Understanding Acreage in the Land Buying Process

With acreage being such an important aspect of how land is measured, it often represents a key feature in your decision-making process when looking to buy. As such, it can be helpful to understand the basics of acreage (along with some interesting nuances) to increase your knowledge of real estate.

This sets you up to make the most advantageous decisions as you prepare to make a big investment, and lock down the dream property you have always wanted. So, with that out of the way, let’s dive in! 

What is an Acre?

An acre is a measurement that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages. Back then, an acre was based on how much land a team of oxen could plow in a day. One acre would take eight oxen a day to plow. Two acres would take two days, and so on. 

Most of the rest of the world measures land in other ways, such as square meters or hectares. However, here in the US, we still stick with the acre. So it’s good to know exactly how much an acre is, so you know what you’re getting when searching for acres of land for sale. 

How Big is an Acre?

One acre is equivalent to:

• 43,560 Square Feet
• 4,840 Square Yards
• 0.002 Square Miles
• 0.405 Hectares
• 4,046.86 Square Meters

In other terms, an American football field is about 1.32 acres. If you think of a football field without the end zones, you’re thinking of a piece of land almost exactly one acre in size. One acre is equivalent to nine basketball courts or 16 tennis courts. 

Let’s discuss this in terms of average lot size, which is important if you’re looking to build a home on your dream land. 

What’s the Average Home Lot Size in Acres?  

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average lot size for building new homes in 2018 was about one-fifth of an acre. That’s down from one-fourth of an acre back in 2009. 

There are several reasons home lot sizes are shrinking, with an increase in land pricing being one of them. But this is good information to keep in mind if you’re looking to own several acres of land. Even one acre is big enough to fit five different average houses on it. 

And since we’ve touched on land pricing, let’s look at the average cost of an acre. 

What’s the Average Cost of an Acre of Land for Sale?

Before we dive into numbers, it’s important to mention that the cost of land varies widely depending on many factors. Five acres of land for sale near a booming city will cost much more than five acres for sale miles away from the nearest population center. 

Land in certain states also tends to be more expensive than others. For example, land in California is at a premium, while land next door in Arizona is some of the cheapest available. 

All that said, let’s look at numbers. 

According to a 2015 study by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average cost of one acre of land in the lower 48 states was $12,000. 

Several other factors can cause this price to go up or down. These factors include:

• Land Use and Topography
• Infrastructure
• Demand
• Nearby Attractions

Where Can I Find a Good Deal on Acres of Land?

Whether you’re looking to build your dream home on a piece of raw land or you just want to hold onto the land and sell it for a profit at a later date, we’ve got acres of land for sale at excellent prices. Some of the best places to buy land right now include:

• Arizona – Properties as low as ¼ the national average
• Nevada – Properties as low as ⅓ the national average
• Colorado – Properties as low as ½ the national average

We also have acres for sale across the country. Just take a look at our property map to see the selection of land for sale. 

Don’t Navigate Land-Buying Alone

Hopefully this article has helped you get a better idea of how much an acre is and how much you can expect to pay for one. Buying raw land can be a frustrating experience for some — especially if you go through third-party websites where anyone can list their land and say whatever they want about it. 

Here at Land Elevated, we own all the land on our website, so you don’t have to deal with third-party sellers. We guarantee a clear title on each and every property. We also provide Land Specialists to help you through your land-buying journey. Contact us today with any questions about finding acres of land for sale at a great price!