How to Find Large Parcels of Land for Sale

Large parcels of land offer numerous opportunities from real estate development to recreational use, or using the land for farming. Finding high acreage lots, however, can be a challenge. With a little creativity and time, you can find the perfect parcel of land for your needs. Here’s how:

Look Where Land is Most Abundant

One of the simplest and easiest ways to find large parcels of land is to search for opportunities where land is abundant. The Midwest is a great place to start, but you’ll also find plenty of land in other states, like Texas, Alaska and Arizona.

Naturally, rural areas will have the most available land. You may get lucky and find a large parcel just outside of a major city, but be prepared to pay a high price. If you’re looking for high acreage at an affordable price, you’ll need to look in rural areas.

Make Use of Online Property Portals

Not sure where to look for land? Property portals are a great place to start. Here, you’ll find current listings of wholesale land for sale in a wide range of locations.

Oftentimes, listings will include detailed information that will help you narrow down your choices and find properties that meet your needs. The great thing about using these sites is that most allow you to search by acreage and other criteria. This way, you can quickly weed out smaller properties.

Property portals are free to use and typically include contact information, so you can speak with an agent or the land owner directly. This provides you with an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the land and perhaps schedule a tour of the property if necessary.

Contact Land Owners Directly

You found the perfect piece of property. There’s just one problem: it’s not for sale. Or, maybe you saw a listing for land in the classifieds and want to negotiate an offer. Contacting land owners directly is a great way to find opportunities to purchase big parcels of land, and sometimes, you can snag great deals this way.

Just be warned: buying land that’s not for sale can be tricky. Some land owners have an emotional connection to their property. If they didn’t, they would have put it up for sale by now. It can take a lot of “wining and dining” to swing a deal like this, and you need to be subtle about it. But if you have the patience and have mastered the art of persuasion, approaching land owners and making a proposition to buy may just get you your dream piece of land.
On the other hand, if an owner is selling a large parcel of land on their own (without the help of an agent), he or she may be open to negotiation. In this case, you can get your hands on a lot of property for a great price.

Think Farms and Ranches

Did you know that the average farm is 418 acres? It only make sense, then, to search for farms and ranches for sale. If you plan on purchasing a large parcel for farming purposes, purchasing a farm that’s already up and running will eliminate much of the legwork that goes into starting up such as massive operation.

The only drawback to purchasing a farm or a ranch is that these properties often come at higher prices. Why? Because they produce income, which makes them more valuable. If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, farms and ranches won’t be the way to go. The same can be said for commercial development as farms are often far away from high-growth cities.

Land Giveaways

In certain areas of the country, cities are desperate to attract new residents. So, they implement land giveaways to boost the local population and economy. This is a fantastic way to get your hands on a large plot of land for cheap.

The great thing about this is that a lot of people don’t even know that these programs exist. Take the town of Claremont, Minnesota. Households with an annual income of $74,200 could qualify for free land and pay just $1,000 for closing and administrative costs. Despite the offer of free land, the city still struggles to find people interested in the program. Why? Because they believe it’s too good to be true.

A growing number of smaller towns are implementing free land programs, and you might be able to score a large plot for next to nothing (just pay closing and administrative costs).

Work with a Real Estate Agent

Most land buyers try to avoid working with real estate agents to avoid the extra fees, but if you’re interested in buying a lot of land, an agent may be your biggest ally. When land owners have a lot of acreage to sell, there’s a good chance they won’t want to try and sell it on their own. They’ll choose to work with an agent instead. Agents also have access to a larger network of sellers, and can help you negotiate a good price on a piece of property. In certain situations, a real estate agent is the smartest way to find high acreage property – especially if this is your first time buying land.

If you do choose to work with an agent, look for professionals that have experience buying and selling land. Not all agents are competent about land, so don’t assume that the best agent in town can give you the help you need. A certain level of expertise is required to find the right piece of property and negotiate a good deal.

Finding large parcels of land isn’t difficult – if you know where to look. Property portals like ours are typically the most popular option because they’re free, convenient and offer a wide range of options. Contacting land owners directly or taking advantage of land giveaways can also help you obtain a large plot of land for next-to-nothing. Regardless of which route you take, make sure that you know what you want and your purpose for the land before you start your search.