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Updated almost 6 years ago on . Most recent reply

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David Lewis
  • Canton, MI
0
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3
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Purchase Vacant Lot??

David Lewis
  • Canton, MI
Posted

Hello all,

Would like to get your opinions on a situation that has presented itself to me.  My home backs up to a wooded area with a creek.  On the other side of the creek is a vacant lot which ends on the main street in my town.

This lot has been for sale for at least 4 years.  There are other lots adjacent (on each side, also fronted by the main street) which have single family homes built on them.

I'm interested in purchasing this lot because, number one, I don't want anyone building directly in back of my home.  Number two, I may at some point down the road want to build a single or multi-family unit on it and sell them.  Number three, I may want to just hold this lot as an investment.

I don't know if the land percs or not, so not sure if it is even suitable for building. Nevertheless, the lot is owned by an absentee owner who is a bit delinquent on the property taxes. They dropped the asking price from $70K to $60K with seller financing available (20% down, don't know the rest of the terms yet). I can also buy the lot with my HELOC so no seller financing would be needed.

My question to you all is would you buy the lot and if so, how would you finance it?

Most Popular Reply

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594
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Scott Matthew C.
  • Real Estate Broker
  • MI
183
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594
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Scott Matthew C.
  • Real Estate Broker
  • MI
Replied

@Larry D. Moore I would first ask your local realtor if the lots were ever on the MLS. Find out who the Realtor or Broker was and call them. Ask if there was any interest before going to auction. Ask the Realtor if offers were made on it. If so, ask if they would still be up for buying it at their original offer. If there is a yes from the Buyers go and buy the land. Do your diligence of course. You would only buy the land as long as the buyer will keep his original offer from the past. You will achieve three things by doing this. First, you will make the Buyer happy, second, you will make the Realtor happy, and third, you will profit providing you buy it low enough at the auctions. Make sense?

You can leverage vacant land. However, the lender will most likely give you 30% - 40% against it. You can increase your leveraging power. How? Rent the land to farmers as long as you can show proof of income. It's just like renting Single-Family Houses, except you're renting the use of land to a different tenant, such as farmers or someone that needs land for whatever reason. 

If you have vacant landing sitting around, don't expect a lot from your lender.

  • Scott Matthew C.
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