All Forum Posts by: Juan Jorge

I'm in search of local (Kansas City Metro, Topeka, northeast Kansas or northwest Missouri region) land wholesalers, specifically farmland. Realizing that farmland values have skyrocketed in recent years, I'm an investor looking to buy inexpensive farmland in northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri. If you're a land wholesaler, please let me know if you have this kind of inventory (yet, haha!).

Alright, I know in the right situation, mortgage loans are great, what with the long term and fixed rate. I thought I'd be smart by applying for a lot/land loan on a rural farmstead I want to put on offer on. It's zoned ag, it's an old farmstead with weathered unmarketable house still standing and lots of fallen down outbuildings, so pretty much raw land that needs some help. During application process, I was only given variable rate mortgage option, have to put 25% down AND pay mortgage insurance. What!? My retirement accounts and stock brokerage accounts are loaded to where I could purchase the parcel outright 10 times over if I sold stock, but yet these are the loan terms? Who the hell needs banks?! Am I missing something? Is fixed rate mortgage/loan on land not a thing?

@Bruce Lynn Awesome questions! Definitely will use some of them at the tax sale. The county publishes the tax foreclosure list, with very blunt disclaimers about "accepting the consequences" if yours is winning bid. Hahaha! They mention that property might have liens against it, and fully your responsibility to research & pay, oh and talk to your lawyer. I'll probably take them up on talking to my lawyer if any of the properties look promising. If this rural area is anything like Indianapolis back in 2007, then many deep pockets show up and outbid the small potatoes. I'm a small potato/shallow pocketed investor. :)

@Bruce Lynn, great ideas! Just talked to county treasurer, and although willing to work with me for the fee, she is short-staffed. Not a big deal, as I'm still just learning. Also, tax sale is coming up soon, so I'll register as a bidder just to kick the tires. Who knows? Maybe if the property looks promising, I might just put in a bid. I'm close to the county seat anyway. Doesn't hurt to check it out.

@Bruce Lynn, thanks for the great insights! Yeah, looks like I'll have to talk to the treasurer and see if I can get specific detailed report on just rural parcels. I'm willing to pay $30. One county clerk asked, "who are you and what do you want it for?" LOL, I don't know that requesting public records should cause one to be defensive. Thanks again!

Currently, seeking undervalued parcels (I know, not a thing right now-LOL) in the ex-urb areas of the Leavenworth-Tonganoxie, KS corridor, with the aim of entitling the undeveloped parcels for eventual shovel ready lots for commercial applications, such as multi-family, warehouse, home subdivisions, etc. I've also been reading up on this process, local county zoning comprehensive plans, where the "path of progress" might be, etc. However, I'd also like to obtain practical experience with a mentor who has solid experience in this area, and is currently entitling land, and could use some help. Let me know what you think or if you could help to educate me, that'd be great!

Currently, seeking undervalued parcels (I know, not a thing right now-LOL) in the ex-urb areas of the Leavenworth-Tonganoxie, KS corridor, with the aim of entitling the undeveloped parcels for eventual shovel ready lots for commercial applications, such as multi-family, warehouse, home subdivisions, etc. I've also been reading up on this process, local county zoning comprehensive plans, where the "path of progress" might be, etc. However, I'd also like to obtain practical experience with a mentor who has solid experience in this area, and is currently entitling land, and could use some help. Let me know what you think or if you could help to educate me, that'd be great!

@Drew Mac

Newbie here from rural Atchison County, KS. I’m very interested in learning about the various pockets to invest in rental housing in Leavenworth. Open to investing in rentals with positive cash flow, including rehab & rent. Are there many opportunities in those pockets of which you mentioned? Or perhaps in close proximity to those pockets? I suppose I should check out Zillow for listings or talk to a local realtor? As I said, just starting out, and also interested in old farmhouses for rehab/rentals/AirBnB. As you can imagine, those rural properties with acreage get snapped up like hot cakes nowadays. Keeping my powder dry. LOL. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Have you tried Data Tree? I emailed to ask specifically if they had tax delinquent data on Kansas counties. The rep said yep. He also invited me to a live demo of the software. I haven't done that yet.

Here's their website: Data Tree AKA First American

So far, looking like pulling teeth would be easier. What would be your advice for asking for a listing of those parcels where the real estate taxes are in arrears, including those slated for the annual tax sale? I used the following text in an email:

Dear XYZ County Treasurer:

I’m interested in obtaining the most recent listing of all real estate tax delinquent parcels in XYZ County.

Please tell me how much you might charge to obtain the list, method of payment, etc. Please also let me know if you can attach the list in an email to me?

Thank you very much for your time,

Is that not enough information? Should I just call them and explain that I want to see if I can bail out the taxpayer by offering to buy his land, pay the past due taxes, penalties, etc.? So far, I've emailed 3 Kansas counties with this type of verbiage and so far, slow-walking, foot-dragging crickets, through the ether.

Best regards and best of luck!

Juan