access to electricity, cable and high-speed internet. So learn upfront if you’ll need to run electricity to the property, put in a septic tank, or dig a well.

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