When buying land in Georgia, it’s important to conduct due diligence to ensure that you are making a sound investment. Here are some key areas we believe should be focused on during the due diligence process:
Access: Assessing the accessibility of the property is important to ensure that there are no restrictions on access to the property and that the property can be easily accessed by road. Some properties have deed access through easements when there are not immediate access from roads. However, we have dealt with properties that have a prescriptive easement access. We always attempt to get this type of easement addressed with the current owners to have it recorded as deeded before our clients complete the purchase.
Zoning and Land Use: Understanding the zoning and land use regulations in the area where the land is located is important to ensure that the property is suitable for your intended use. We can check with the local zoning and land use department to determine if there are any restrictions on the use of the property. Each county in Georgia has a zoning map and department that can give us information pertaining to the property in question.
Environmental Considerations: It’s important to assess the environmental conditions of the property to ensure that there are no environmental hazards that could impact the property’s value or pose a risk to human health. You can conduct an environmental assessment or hire an environmental consultant to evaluate the property. We can also review the history of the deed to possibly find issues with use. We have found some properties used as local county landfills. These offer significant use issues going forward.
Survey: Obtaining a survey of the property can help you understand the boundaries of the property, ensure that there are no encroachments from adjacent properties, and identify any potential issues with easements or access to the property. Many properties in rural areas of Georgia either have very old surveys or none at all. We do not recommend purchasing a property that was sold prior on a legal description of metes and bounds. When there is not an accurate boundary survey available we highly recommend having one performed. The cost of this survey is negotiable with the sellers of the property.
Water and Utilities: Understanding the availability and cost of water and utilities is important to ensure that the property is suitable for your intended use. We can check with the local utility companies to determine the availability of water, sewer, gas, and electricity. Many times in rural areas of Georgia you will find the land will require a well and septic system. Many areas of rural Georgia are get fiber internet installation which can be better that internet offered in some urban areas.
Title Search: Conducting a title search is a crucial step to ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell the property and that there are no liens or other encumbrances on the property. We leave this step to the closing attorney selected by you the buyer. If the title checks out we also recommend title insurance for your purchase.
Market Analysis: Conducting a market analysis of the area where the land is located is important to determine the value of the property and the potential for future growth and development in the area.
By conducting due diligence in these areas, you can minimize the risks associated with buying land in Georgia and make an informed investment decision. Mathis Land Group can help you through every step of the purchase process.