1.    Be clear on why you want to own land . . . development, building a home, hunting, farming, investment . . . all good uses of land but each requiring land with different features. For example, if you plan to live on the land, then legal physical access and being close to public services is important. Be clear on your intentions so you can focus your search

2.    Look at lots of deals . . . just like with any other purchase, you’ll find a better buy if you shop around. And for first-time buyers, shopping forces you to explore. So, you’ll learn more about where you want to own and what sort of land you really want. Be patient, and remember that land deals are like Greyhound buses . . . there’ll be another one along soon.

3.    Know land values . . . having some facts makes decision making faster and easier. So study actual sale data. Get an appraisal, retain a real estate professional or go to the courthouse yourself. Otherwise your estimate of fair value will be shaped by coffee shop talk and what sellers ask for their land . . . famously bad guides for fair pricing.

4.    Be careful with debt . . . land and timber investments rarely earn the monthly payment. And, your cash may be needed for other matters. Finding the right balance of cash and debt is important so talk to your financial advisors.

5.    Examine the title . . . a title abstract gives you a legal history of the property. It identifies any unresolved claims of others in the land (that long-lost cousin in Australia with a 1/64th interest), and informs you of the limits to your rights as the new owner (the rights of the power company who have a transmission line across the property).

6.    Examine the property . . . get a topographic map and walk the lines looking for fences, markings and corners. It’s a rough check on the acres and the best way to discover boundary disputes or adverse use of the land by others (an aerial photo is another good, cheap way). If there’s timber involved, get an independent estimate of value and logging feasibility.

7.    Think about re-selling NOW . . . if you buy land, the day will come to sell. So think about that day now and make a better buying decision. Whatever seems like a problem for you now will likely be a problem for future buyers too. And remember that land is famously slow to sell. You’ll pay dearly for the privilege of getting your money out in a hurry.