Why Hire A Buyer’s Specialist?

Welcome to the John Hall and Company “How to Buy Land in Alabama Series”.  Pete Hall, John Hall and Company co-owner, shares the value of hiring a Buyer’s Specialist when buying land in Alabama. Pete Hall answers the question, “Why Hire A Buyer’s Specialist?” 

Hiring a Buyer’s Specialist to Research Properties

The Buyer’s Specialist is an expert at providing property hunters with the accurate information they seek. These specialized agents know how to quickly cull through online listings and property records.

Property hunters are increaingly informed and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information online.  Consequently, making it difficult to discern accurate and relevant information from which to make informed decisions. This is especially true when buying large tracts of land.

Can you relate?

“Getting information from the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant”-Mitchell Kapor

Searching Listing for Alabama Land

The typical property hunter searches and finds properties on Zillow. Then, they compare the purchase price of a similar-sized hunting tract sold in the general vicinity. This is a mistake.

Firstly, it is not possible to gauge from an online listing if properties are really comparable. Secondly, there is so much not said in online property listings. Lastly, properties listed online highlight the positives of the properties.

Determining the true value of a property requires diligent research, asking the right questions, and an accurate understanding of the land.

A Costly Mistake in Buying Land

My friend found “the perfect” property listed on the internet. The property listing featured a nice cabin on a beautiful lake. In hast and with excitement, my friend called the listing agent. He immediately put an offer on the table with the listing agent. 

The offer was not accepted. Afterward, he learned the listing agent failed to tell him that the “mineral rights did not convey” with the property. My friend narrowly avoided a big and costly mistake. Unfortunately, this is a mistake that many hope-filled individuals make when buying property.

Finding a Trusted Buyer’s Specialist

His mistake was only going by the listing and then blindly trusting the listing agent. He learned the listing agent was not representing his best interest. As a result, he asked me to be his “Buyer’s Specialist Agent”. I quickly found him the perfect property.

John Hall and Company agents take properties and their agents to the task. We research and ask the right questions. Download our Buyer’s Checklist here for a few of the questions we ask listing agents.

John Hall and Company’s questions are customized for the buyer’s needs and the type of property they are seeking.

Hiring John Hall and Company as Your Buyer’s Specialist

We save our clients time. Clients depend on us to collect the pertinent information and filter out the rest. With our proprietary knowledge and expertise, we quickly assist our clients to discern which listings are legitimate. First and foremost, we rule out properties that should be avoided despite the pretty pictures and glowing copy.

We save our clients money. John Hall and Company agents use comparable sales information from our sale history database and years of experience to provide an accurate evaluation of land to determine a property’s value.

We steamline the process to  make it easy for the client to find their perfect property.

Hiring a Buyer’s Specialist is a Clear Advantage

John Hall and Company has 34 continuous years of experience in land transactions. Every agent has an intimate familiarity with listed properties, amenities, and contributory values of land in Central and South Alabama.

In conclusion, becoming a client of John Hall and Company means becoming a part of our family of specialists. We introduce you to our network of advisors and experts in the fields of financing, forestry, wildlife biology, surveyors, lake builders, 1031 tax-deferred exchange intermediaries, appraisers, closing attorneys, and more. Together, we make up a team that ensures every possible consideration has been thoroughly covered and planned.

Please, call us today to schedule an appointment to speak with one of our agents.

-Pete Hall, ALC

Download John Hall and Company’s checklist for buying property HERE. These are the questions that every buyer needs to be asking before they make a purchase.

We invite you to reveiw other articles in the John Hall and Company Selling Land Series

Why Hire a Buyer’s Specialist

3 Important Questions for Buying Land

First Steps to Prepare to Buy Land

Three Questions For Buying Land

Welcome to the John Hall and Company How to Buy Land in Alabama Series.  This is part two in the series written by Hoke Smith. He helps us understand 3 important questions for buying land in Alabama. Click here to read Why Hire A Buyer’s Specialist part one written by Pete Hall.

In this article, Hoke gives insights into buying land in Alabama from his years of experience living on the land, his education from Auburn University, and his time helping people buy that right piece of land in Alabama.

Have Questions about Buying Land?

Purchasing land does not have to be an intimidating or a foreign concept. We are here to help and answer your questions. First, download our checklist of steps for first-time buyers on How to Buy Land in Alabama. A checklist assists you in making informed and educated decisions. These decisions can mean the difference between you owning the property you always dreamed of or you not being satisfied with your purchase.

Alabama Land Buying Questions

The three main questions a buyer must answer when their search for the property begins:

1. What is your budget?

2. How will the property be used?

3. Where is the preferred location?

Answering these three questions keeps your search focused on properties right for you.

Establish a Budget

Take the time at the beginning of the process to research and establish a budget. Meet with financial advisors or explore options with financing. In Alabama, there are several “land banks” that specialize in financing for rural properties. They can also provide valuable insights on how to establish a budget in your search for land. Once a budget is established then you are really able to kick off your search.

Identify Land Attributes

When speaking with first-time land buyers, I ask the question “What is your vision or why do you want a piece of rural land?”

There are specific reasons people begin to look for rural land. Keying in on what your hobbies are and what you envision yourself using the property for is a good place to start. Once you have the big picture then key in on the attributes of the property.

List out the attributes a property needs to have, such as; a creek, pond, cabin, pasture, timber, wildlife food plots, topography, and any other attributes. Take the list of attributes and identify which of those are absolute necessities to make up your ideal property. The geological landscape in Alabama changes dramatically throughout the state. For example, if you’re looking for the property to consist of a cold-water creek with rocky outcroppings then the coastal plains of South Alabama may not be the best place to focus your search.

Hone in on Location

Location is the most important of the three questions. Buyers should to be flexible when establishing a preferred location. There are areas within the states that are micro-markets where land values can be significantly higher. You may have to travel a little bit further to find a better bang for your buck!

Figure out where your ideal property would be located and then search outward from there. Preferred property attributes and location may need to be adjusted depending on which is more important to you.

We are here to  answer all your questions on buying Land in Alabama

The internet is a great tool and can provide valuable information. However, I highly suggest a real estate broker who specializes in the land to represent and assist you in searching, viewing and purchasing a property. A land real estate agent will provide invaluable insight for first-time buyers and help avoid mistakes when purchasing a property before it is too late.

An active land agent can help you buy land in Alabama.
Agents . . . 

  • understand what you may not be familiar with
  • keep up to date on the market values of the property
  • are thoroughly and knowledgeable to show you properties
  • identify potential problems
  • ask important questions to the sellers that may otherwise not be understood or revealed
  • assist in negotiations
  • assure that you are getting a fair deal

All in all, buying land in Alabama and purchasing a piece of rural land can be a much simpler process than purchasing a home. It doesn’t consist of all the inspections and reports needed to close on a home. Once you have developed a budget, identified property attributes, and have identified a general location, then the search process becomes much easier and enjoyable.

Having a land agent on your side to assist you through the process results in a land buying process that is enjoyable and stress-free. Before you know it, that Alabama dream property will be yours!

-Hoke Smith

Download John Hall and Company’s checklist for buying property HERE. These are the questions that every buyer needs to be asking before they make a purchase.

We invite you to reveiw other articles in the John Hall and Company Selling Land Series

Why Hire a Buyer’s Specialist

3 Important Questions for Buying Land

First Steps to Prepare to Buy Land

Judkins Road -Montgomery County

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Judkins Road- Montgomery County    

5 +/- Acres

Judkins Road

Cecil, AL 36013

$65,000

5 acre lot in Montgomery County!

DESCRIPTION 

Stunning 5 acre lot being offered for the first time on Judkins Road which is a beautiful canopied, paved, and county maintained street.  The lot is wooded in majestic hardwoods with oaks of all types, beech, poplar, and some pine poles. The lot presently sits in the County of Montgomery and will be eligible to go into the Town of Pike Road and its school district in December of 2015.

Located about mile from Macon East Academy, children attending this private institution can walk or ride bikes to school. Only 9 miles from Eastchase and shopping and 3 miles from the Waters, this location is in the growth portion of both Montgomery and Pike Road and is poised to be a solid investment.

All lots on Judkins Road are subject to flood certification and insurance, architectural guidelines, and restrictions. Interested parties may call for architectural guidelines and restrictions. The selling agent is also the owner and is a registered broker in the State of Alabama. Power and water are available on Judkins Road and the Purchaser will be responsible for installing a septic tank.

 

 

 

 

Pete Hall ALC

(334) 312-7099

pete@johnhallco.com

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First Steps to Prepare to Buy Land

This is the third part of the series on Buying Land in Alabama. John Hall outlines how to prepare to buy land in Alabama. Mr. Hall’s advice comes from 35 years of helping buyers find their perfect Alabama property.

First Step to Buy Land In Alabama

My wife grew up on a farm in Huntsville, Alabama, and I grew up on a farm in Cecil, Alabama. My dad also owned the local corner store. He instilled in me a love for the land, business, family, and faith. My wife and I have passed on that legacy to our boys and grandchildren.

Today it is a blessing for me to have a business that helps individuals and families find their perfect piece of land in Alabama. I have been helping people for over 30 years invest in our state. There
are a few things I have learned in my time about land and selling land, especially when it comes to getting the recreation land that you have dreamed of for your family.

Think about your perfect property for you and your family and friends. Now, make a list of all the amenities that you want if you could find the perfect property.

What are your family’s land needs?

Imagine your family’s needs for the next 15 years. What type of property will fill those needs for them to grow into adulthood? 

  • What values and hobbies do you want to instill in your children?
  • How much time and sweat equity do you have to invest in the land?

In my book, there is nothing better in this world than teaching children how to live on the land through horticulture, learning about the environment, and stewarding the land well.

What do you envision on the Alabama land that you want to buy?

    • cabin
    • fishing lake
    • barn
    • established wildlife plots
    • hunting
    • bird trail
    • garden
    • home
    • animals

Land Buying Costs

Keep in mind a preferred “turnkey” family hunting/fishing property costs much more than “raw” land. Do you have the skills, resources, time, or expertise to build out your own amenities? Some buyers have the desire and expertise to construct amenities which takes time but saves a lot of money. We have a list of trusted partners to assist our clients within budget and build the land they desire because we want our clients to have the resources to build their dream recreational land.

Connect with an Agent

Once you have a vision and have identified your desires for the property, this is a good time to reach out to a John Hall and Company agent. I do encourage buyers to enlist the services of an experienced real estate land agent.

The term is a Buyer’s Agent and it costs you nothing!

Review the John Hall and Company agent page and pick out an agent that best fits your needs. Review their “bio” on their website to see which agent with whom you feel compatible. Pick one and call him to discuss your property requirements.

Your agent will pull up properties that they know best match your criteria and desires.  Your agent will diligently research the properties and set up tours to help you assess the properties. When you are ready to buy, your agent will prepare the sale contract and assist you with the details to a successful closing.  

Please give John Hall and Company a call at 334.270.8400 and speak with one of our experienced sales agents to discuss your perfect property.

Happy Hunting!

 -John E. Hall, Jr. CCIM

Download John Hall and Company’s checklist for buying property HERE. These are the questions that every buyer needs to be asking before they make a purchase.

 

We invite you to reveiw other articles in the John Hall and Company Selling Land Series

Why Hire a Buyer’s Specialist

3 Important Questions for Buying Land

First Steps to Prepare to Buy Land