Tips For Buying Your First Horse Property
If you have decided that the time is right to buy a house on a parcel of land where you can keep your horses and stop boarding them offsite, then you need to take certain things into consideration. Not only does your new house need to meet the needs of your family, but the property itself also must be adequately set up to keep your horses contained and safe.
Below are some tips for buying your first horse property to ensure it meets everyone's needs, including those of your horses:
Tip: Always Check the Local Building and Zoning Codes Before Making an Offer on Ranch Property
In contrast to buying a house in a city or subdivision where there are many restrictions on pets and livestock, rural ranch properties can widely vary in their zoning limitations. For example, in one area you may be limited to two horses on a few acres, while in other areas you can keep as many horses as you want but cannot have cattle or other livestock.
Before you make a purchase offer on horse property it is vital you first check out its zoning and building codes. If the property is located within a homeowner's association, then you need to check their regulations as well. This simple research will prevent you from buying a property that you will not be able to use as you desire after you have moved in.
Tip: Consider the Added Costs of Additional Buildings and Fencing Needs
When you buy horse property, you need a barn or at the minimum a tack room. You also need to have adequate fencing to keep your horses contained on your land. Since each of these things come with additional costs, it is important that you keep this in mind when selecting your new property. Your budget must allow you enough money to pay your monthly mortgage and household bills while still leaving you the cash to stay on top of the maintenance around the property as well.
Tip: Only Work with a Real Estate Agent with Horse Property Experience
Finally, since you have many different real estate agents to choose from in any area, you should be discriminate in your selection of an agent. You should only work with someone who has specific experience with buying and selling horse properties. An agent that knows the unique needs of your horses will steer you towards the best homes for sale and avoid wasting your time showing you properties not acceptable for horse boarding.