land financing: What Buyers Notice in the First Five Minutes of Looking at Your Land - 07/10/26 01:48 PM
What Buyers Notice in the First Five Minutes of
Looking at Your Land
When selling a home, everyone talks about curb appeal.
The same concept applies to vacant land.
Many landowners assume buyers see only trees, open space, and acreage. In reality, experienced buyers begin evaluating a property the moment they arrive. Within the first five minutes, they've already formed an opinion about its potential.
The good news?
Many of the things buyers notice first are things you can prepare for before your property goes on the market.
1. First Impressions Start at the RoadThe entrance to your property sets the tone.
Is it easy to find?
Can buyers … (1 comments)

land financing: Why Two Similar Parcels Can Sell for Tens of Thousands of Dollars Apart - 07/10/26 11:05 AM
Why Two Similar Parcels Can Sell for Tens of
Thousands of Dollars Apart
One of the most common questions I hear from landowners is:
"My neighbor sold a parcel that looks just like mine. Why did it sell for so much more?"
It's a fair question.
At first glance, two pieces of vacant land may appear almost identical. They may be on the same road, have similar acreage, and even share the same zoning.
Yet one sells quickly at a premium price, while the other sells for significantly less.
Why?
Because with vacant land, the details matter.
The Similarities Are Often Only on the SurfaceTwo five-acre parcels may look … (2 comments)

land financing: The Biggest Myth About Vacant Land Values - 07/09/26 06:45 AM
The Biggest Myth About Vacant Land Values
If you ask ten landowners what determines the value of vacant land, you'll often hear the same answer:
"It's all about the number of acres."
While acreage certainly matters, it's probably the biggest myth in the vacant land market.
In reality, two properties with the exact same acreage can differ in value by tens of thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars.
Why?
Because buyers aren't simply buying acres.
They're buying potential.
Bigger Doesn't Always Mean More ValuableMany people assume that a ten-acre parcel is automatically worth twice as much as a five-acre parcel.
It rarely works that way.
Imagine these two properties:
Property A: … (1 comments)

land financing: What Every Landowner Should Know Before Accepting the First Offer - 07/08/26 07:44 AM
What Every Landowner Should Know Before Accepting the First Offer
Receiving an offer on your vacant land is exciting.
After all, you've found a buyer who wants your property. It can be tempting to sign the contract, celebrate, and move on.
But before you accept the first offer, there are a few important things every landowner should understand.
The highest offer isn't always the best offer.
And the first offer isn't always the one that puts the most money in your pocket.
Price Is Only One Part of the DealMost sellers naturally focus on the purchase price.
While price is important, it is only one piece of the … (2 comments)

land financing: Don't Sell Your Land Until You Know Its Highest and Best Use - 07/08/26 07:38 AM
Don't Sell Your Land Until You Know Its
Highest and Best Use
If you're thinking about selling your vacant land in Putnam County, there's one question you should answer before putting it on the market:
What is the highest and best use of my property?
Most landowners have a general idea of what they own. They know the acreage, the location, and perhaps a little about the zoning. But very few understand how today's buyers view their land—or how that perspective can significantly impact its value.
Understanding your property's highest and best use could mean the difference between an average sale and maximizing your return.
What … (0 comments)

land financing: Why the Right Buyer May Already Be Looking for Your Property - 07/07/26 07:03 AM
Why the Right Buyer May Already
Be Looking for Your Property
If you've owned vacant land in Putnam County for years, you may assume that finding the right buyer will take a long time.
After all, vacant land doesn't sell as quickly as homes…right?
Not always.
One of the biggest misconceptions about selling land is that you have to wait for someone to stumble across your property. In reality, there may already be buyers actively searching for a parcel just like yours.
The challenge isn't finding buyers.
It's making sure the right buyers know your property is available.
Buyers Are Searching Every DayAs a land specialist, I regularly … (1 comments)

land financing: Seven Signs Your Land May Be More Valuable Than Your Neighbor's - 07/06/26 06:24 AM
Seven Signs Your Land May Be More
Valuable Than Your Neighbor's
It's a question I hear quite often from landowners in Putnam County:
"My neighbor's property sold for $200,000. Does that mean mine is worth the same?"
The answer is...not necessarily.
Even if two parcels are located on the same road—or even side by side—they can have dramatically different values. That's because vacant land is not valued by location alone. Buyers look closely at what each property offers and what can actually be done with it.
Here are seven signs your land may be worth more than your neighbor's.
1. You Have More Road FrontageRoad frontage is … (0 comments)

land financing: Could Your Vacant Land Be Worth More Than You Think? - 07/06/26 06:19 AM
Could Your Vacant Land Be Worth More Than You Think?
If you've owned vacant land in Putnam County for several years—or perhaps inherited it from a family member—you may have asked yourself a simple question:
"I wonder what it's worth today?"
The answer may surprise you.
Many landowners haven't looked at the value of their property in years. Some assume it's worth about what they paid for it. Others believe that because nothing has changed on the land itself, its value hasn't changed either.
But vacant land doesn't have to change for its value to change.
The market around it does.
The Market Has EvolvedOver the past several … (0 comments)

land financing: The Land Market Has Changed: What Every Putnam County Owner Should Know - 07/01/26 06:40 AM
The Land Market Has Changed: What Every Putnam County Owner Should Know
If you've owned vacant land in Putnam County for ten, twenty, or even thirty years, you may be surprised by how much the market has changed.
Many landowners still think about their property the way they did when they purchased it or inherited it. But today's buyers are different, market conditions are different, and the factors that influence land values have evolved.
If you haven't taken a fresh look at your property recently, now may be the perfect time.
Buyers Are Looking at Land DifferentlyNot long ago, many buyers focused almost exclusively on … (0 comments)

land financing: What Builders Look For When Buying Land in Putnam County - 07/01/26 06:14 AM
What Builders Look For When Buying Land
in Putnam County
Many vacant land owners believe that if they own a few acres, builders will automatically be interested.
The reality is that builders evaluate land very differently than most people.
They don't just see trees, open space, or acreage. They see costs, opportunities, risks, and potential profits. Every parcel is analyzed carefully before they decide whether it makes financial sense to move forward.
Understanding how builders evaluate land can help you better understand what your property may be worth—and why some parcels attract immediate interest while others do not.
1. Zoning Comes FirstBefore a builder looks at … (0 comments)

land financing: Why Some Putnam County Landowners Leave Money on the Table - 06/30/26 07:55 AM
Why Some Putnam County Landowners
Leave Money on the Table
Selling vacant land may seem straightforward.
Find a real estate agent, agree on a price, put the property in the MLS, and wait for a buyer.
Unfortunately, that's how many landowners unknowingly leave thousands of dollars on the table.
Vacant land is one of the most specialized types of real estate, and every parcel has a unique story. When that story isn't understood or communicated properly, buyers often overlook the property's true value.
Mistake #1: Pricing Based on Acreage AloneOne of the biggest mistakes I see is pricing land based solely on the number of acres.
Acreage … (2 comments)

land financing: Five Things I Do Before I Put a Piece of Land on the Market - 06/30/26 06:11 AM
Five Things I Do Before I Put a Piece of
Land on the Market
One of the biggest misconceptions about selling vacant land is that it is easy.
Many people think you simply place a sign on the property, upload a few pictures to the MLS, and wait for offers.
If only it were that simple.
Selling vacant land successfully begins long before the property ever reaches the market. Every parcel is unique, and the work done before the listing goes live often determines how successful the sale will be.
Here are the first five things I do before I list any piece of land in … (1 comments)

land financing: The Hidden Costs of Holding Vacant Land Too Long - 06/25/26 06:51 AM
The Hidden Costs of Holding Vacant Land Too Long
Many landowners view vacant land as a simple investment.
There is no tenant to manage, no roof to replace, and no furnace to repair.
As a result, it's easy to assume that holding land indefinitely comes with very little cost.
But the reality is that owning vacant land carries expenses and risks that many owners never fully consider.
Some are obvious.
Others remain hidden until years have passed.
Property Taxes Never StopWhether the land is producing income or sitting untouched, property taxes continue year after year.
For many owners, the annual tax bill may seem manageable.
However, when you add up … (3 comments)

land financing: Why Buyers Are Searching for Land in Putnam County Right Now? - 06/24/26 05:58 AM
Why Buyers Are Searching for Land in Putnam County Right Now?
If you own vacant land in Putnam County, you may be sitting on an asset that is attracting more attention than ever before.
For years, many buyers focused almost exclusively on existing homes. Today, a growing number are actively searching for vacant land instead.
So what's driving this demand?
The answer comes down to changing lifestyles, limited inventory, and the desire for opportunities that simply cannot be found in many traditional neighborhoods.
Buyers Want More PrivacyOne of the biggest changes I've seen in recent years is the demand for privacy.
Many buyers are looking for larger … (0 comments)

land financing: Is Your Land Buildable? The Answer Could Add Thousands to Its Value - 06/23/26 06:40 AM
Is Your Land Buildable? The Answer Could
Add Thousands to Its Value
One of the most common questions I hear from vacant land owners is:
"How much is my land worth?"
My answer is usually another question:
"Is it buildable?"
That single answer can make a tremendous difference in value.
In fact, two parcels that appear almost identical on paper can have dramatically different market values based on one factor alone: whether a buyer can realistically build on the property.
Why Buildability MattersWhen buyers purchase vacant land, they are usually purchasing potential.
They may want to build a custom home, create a family retreat, hold the property as an … (0 comments)

land financing: The Three Questions Every Vacant Land Owner Should Ask Before Selling - 06/22/26 09:37 AM
The Three Questions Every Vacant Land Owner Should Ask Before Selling
If you're thinking about selling vacant land in Putnam County, 
there is one mistake you should avoid:
Putting the property on the market befor
e understanding exactly what you own.
Unlike a house, where buyers can easily see bedrooms, bathrooms, and upgrades, vacant land requires a deeper level of analysis. The answers to a few key questions can dramatically affect both the value of your property and the type of buyers it attracts.
Before you put up a "For Sale" sign, here are the three questions every landowner should ask.
1. What Can Actually Be Done With … (3 comments)

land financing: Why So Many Putnam County Landowners Have No Idea What Their Property Is Worth - 06/17/26 08:35 AM
Why So Many Putnam County Landowners Have No Idea What Their Property Is Worth
If you own vacant land in Putnam County, here's a question:
When was the last time someone told you what your property was actually worth?
For many landowners, the answer is simple: never.
That's because vacant land is one of the most misunderstood assets in real estate. Unlike homes, which have frequent sales and widely available market data, land values can be difficult to determine without a detailed analysis.
As a result, many owners either underestimate their property's value or assume it's worth far more than the market will support.
The truth is … (1 comments)

land financing: The First Three Things I Look At When Evaluating Vacant Land in Putnam County - 06/15/26 10:22 AM
The First Three Things I Look At When Evaluating Vacant Land in Putnam County
When I evaluate vacant land in Putnam County, I am not just looking at acreage. Two parcels that appear similar on paper can have very different value depending on what is possible on the land and how difficult it would be to develop.
Here are the first three things I look at before I ever talk about price.
 1. Zoning and BuildabilityThe first question is simple: What can legally be done with this property?
I review the zoning district, minimum lot size requirements, setbacks, frontage rules, and permitted uses. In Putnam … (0 comments)

land financing: The Truth About Selling Raw Land: Why It’s Different Than Selling a House - 06/09/26 06:57 AM
The Truth About Selling Raw Land: Why It’s Different Than Selling a House
Many people assume that selling vacant land is easier than selling a house.
After all, there's no kitchen to stage, no roof to inspect, and no furniture to move.
In reality, selling raw land is often more complicated.
The reason is simple: when buyers purchase a house, they can see exactly what they are getting. When buyers purchase land, they are buying possibilities.
A home buyer walks through a property and immediately understands the bedrooms, bathrooms, layout, and condition. A land buyer sees a blank canvas and begins asking questions.
Can I build here?
What … (0 comments)

land financing: What Your Putnam County Land Could Be Worth in Today's Market - 06/09/26 06:37 AM
What Your Putnam County Land Could Be Worth in Today's Market
One of the questions I hear most often from landowners is simple:
"What is my land worth?"
The answer is rarely as straightforward as people expect.
Many owners assume the value of their land is based primarily on acreage. While acreage certainly matters, it is often only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Two parcels of the same size can have dramatically different values depending on location, zoning, road frontage, topography, utilities, wetlands, and development potential.
What surprises many landowners is that the value of vacant land has changed significantly over the past several … (0 comments)

 
Thomas Santore Lic Associate Real Estate Broker, Realtor®-ABR-Land, Residential & Commercial Sa (Coldwell Banker Realty/Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT)

Thomas Santore Lic Associate Real Estate Broker

Realtor®-ABR-Land, Residential & Commercial Sa

Yorktown Heights, NY

More about me…

Coldwell Banker Realty/Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT

Address: 366 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10598

Office: (914) 245-3400

Mobile: (845) 590-5488

I will be be talking about the land, Commercial, Multi Family and single family home market in upper Westchester and Putnam County. Also my Land Sales. And Real Estate in Yorktown Heights, Westchester County Real estate, Thomas Santore, Coldwell Banker, Coldwell Banker yorktown heghts ny,
Thomas Santore
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
tsan25@aol.com
366 Underhill Ave.
Yorktown Heights , New York , 10598 United States
845-590-5488

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