Rating: 
Summary: INDISPENSABLE!!!
Review: ... the author is a long practicing attorney in rural real estate. This book requires STUDY, not just reading, but the author does a good job of keeping you out of the legalese. You will understand EVERYTHING with careful reading.I bought similarly titled books written by real estate agents, and these are nearly worthless by comparison. The real estate agent stands to profit from the transaction, and he puts his own interests ahead of both seller and buyer, especially if he can get his hand into the legal documents to prevent his being held responsible for anything at all. Let me make a point that is not mentioned by the other reviewers or the book: Various deal-breakers can come up while the deal is in the escrow process, but that is AFTER the price has been agreed and the sales contract signed. Using this book's advice, you can discover most of those encumberances ON YOUR OWN before you make the offer, as well as making a good personal inspection of the property and house before you hire a professional inspector on your behalf. Look out, Mississippi! I'M COMING HOME!
Rating:
Summary: INDISPENSABLE!!!
Review: ... the author is a long practicing attorney in rural real estate. This book requires STUDY, not just reading, but the author does a good job of keeping you out of the legalese. You will understand EVERYTHING with careful reading. I bought similarly titled books written by real estate agents, and these are nearly worthless by comparison. The real estate agent stands to profit from the transaction, and he puts his own interests ahead of both seller and buyer, especially if he can get his hand into the legal documents to prevent his being held responsible for anything at all. Let me make a point that is not mentioned by the other reviewers or the book: Various deal-breakers can come up while the deal is in the escrow process, but that is AFTER the price has been agreed and the sales contract signed. Using this book's advice, you can discover most of those encumberances ON YOUR OWN before you make the offer, as well as making a good personal inspection of the property and house before you hire a professional inspector on your behalf. Look out, Mississippi! I'M COMING HOME!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent - Informative
Review: Buyer beware. This books descriptions on items to look for (or beware of) when purchasing land is extremely bennificial to the first time buyer of land in the country. It's descriptions of rights that may be reserved by the seller on you title, eminent domain & condemantion, and adverse possession were definitely eye opening.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent - Informative
Review: Buyer beware. This books descriptions on items to look for (or beware of) when purchasing land is extremely bennificial to the first time buyer of land in the country. It's descriptions of rights that may be reserved by the seller on you title, eminent domain & condemantion, and adverse possession were definitely eye opening.
Rating:
Summary: THE Essential Guide to Country Property, A Classic
Review: Everything you need to know to make the move to the country is here. Complete easy-to-understand instructions take you every step of the way through the buying process. Many common pitfalls are descibed in detail. This book has saved our family thousands of dollars.
Rating:
Summary: THIS is the book
Review: I purchased this book along with two others as we embark on our journey to move to the country. The other two books were very good at helping to identify location and prospective properties. "Finding and Buying" is the reference to winnowing propsective properties. Les Scher goes into great and well written detail on what to look for and look out for relative to the common issues of water, surveying, easements and access. Additionally, Les describes Eminent Domain, Condemnation and Adverse Posession; things to consider in a rural purchase. The model contract alone is worth the price of the book!
Les - If you ever read this, THANK YOU!
Rating:
Summary: THIS is the book
Review: I purchased this book along with two others as we embark on our journey to move to the country. The other two books were very good at helping to identify location and prospective properties. "Finding and Buying" is the reference to winnowing propsective properties. Les Scher goes into great and well written detail on what to look for and look out for relative to the common issues of water, surveying, easements and access. Additionally, Les describes Eminent Domain, Condemnation and Adverse Posession; things to consider in a rural purchase. The model contract alone is worth the price of the book!
Les - If you ever read this, THANK YOU!
Rating:
Summary: Most complete and authoritive book on this subject.
Review: If you are thinking of leaving the hustle, bustle, and insecure feeling of city life, this book will be a definate help to you. Lists common problems that you make incure and how to avoid them to make your dream of moving to the country easier. It is clear, concise, and thorough. Out of all the books we bought on this subject, this is the most helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Great overall summary of the process.
Review: Summary: Great book for people that may have bought houses, but don't know the intricacies of country property. I like this book because it is easy to read and covers all the subjects. The only criticism is that it covers too many generic topics. For example, they get into financing, and all those other topics that are not unique to country property. But in fairness, this book covers a lot of country material too and is all that you'd need to understand the whole process. I particularly liked their explanations of what to look for in water supply, and how to install your own wells. They cover the sewer topics fairly well. They tell you where to get your maps and other information to find, research and then close your property. Overall I would give it a solid "A" for the learning about the details of finding your property... once you knew the general area to look in. Here's some of their advice... here's their TOP 10 things To Know Before Closing: "1 - Remember, the seller's real estate agent works for the seller and does not get paid without making a sale. 2 - The price and terms are always negotiable. 3 - Never buy land without a proven source of adequate water, which inlcudes recorded water rights if it is from somebody else's land. Test the water for potability. 4 - Never buy land without first securing the necessary permits for installing your own sewage disposal system, or insuring that you can hook up to a public sewage system if one is available. 5 - Be certain of where your boundary lines are located by conducting a survy of the property. 6 - Don't buy land that does not have deed easement rights from the public road to the property. 7 - Be sure the zoning will permit you to use your property as you intended to use it. 8 - Determine the legal status of any uses being made of the property by other person. Investigate any sign of roads, grazing, or the taking of water. 9 - Review all documents referred to in a preliminary title report or abstract of title! . Hire a layer to review and interpret these deocuments if you are unable to do so yourself. 10 - Avoid parternships if at all possible." Their chapters detail why such advice is necessary and all the details of how to carry it out. In general I really like this book. I was particularly pleased to read their section on the 3 versions of water rights that we have throughout our country. Did you know there's a BIG difference just between the way Texas allows water usage (California style) and the way Arkansas does it (Eastern style)? Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Protect yourself from your own inexperience
Review: This book is an excellent source for people who are looking to buy country property. Having lived all my life in a suburban area I was completely unaware of how many things I needed to keep in mind when examining country property. Next time I see a "great deal" I will know enough to ask if the property has had a percolation test, are there public utilities and if there is a deeded easement. Basic things, I know, but ones I was uninformed about. The price of this book might have saved me from making a very costly mistake!
| 
