April 4, 2025

Realtor’s Guide to Selling Land

Landowner standing in agriculture field that he inherited.

Audio summary

The provided text from the American Landowner Alliance offers guidance to realtors on effectively selling land, particularly by highlighting its potential for generating income through hunting leases. It advises real estate professionals to emphasize financial benefits, emotional connections for buyers, and the significance of location. Furthermore, the text discusses options available to individuals who have inherited land. These options include leasing for farming or hunting, selling the property, timber harvesting, or personal use, while also noting the associated financial responsibilities like taxes and maintenance. The article underscores the importance of understanding a property's value through appraisal when considering these choices.

How to Sell Properties for Hunting Leases

When you are trying to sell land for hunting properties or hunting leases, there are many things you need to think about. Everyone is looking for something a little different, depending on what their interests and goals are. One person might be looking for a remote piece of land to deer hunt on, while another might be interested in a full working ranch to serve as an outfitting facility. But others might actually be looking into buying land to lease for hunting as an investment. In that case, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re trying to sell a property with the potential of hunting leases. There are also some opportunities for you as a realtor to benefit from setting up a hunting lease affiliate program with the American Hunting Lease Association!

Sell the Income Opportunities

If someone is interested in leasing a hunting property out, they’re likely already aware of the potential income they could make off of it. But some people don’t realize how lucrative it is or know how easy leasing hunting land can be. It’s your job to make them aware and guide them to that point. In your land posting, make sure you highlight the comparable hunting lease costs per acre in the surrounding area to help buyers see the potential returns they could make. This could help them pay for the property itself or the property taxes – either way, it’s an option to help make financing a new property a little more appealing for most people.

Make the Emotional Connection

As a realtor, you know that emotionally connecting prospective buyers with a property will make it more attractive and ultimately help it sell. Help potential buyers see the opportunity to include the next generation on the property, which will make them feel better about their decision to buy a hunting lease. Most people are more willing to let families onto their property than a group of adults. As you market the land, including pictures of families and children enjoying the property can help prospective buyers make the connection.

The Realtor’s Favorite Word: Location!

You’ve heard it and preached it before, but the location can make or break a property. Even the best place will struggle to sell if it’s in the wrong location. But again, buyers have different goals. Tour the property thoroughly to learn its pros and cons, which will help you market it in the right location. For example, if it’s located within 30 minutes of a major metropolitan area, you could market it as a great hunting lease opportunity for eager urban dwellers that could fetch high lease prices simply due to demand. And if it’s in a remote area smack dab in the heart of big buck country, marketing it as a prime deer hunting lease opportunity is an obvious choice.

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Diversify the Opportunities

Obviously, every property is not meant to be just for deer hunting, although that’s one of the more common hunting leases you hear about. By showing the diversity of hunting opportunities on the land, you can also increase the appeal for a broader audience. Whether it’s simply about more recreation (due to several ATV trails on the property) or different types of hunting, including a few options will ultimately help in selling it.

Selling the Land You’ve Inherited

Regardless of your intentions with your newly inherited land, your first step should be getting an appraisal by a knowledgeable realtor. Knowing the property's value lets you make the most informed decision about what to do with it.

If you decide your property ownership goals don’t align with your keeping the property yourself, Agents are state-specific to ensure they best understand the market and community you are selling in. They are on top of market trends and know every option that could benefit you as a seller.

Make It Safer

When someone is considering buying hunting land for lease, they need to feel safe about their choice. Hunting leases tend to make people nervous because of one thing: liability. Remove the liability hesitation from potential buyers before it even makes them question it. The American Hunting Lease Association has hunting lease liability insurance that you can highlight or even become an affiliate for. You should also mention the importance of a hunting lease agreement.

If you’re hoping to sell properties with the potential of hunting leases, these are a few things you should keep in mind. Once a buyer sees the benefits of selling hunting leases on a new property, the decision to buy becomes more manageable!

Frequently asked questions

Inheriting land opens several potential paths for the new owner. The primary options include generating revenue by leasing the land for agricultural purposes (farming) or for recreational activities like hunting. Another significant option is to sell the property outright. Alternatively, if the land contains marketable timber, harvesting it can provide income. Finally, the owner may choose to retain the land for their personal use and enjoyment. Each of these options comes with its own set of considerations and potential benefits.

Leasing farmland offers a relatively passive income stream for the landowner, especially if they lack farming expertise or the desire to manage agricultural operations themselves. It also ensures that the land remains productive and well-maintained, preventing issues like unchecked vegetation growth. Furthermore, the presence of farmers on the property can provide a degree of informal security and oversight, which is particularly beneficial if the landowner resides far from the inherited land. Two common types of farm leases are cash rent (a fixed payment) and crop share (division of costs and profits).

Leasing hunting rights provides a source of income and an additional layer of security for the property. Hunters often act as informal stewards of the land, potentially deterring trespassers and vandalism, particularly on land that might otherwise be unoccupied. Moreover, hunters have a vested interest in maintaining and improving wildlife habitats, which can align with the landowner's conservation goals and contribute to managing local game populations, potentially mitigating issues like crop damage from wildlife. Lease agreements can even incorporate specific habitat improvement projects.

Inheriting land comes with several immediate and potential financial responsibilities. These typically include property taxes, which may encompass current and any outstanding past-due amounts. Depending on the circumstances of the inheritance, estate or inheritance taxes might also be applicable. If the landowner decides to sell the property later for a profit, capital gains taxes will likely need to be paid. Additionally, any existing financial obligations tied to the land, such as mortgages, liens, and homeowner association (HOA) or community fees (including any arrears), become the responsibility of the new owner. Securing property insurance is also a crucial immediate cost, along with ongoing maintenance expenses.

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