Where should I buy raw land with my $100,000

[brownthumb]

I am thinking of buying raw land as an investment. I am happy where I live and don't want to move but I am interested in diversifying. Any ideas where I might get some appreciation over the next 5-10 yrs?

[AngieM2]

Dalhart TX has a big cheese factory going in and lots of extra cattle farms going to be needed, and the workers. Should be finished soon.

Angie

[hillsidedigger]

Raw land in few regions has appreciated in value more these last 5 or 10 years than in the Southern Appalachians.

Developers were, a year or 3 ago, getting 1,000 acre tracts for $2,500 per acre and are now selling one acre lots out of those tracts for prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It may have peaked, may be downhill now, who knows.

Lakefront property within 1-2 hours from a population center.

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by lonelytree

Lakefront property within 1-2 hours from a population center.

I agree with this advice. I would add any land, especially wooded, within an hour or so of a large growing city.

[oldgaredneck]

ANY land, ANY where - since it is not being "made" anymore....

[Ramblin Wreck]

As an investment, what lonelytree and Cabin Fever said. Look at the demographics for an area. As a general rule, the West and South have been experiencing more growth than the North Central and Northeastern states, but each region has "hot spots". I'd advise finding a growing area near where you currently live so that you can keep an eye on it. A cousin of mine was very disappointed to find that his north Arkansas land had been clear cut between visits, so the timber part of his investment was essentially "stolen".

Good luck.

[Tricky Grama]

East TX piney woods!

[sue currin]

Any water front land will out do other raw land.

[YoungOne]

Phoenix is growing Fast. Last year the largest ($$$) land deal in AZ historycompleted. The company I work for was part of that. The land (over 100K acres) was purchased in 98' for about $9M and leased back to the farmers. The new owners sunk around $5M into permits and reports (no infrastructure) and sold it to a developer (homes) for $91M. If buying land as an investment of 10+ yrs I say anywere between Quartzite, AZ and Tonopah, AZ as the forcast says that will eventualy fill in.

[southerngurl]

Pmed you. We have some land for sale here in the Ozarks.

[FourDeuce]

Some people have suggested that the price of land(and houses, too) is way too high, and that the "bubble" might be bursting soon.

[Cabin Fever]

Originally Posted by FourDeuce

Some people have suggested that the price of land(and houses, too) is way too high, and that the "bubble" might be bursting soon.

I don't think that bubble will burst until all the Baby-Boomers have retired and purchased their retirement homes. Many baby boomers have equity in their current "paid for" home in the big city as well as in their 401K. These people are just aching to retire and buy their piece of heaven in the country or on a lake.

[KayJay]

Originally Posted by AngieM2

Dalhart TX has a big cheese factory going in and lots of extra cattle farms going to be needed, and the workers. Should be finished soon.

Angie

My husband just quit working for the company that is putting this plant in (we're moving to Wyoming). Not that it matters, but I thought I'd share.

As far as where to buy land for future resale, I've no personal experience, but I'd agree with Angie and YoungOne based on the experiences of people I know.

[hoofinitnorth]

I've got 10 acres for sale within your budget up here in Wasilla, AK. It used to be used as timothy & brome hay fields so it's already all cleared. Great mountain views, gently rolling topography, excellent southern exposure, wonderful water on my well next door (have had a comprehensive test done recently), and this area is booming too.

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showpos...&postcount=160

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by oldgaredneck

ANY land, ANY where - since it is not being "made" anymore....

except in the midwest

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by sue currin

Any water front land will out do other raw land.

except in the midwest

[mowrey1999]

I talked to my neighbor in missouri and he said all the land had been sold in missouri so You might have to look in tennessee ,kentucky or somewhere else.

[Freeholder]

The real estate bubble is in the process of bursting, with some areas still growing and others feeling a lot of pain. The pain is going to spread, though, so I would suggest waiting a while until the market reaches bottom before buying. You'll get more for your money that way.

No matter what you spend on land, you will always at least have the land . . . as long as you can keep the property taxes paid. That's something to consider. Whereas, things can 'happen' to money invested in stocks or even in the bank.

I second (third?) the advice given above to look near where you currently live, if you plan to stay there. Even bare land needs some looking after. Most states have adverse possession laws, meaning that if you don't check on the land fairly regularly, a neighbor could extend his fence onto your place, build a barn, run his cattle there, and after a few years make a claim for legal possession of the property (I think he might have to be paying the property taxes, too -- not sure on that). If you are checking on the land regularly you can prevent that kind of thing, as well as the timber theft that was mentioned above. A timber theft not only involves the stealing of anywhere from hundreds to many thousands of dollars worth of logs, but also damages and reduces the value of your land.

Now as to what you should look for: look for land that is desirable for someone to live on it. That means land that has water (good ground water for wells -- check with the local well drillers); that perks for a septic system; that is in all ways a safe, pleasant, and desirable location for a family to live. Make sure you don't get any wetlands. Land that has been logged off might not be too bad of a deal if you get a good price and don't plan to sell for quite a few years, so the trees will have time to grow back.

Personally, if I were in your situation, I would choose some land that *I* would enjoy living on, and while I owned it, I would be putting in improvements that would be of value to *me* (well, septic, driveway, plant fruit trees, and so on). There is always the possibility that you *might* end up living there at some point in time, for whatever reason. So choose something you like and find useful. If you like it and find it useful, almost certainly someone else will feel the same way about it down the line when you want to sell it.

Kathleen

Edited to add: Make sure you don't buy land that might end up the target of an emminent domain taking. It's too bad, but that's one more thing we have to worry about nowadays.

[Junkmanme]

I PERSONALLY would buy "raw land" that is capable of being "rented" while you await the "appreciation" that you are expecting.
EXAMPLES:
farmland
commercial area ( storage/ wrecking yard/ parking/etc.
boat marina capable
large construction equipment supply storage near infrastructure installation.
stay away from gov't contracts, if possible. Too much paperwork and they'll screw you.

BUT buy property that you can rent while you hold. Select Farmland, WITH WATER-RIGHTS, is good!

just my experienced opinion.
GOOD LUCK to YOU!
Bruce
P.S. DON'T buy anything that is TOO FAR from Utilities and other "infrastructure". AND don't spend the WHOLE $100,000. There are expenses involved...taxes, fencing, etc.