RSSLadies - Don’t say “no” to owning a piece of the great outdoors
Many years ago my husband asked me if I would ever want to buy “a little place somewhere out in the woods”’ a little piece of the outdoors with a cabin, maybe even a lake. I was very quick with my answer. I didn’t even have to ponder. “No”, I snapped, “I can’t even keep this house clean, why would I want another one?”
Months after that conversation, he came home talking about a little place he had found,. It had big woods, a lake, pasture, and a small cabin….and it was being sold for a great price. Have you ever noticed when men want something, it is always a great deal, particularly when they know we don’t have a clue if it is or not.??
So off we went to see this “little place in the woods” that was such a good deal. Make no mistake, it was beautiful and it was peaceful. The cabin was closer to a shack than a lodge but it did have indoor plumbing which was definitely a redeeming quality in my book. I am not sure how my husband got me to agree to purchase it. Perhaps it was the fact that we were living in one of the most congested suburbs of Atlanta at the time, and after fighting traffic all week, he got me at a weak moment when the chirping birds sounded a whole lot better than the honking of horns. I went into this whole land buying thing with the idea we were buying HIS play place; HIS place to hunt and fish. I supposed I rationalized it thinking it would be a good place for my son, who was 12 at the time, to enjoy as well. I never went into it thinking it was going to a family retreat or it was going to embark us all on a new career path.
It was our first investment in rural property and our first step in a career change that led us out of the concrete buildings of the city to a scenic office in the woods. Over the past four years we have built a business investing in rural property and advising clients on land acquisitions in the Southeast and Midwest. These days many individuals are questioning where to invest their money. The answers are certainly not crystal clear. Although not as liquid as some avenues of investment, land is a sound investment strategy. However, you must do your research to make a truly informed decision as to what to buy and where to buy. The cheapest piece of property may not ultimately be the most profitable. Doing your homework and relying on professional expertise such as foresters, appraisers, and surveyors can make the process easier and more profitable.
The biggest advantage in investing in rural property is being able to enjoy your investment now while saving for later. Never in a million years did I expect that little place in the woods to become a wonderful family retreat. I don’t hunt, I don’t fish, but for me, going to our place in the woods is fun simply because there is nothing to do that has to be done and we all need time for that.
The Land Ladies Blog is hosted by Anne Webb, co-founder of Greenwood Land Company.
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