Stating the Facts About Real Estate

There's okay ranch land that will serve its purpose but not make anyone too excited. Then, there's amazing ranch land—the kind that will have all your cattle as fat and happy as can be, and all of the neighbors jealous. How do you tell the difference when looking at ranch land for sale? Well, there are a few signs that the land falls into that super-premium category.

1. It has been planted regularly.

Some ranchers just let the grass grow naturally on the land. There is certainly nothing wrong with this approach. However, if the rancher has put time into seeding the land regularly over the years, you can bet there is more dense, healthy grass on the land. Even if you don't keep up with the plantings yourself, your animals will have more to eat when you start putting them on the land to graze. You may even be able to make hay from part of the land without having to reseed it.

2. It has some small hills.

Flat land does not always drain well, so you get some puddles. If the animals tromp through these wet areas, the soil gets torn up, and the grass in those areas then dies. A premium piece of ranch land has some small, rolling hills. This helps the water disperse and hopefully run towards a ditch or pond that drains the land. Your fields will remain in better condition.

3. It is surrounded by tree breaks.

If there are tree lines on one or more sides of the ranch land, this is a very good sign. Not only will the tree line provide some shade for grazing animals throughout the day, but it will also keep the strong winds from blowing across the field and disrupting your animals. A tree break does not have to be super tall to have this affect. Even a row of 10-foot trees does a lot.

4. It's not too close to woods.

While you do want a tree line, the best ranch land is not too close to a dense woods of any sort. Woods tend to be inhabited by coyotes and other predators that may bother or kill your livestock. A plot of open land surrounded by other open land with just a few trees is ideal.

If you find a piece of ranch land with the characteristics above, jump on it! This land is worth the buy. For more information on what to look for in ranch properties for sale, talk to a real estate agent in your area.