Buying 'woods' from a farmer?

[dave1949]

Thanks for the additional thoughts. I used the topo map from post #25 and it says that that line is a pipeline.

I found out today that all of those parcels are in trusts, or trusteeship, or whatever the correct term is. What does that generally imply? That they're holding onto the properties for heirs, but with rules as to how it can or can't be divided up?

I see that trust thing more and more. The people who bought our previous home put the ownership in a trust. They covered the roof with solar panels and those are registered as Company XXX LLC, which I suppose is owned by the trust. Last week a guy pulled a permit from the planning board, the check was written against a trust.

I'm guessing it has to do with taxes and shielding property from legal actions.

 

[sseelhoff]

Thanks for the additional thoughts. I used the topo map from post #25 and it says that that line is a pipeline.

I found out today that all of those parcels are in trusts, or trusteeship, or whatever the correct term is. What does that generally imply? That they're holding onto the properties for heirs, but with rules as to how it can or can't be divided up?

Depends on the nature of the trust and the limitations of the trust documents. This may have been done for tax purposes (to avoid estate taxes on death of owner), it may have been done to lock up the property for a group of beneficiaries who cannot own property (children), to protect assets for medicare reasons, or a variety of other reasons. The trust documents will define if the trustee has the power to sell the property, and under what circumstances. It may require consent of the trust beneficiaries.

 

[Deere Dude]

In the late 80s I wanted to buy some property to build on nearer to work. I would just drive around and when I found something I liked I would ask the farmer or track down the owner. Most of the time the answer was no. But then I saw this fair piece that would sort of work and the neighbor said it was owned by the owner of the hardware store in town. I located him and he said, nope, that is not mine, but I have a piece someplace else I will sell you anyway. I asked where it was and he explained and I went to look for it but was unsure of exactly where he meant. I went back to him and he came out with me and walked the fence line with me. It was better than where I was looking. It was 7 acres of woods, and good hill and overlooking a marsh along a state road. It was very scenic. I asked what he would take and he said he wasn't sure so I told him I would give him $5000 for it, but he would have to pay for a current survey. I took it in a heartbeat.
That takes a lot of work doing it that way. I think I would go the realtor route and hope for the best, but there are people who are willing to sell but it generally has to be their idea.

 

[Ohio Chris]

$5000 in 1987 is about $10,500 now. If I could find 7 acres for that price I'd be all over it, but I know that's not going to happen.

I do have a realtor doing a land search for me, but it hasn't turned up much. Almost everything is just sectioned off farm land with no trees.

A buddy of mine bought 13 acres in NY halfway between Syracuse and Albany. $37,000, so less than 3k/acre. I've seen pics. It has trees and a creek running through it. Different prices in different parts of the country.

 

[Pilot]

I have only driven thru Ohio once, back in 1993 so I know nothing about local conditions. But I am skeptical about all those guesses relating to soil, wet ground, etc. in relation to a square or rectangle. Some of those wooded areas are curvy & linear, so I can buy the idea that a creek is involved. But nature rarely follows straight lines and I don't remember ever seeing a natural square or rectangle.

I think those areas relate to some human cause. Someone mentioned something about farms being large now. That makes sense, so I suspect that those wooded parcels are pieces owned by someone who didn't want to sell out when neighbors were expanding their ownerships. Could be other reasons also, but most likely related to human actions. If I am right, you may be luckier than others suggest; some old codger wouldn't sell and the heirs might be willing to entertain an offer.