All Forum Posts by: Glenn Rand

I'm new here & inexperienced with real estate, but I didn't realize estimates need to be responded to with a "yes" or a "no".  

I recently got estimates for a roofing job.  I let them all know that I was getting multiple estimates in the beginning.  When I call them to schedule the job they'll know I want them to do the job.  If they don't receive a call from me they know I hired somebody else, or changed my mind about the project.

An estimate is an opportunity from them to present themselves, their product or service and a price quote.  I was polite, said "Thank you, I look forward to receiving your estimate.  I will contact you if I have additional questions, or decide to schedule the job."  That seemed like an appropriate response to each of them.  

Why would they need or expect further communication from me?  They are not friends, family, or children.  This is business, right? 

There is a fancy mountain top neighborhood nearby, Eagles Nest in Banner Elk, NC ,that has ATV / Horse riding trails through the rougher terrain that wasn't included in the home lots.  Some of the homes have helicopter pads in the yard, which shows ATVs aren't just for hunters & poor rednecks nowadays.  People love getting out and seeing nature.  

I wonder about leasing it and selling timber.  I know some farmers lease land to raise crops and cattle, but have no idea how much they pay.  I have heard of people selling the timer and  then the land is fully paid for from it, but know that is unusual.  I know hunting clubs lease hunting rights, but don't know how much they pay.  

I guess I need to ask farmers, lumber mills, and hunters.  I've heard of farmers getting paid "to not grow tobacco", that sounds like a sweet deal for a land owner.  Collect from the government, while leasing to the farmer!  Maybe there are other activities you can get paid for "not doing"?  

Whenever I travel around I see vast undeveloped property everywhere between cities.  I don't know who owns it, but I'm intrigued by how much there is and most of it appears to be idle.  How can the owners afford to just let it sit?  There must be hidden profits, that we common folks just can't grasp?  There are so many O-L-D for sale signs up and down the interstates, that just sit for decades.   What's going on with that land that I can't see?  I'd imagine timber companies, large corporations, governments, banks, etc. are just sitting on most of it, letting it appreciate and classifying it as farm land, so the property taxes are almost nil.  They're just holding and waiting, for "something" to happen in the area that suddenly drives the price up.

I am new here, and have very little real estate knowledge.  I have been reading a little here and it sounds like a lot of people begin investing in real estate with duplexes - quadplexes, which makes sense and seems like a good way for me to begin too.

But, I also am interested in the opposite extreme, buying large tracts of timber land.  I'm especially attracted to timber land in the mountains, because I live in the mountains and really enjoy riding motorcycles & ATVs on the logging trails near me.  I've been riding on private property, that was foreclosed for a few years and I fantasized about being able to purchase it.  It's 8000 acres, so seemed out of reach.  (But why not dream big?)  

I couldn't imagine who would want to buy such a large tract that had been partially logged, and looked so bad.  Well, the new buyer happened to be the owner of the golf course community, at the North end of the ridge...So, it made perfect sense why he would want the land.  

I met him, and he doesn't mind letting me ride on the trails that aren't too close to the golf course.  

That's great, but I'm still fantasizing about buying a place like that.  Do any of you have experience buying large tracts of land?  Any advice about how to finance it?  Good info to read about it?  What are some ways to profit from it, without selling too much of it, or logging it excessively?  Are there any especially good books to recommend?

For the above 8000 acres I think the bank was asking about 8$ million.  I wonder how much it actually sold for, and the details of how much down, etc.  ?

I've read we are supposed to enter investing with "goals".  I can see a lot of potential with raw land, from many angles.  Financially, environmentally, and socially.  There is room for a multitude of uses, and I'm sure if planned wisely I could profit personally, and at the same time help the local economy, and people of all social classes.