A Complete Guide to Buying Ranches or Farms for Sale in San Benito County
Do you love open spaces or enjoy working with livestock? If so, then you can invest in ranches or farms for sale in San Benito County. A farm typically focuses on raising crops and animals, while a ranch primarily centers around raising livestock. Both offer you the opportunity to connect with nature and the satisfaction of producing your own food.
Not only this but a farm or ranch can pave the way for revenue opportunities through rental fees and crop sales. Even better, these properties can offer you a massive ROI over time.
However, purchasing farms or ranches on sale in San Benito County or other counties, like Santa Clara, is no easy task. You need to consider various factors for a successful venture.
Want to know what these are? Let’s explore some key considerations to get ranches and farms for sale in San Benito County, along with its benefits!
Why Invest in Ranches or farms for sale in San Benito County?
Purchasing land for sale in Santa Clara County or San Benito has plenty of benefits. These include:
High Return on Investment
Investing in a ranch or land offers a high return on investment. The high ROI is driven by factors such as growing demand for food, agricultural land scarcity, and inflation. As per the NCREIF Farmland Index, the value of US farmland owned by investors increased by 10.2% in 2022, which is higher than the inflation rate, which stood at 9%. This provides you with a hedge against inflation and results in asset appreciation over time.
Health Benefits
Firstly, purchasing ranches or farms for sale in San Benito County offers a lot of health benefits. You can go outdoors and engage in physical activities promoting overall health and well-being. For instance, you can tend crops, care for livestock, or walk on the land.
Being surrounded by greenery and nature further leaves a positive impression on your mental health. A Harvard Health study reveals that spending just 20 minutes connecting with nature can lessen stress hormone levels. You feel less anxious and stressed, and your mood improves significantly.
In addition, owning a farm allows you to grow your food. This means you’ll have access to fresh and organic produce right at your doorstep. All in all, investing in ranches or farms nurtures your physical and mental well-being, ensuring you stay active for years!
Passive Income Opportunities
When you invest in ranches and farms for sale in San Benito County, you are actually opening doors to passive income opportunities. How? Well, you can rent the land to farmers who are looking for space to cultivate their crops or raise livestock.
This way, you earn rental income without practically managing the farming operations yourself. On top of that, you can also explore other revenue options, like leasing the property for activities like hunting and fishing or selling the crops grown on the land. Through these things, you achieve financial stability and a good return on investment.
More Privacy
Farms and Ranches are far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. You don’t have to face the prying eyes of neighbors or the loud traffic noise. This solitude allows you to connect deeper with nature, reflect, relax, and recharge.
Tips to Find Ranches and Farms for Sale in San Benito County
Finding ranches or farms for sale in San Benito County or neighboring counties is no easy feat. So, to help you find your desired land, we are going to discuss a few channels on which you can rely to find the ideal property.
MLS Listings and Social Media Platforms
First and foremost, you should check MLS listings and become part of various social media platforms that deal with farms and ranches for sale in San Benito County. On MLS listings, various landowners put their farms or ranches on sale. You can connect with a flat fee MLS listing services company to get detailed information about the land’s acreage, amenities, and price.
Furthermore, you can benefit from the power of social media platforms. For instance, you can join Facebook groups where members share property listings. Also, you can build a network of agricultural landowners and realtors who can help you get the ideal ranch or farm in San Benito.
Real Estate Agents Specializing in Agricultural Properties
Another best way to find a farm or ranch is to connect with a real estate agent specializing in agricultural properties. These agents possess valuable insights into the agricultural real estate market. For instance, realtors can inform you about local zoning laws, land use regulations, and environmental considerations specific to farming and ranching operations in California.
Not only this, but some real estate agents can provide you access to exclusive property listings that may not be available online, like on MLS systems. Their services go beyond helping you find an ideal land as they negotiate the terms and conduct due diligence.
Brigantino’s San Benito Realty can help you with it, as we have an exclusive list of ranches and farms for sale in San Benito County and other counties. We have an incredible team and years of experience ensuring you secure the best land with transparency.
Key Considerations for Buying Ranches or Farms for Sale in San Benito County
As mentioned earlier, finding a suitable farm or ranch to invest in requires careful consideration of various factors. Some of these include:
- Have a Clear Plan for the Land
When you go on to purchase a ranch or farm, you should first have a clear plan. What do you want to achieve through the land? Do you plan to cultivate crops or raise livestock?
Is it your dream to build a home there and live with your family away from the hustle and bustle of city life? Having a clear goal beforehand makes it easier to find the property that perfectly aligns with your objectives.
- Consider Land Ownership Cost and Purchase Price
People often assume that owning a land is all about its purchase price, but this is where they make the mistake! You should always consider the total cost of ownership instead of just the purchase price. For instance, if you are taking a mortgage, consider its interest rate.
Currently, the interest rates in California are 7.28% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.61% for a 15-year fixed mortgage. So, you should factor in these interest rates when calculating your monthly mortgage payments. This gives you an overview of the cost of acquiring the land.
In addition, you should also consider other costs like property taxes and developments or improvements. Considering these things beforehand helps you invest in a farm or ranch that suits your financial condition.
- Check If There’s Water Access
Check if there’s water access to your land before finalizing farms in San Benito. It’s because, despite your plans for the land, water availability is invaluable. If you are going to start agricultural activities on the land, you should opt for a farm or ranch with adequate water access and a drainage system.
Remember, some lands with water resources may cost you more, but don’t hesitate to pay a few additional bucks. Why? Water availability saves you from challenges in irrigation, livestock watering, and overall land management. Hence, it increases the sustainability and success of your farming or ranching operations in the long run.
- Take Government Grants into Account
You should also take into account the grants that the government of California offers to farmers and ranchers. The California Department of Food and Agriculture gives various funding and grants. Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) and California Underserved and Small Producers (CUSP) Grant Programs are examples of the grants you can avail yourself in California to support your farming and ranching activities.
Moreover, if you plan to deploy solar or wind energy systems to generate clean energy for your land, you can avail of grants from the California Energy Commission. Taking advantage of these grants can greatly reduce your financial burden, necessitating you to consider these opportunities before investing in farms for sale in San Benito County.
- Go Through Permitted Development Rights
Permitted development rights refer to the rights that allow you to make changes in your land. They vary depending on your location, and it’s important to consult your local government regarding such regulations beforehand.
Suppose you want to develop new buildings like a water system on your farm or ranch or remodel an existing structure; you should ensure that the property complies with local zoning laws. This ensures that you don’t fall victim to potential setbacks or legal issues and proceed with your plans confidently.
Why Choose Brigantino’s San Benito County?
This all may seem complex. Finding properties, communicating with parties involved, following local laws, negotiating deals, payment handling, and avoiding scams can be daunting, especially in your hectic routine. That’s where Brigantino’s San Benito Realty can help you acquire your dreamland without any hassle.
We are a family-owned and operated real estate brokerage. We have been in the business since 1959 and are dedicated to helping you find the perfect farm or ranch that meets your goals.
Our experts are highly knowledgeable and provide a free market analysis on the first contact so you know the current market conditions. You can contact us any time. We’ll offer you personalized guidance and an extensive list of local farms and ranches for sale in Monterey and other counties in California. Once you shortlist the property, we’ll handle the rest for you.
Conclusion
Purchasing ranches or farms in San Benito County can benefit you with improved physical and mental health, passive income opportunities, and increased privacy. You need to have clear goals and an accurate estimate of the total cost of ownership.
Not only this, but you should be well aware of the government grants for farmers and ranchers and check permitted development rights.
Contact us today, and we’ll help you find the perfect farm or ranch for sale in San Benito County!
