Search for Properties – How to Find Land for Sale Without Wasting Time

Searching for the perfect property is, for many, the best part of the land-buying journey. Browsing listings online and visiting some properties in person is not only an important step in finding a great piece of land for your unique needs — but it can be a lot of fun, too! 

However, without ironing out exactly what you are looking for (along with other simple but important preparations), the hunt can be a major time-suck. There are just so many options out there that you can spend hours searching without ever finding your ideal property. 

Thankfully, with just a little planning, you can streamline your property search and lock down something that will bring joy for many years. Read on to find out how!

Gather Your List of Wants

The first step to starting your search for properties involves gathering your list of wants. If you’ve read the other articles in this series, you should already have a pretty good idea of what you want in a piece of vacant land.

That said, if you haven’t written out your exact ideal criteria on paper yet (which we strongly recommend!), take a few minutes to think through what you’re looking for, as well as what you want to avoid. Even a rough idea, something to keep in mind during your hunt, will save you precious time as you navigate through the many options. The more detailed you make your criteria, the easier it will be to find the proverbial needles-in-a-haystack. 

Consider the following factors before starting your search:

• Location – What is your ideal location? This includes things like climate, nearby activities, proximity to cities, friends, and family members. 
• Features – What kinds of features do you want? Is your ideal land dotted with pine trees and bordered by a lazy stream? Maybe it has a sprawling view of a desert landscape or mountains. 
• Zoning Requirements – Do you want to park an RV on the property while you build your tiny home, house, or cabin? Will you want to build a barn or a shed on the land?
• Amenities – Do you want a property that already has water, sewer, and electrical connections ready and waiting, or do you have the budget to have them installed?
• Access – Not all properties for sale have road access, which is something that many buyers want for ease of use and convenience. 

By keeping these factors in mind, you can perform a more efficient property search. But when it comes time to look for properties, what’s the best way to go about it? Let’s look at the options. 

Your Property-Searching Options

There are several ways you can go about searching for vacant land for sale. The major ways include using a real estate agent, searching on websites like Craigslist, performing a physical search, and using search tools like the one we provide at Land Elevated. 

Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent can be helpful in the search for vacant land. However, unlike buying a house, you generally don’t need a real estate agent to purchase raw land. The buyer generally ends up paying the agent’s commission, which is usually added to the sale price of the property. For this reason, many prospective buyers opt to skip the real estate agent, saving anywhere between 10% and 25% of the price in the process. 

Classifieds/Craigslist

We can’t mention searching for properties without a nod to Craigslist. This classified listing site always has land listed for sale from both private owners and real estate companies. The issue with Craigslist is that you have to be wary of anything you find there, making sure you do your due diligence before agreeing to anything. The same can be said for many other similar classified-style sites where anyone is allowed to post land for sale. 

Physical Search

If you live near the area in which you’re looking to buy land, you can always drive around and look for signs that indicate land for sale. This is often not the most efficient use of your time, but it can be fun to get out and about. You may even stumble across a great piece of land that you’ll want to investigate further. 

Land Elevated

To really narrow down your search, you can use our Property Map to search for land. Our search filters allow you to customize your search to fit your exact parameters, so you can quickly figure out if we have listings that match what you’re looking for. If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our Land Specialists. We never pressure anyone to buy, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for at Land Elevated, we’ll still be happy to share resources or provide any tips that could be helpful.

Conclusion

Searching for the perfect property should be a fun and exciting activity. Unfortunately, many people find that they’re overwhelmed with too many options or scammers that are looking to make a quick buck. Using search tools like the one offered on Land Elevated, you can narrow down your options and search for properties with clear titles and the exact factors you’re looking for! 

Once you’ve found your dream property, it’s time for due diligence, which we’ll cover in our next article in our Land Buying series.