5 Things to Consider Before you Purchase a Horse Property/Ranch

Do your New Year's plans include the purchase of a ranch or horse property?     

If so..... be sure to take the time to dream about how you would like to use the property.

Be sure to consider the following questions: 

1.  How do you envision using the property - both short term and long term? 

2.  What kind of budget do you have to  purchase, fix up and maintain the property?  

3.  How far are you willing to commute to town/work?  

4.  Do you want a house to be on the property?  

5.  Rank the following in the order of importance to you:

       a.  The house itself

       b.  The amount of acreage

       c.   The fences, barns and/or other outbuildings?   

1.  How do you envision using the property - both short term and long term?    For example, in addition to having horses, do you dream of having a few cows?    Here in the Denver Metro/Colorado Springs area, there are a lot of country subdivisions that allow horses but do not permit cows.     

2. What kind of budget do you have?  As much as I love living in the country, I wish I could say that there are not ongoing costs associated with fixing up and maintaining a rural property.      If you are going to have animals or want to keep the neighbors animals off your place, good fences are a must.     The road or driveway must be maintained, trees fall down, ......oh..... this list could go on and on.   Bottom line - you have leave money in your budget to cover maintenance and upkeep.    

A mortgage broker will be more than happy to help you determine what price range of property you should be looking in.  

3.  How far are you willing to commute to town/work?     There are very few horse properties actually located within the city limits of most towns.   As time goes by, I think they are getting harder and harder to find.    So....if you want to be able to walk out your door and enjoy your horses, a commute is going to be required.   The way I look at it, if you live in town and board your horses, there is still a commute to the barn.    Generally speaking, the further you are willing to commute, the greater the chance that you can find a larger piece of property.  

4.  Do you want a house to be on the property?  

5.  Rank the following in the order of importance to you:

       a.  The house itself

       b.  The amount of land

       c.   The fences, barns and/or other outbuildings?  

From personal experience, I'm not sure if it is possible to find the perfect piece of property that is the size that you really want, with the perfect house AND barns/stables that are going to be perfect for your horses.    If you have years and years to wait to find the perfect place, that might be possible.  

It took me six months to find my current place.  I was motivated enough that six months seemed like eternity.   I choose to get the most amount of land possible, with a solid house and workable barns.    A solid house translates to "it was in need of MAJOR updating but it did not have any structural issues. "  

 Once you can answer these questions, then you can start refining what you really want.  

If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.    

Sincerely,

Sondra Meyer, CPA

Star View Real Estate

Horse Property Specialist  

979-575-2700  

(licensed in Colorado and Texas) 

Note:  The picture above is of my black Arabian stallion - Flaming Asset (Blackie).   He was retired a number of years ago and is currently happy being my pet so long as he can keep the girls in sight.