10 Ways to Sell Your Land Faster in Oregon

Selling land in Oregon can be tricky, especially if you're in a hurry. The state's land market has been a bit of a rollercoaster lately, which can be good or bad news depending on your situation. If you've been keeping an eye on things, you might have noticed that farm real estate values in Oregon jumped up by 8.5% last year, hitting about $3,050 per acre. That's according to the USDA's latest report, and it hints at a growing appetite for Oregon land. But here's the catch – even with this uptick in value, rural properties are still sitting on the market for three to six months on average. That's a long wait if you're eager to sell. The good news? There are ways to speed things up. In this article, we'll walk you through ten solid strategies to help you sell your Oregon land faster, whether you're dealing with a small lot or acres of farmland.

10 Tips to Sell Your Land Faster

1. Price Your Property Competitively

Overpricing is one of the most common mistakes sellers make when listing their land. While you may feel emotionally tied to your property, take care not to over-inflate the asking price. Instead, research the current fair market value in your area based on similar land that has recently sold. Local real estate agents can also provide guidance on competitive pricing for your parcel. Setting a price aligned with current market rates will generate more buyer interest and offers.

2. Highlight The Property’s Best Features

Put your property’s best attributes front and center in the listing description to entice motivated buyers. Emphasize details like river frontage, Highway access, development potential, views of Mount Hood, etc. Buyers have certain attractions they seek when purchasing land, so be clear about your unique selling points. Stunning photos of the land that highlight these key features are also essential.

3. Market To The Widest Audience Possible

Exposing your Oregon land listing to the maximum number of targeted buyers will accelerate the sale. Start by listing the property on high-traffic sites like Zillow, Trulia and LandWatch.com in addition to the local MLS. Expand your reach even further by posting in Oregon-specific land selling groups on Facebook. Also connect with individual investors in Oregon who purchase land for cash. By tapping every marketing channel possible, you’ll spike interest and likelihood of a quick sale.

4. Be Flexible With Terms

Offering flexible terms is another way to garner strong buyer interest fast. While many sellers prefer cash offers, not all buyers have 100% cash on hand. Consider owners financing a portion of the purchase price or allowing installment payments over 1-2 years. Accepting contingent offers can also expand your buyer pool. By easing rigid terms, more buyers can competitively bid for your land.

5. Prepare Marketing Materials

Serious buyers want detailed information before making an offer. Have professional plat maps, GIS imagery, property surveys, permits, easement details, etc. readily available to share. Gathering pertinent property details and paperwork ahead of listing demonstrates your commitment to selling and saves buyers effort. Organized, transparent selling helps build buyer trust that you’ll be easy to work with.

6. Highlight Potential Land Uses

Not all buyers visualize the possibilities of vacant land as clearly as sellers might. Spell out details like parcel zoning, acreage available, length of river frontage, number of potential home sites, compatibility for farming use etc. Painting a clear picture of intended land use helps buyers see greater value in your property and motivates quicker offers.

7. Negotiate In Good Faith

Once offers start streaming in, avoid rejecting outright or countering excessively without giving consideration. Navigating negotiations in good faith keeps buyers engaged in the process with you. Explain any countering pricing through facts like comparative sales data. Be willing to moderately negotiate on price or terms if it means getting the deal done faster.

8. Act Decisively Once An Offer Is Made

When you do receive an agreeable offer, avoid sitting on it for weeks before accepting. Buyers can rescind offers if they feel sellers are not serious. Be prepared to act quickly, as motivated buyers want efficient sellers. Carefully review all contingencies and terms upfront so any acceptance delay is minimal.

9. Be Transparent About Any Land Challenges

No property is perfect, so if issues exist like access difficulties, powerline easements, drainage problems etc., disclose them upfront in the listing. Transparency builds trust with buyers and mitigates frustration down the road after a sale. Reasonable buyers will still make offers if they have all the facts in hand to make an informed decision.

10. Consider Land Buyers As An Alternative

Marketing and negotiating a successful land sale takes patience, effort and skill. If your goal is to sell your Oregon property quickly, you may opt to contact local land buying companies like Land Boss. With over 5 years’ experience purchasing land in Oregon, companies like Land Boss have the available capital and expertise to buy properties outright, in cash, typically in a matter of days. By selling directly to an established land buyer, you save significant time versus attempting to sell yourself. While you may net a slightly lower sale price without open marketing, the speed and convenience appeal to many sellers.

Selling vacant land in Oregon takes the right prep work and strategy to attract buyers readily. Apply the tips above to accelerate your land selling timeframe. With competitive pricing, creative terms, transparent communication and both online/offline marketing, you can seize the sale more swiftly.

Mistakes to Avoid While Selling Land Faster

When attempting to sell your land quickly, it’s easy to make missteps that actually lengthen the process. Being aware of these common blunders can help you avoid them. Here are critical mistakes to sidestep on your path to faster land sale.

Overpricing Your Land 

The number one error sellers make is listing their land well above current fair market value. Understandably, emotions often cloud reasonable pricing judgments. Landowners feel attached to their property likely owned for years. However, inflated pricing deters buyers even in hot markets. Always set your asking price based on recent sales of comparable lands in your immediate area. Local real estate professionals can provide guidance to price your land competitively from day one.

Refusing Early Offers 

After finally garnering buyer interest, some sellers damage their own progress by declining or ignoring early offers. Unless the bid is highly objectionable, avoid outright rejecting those first proposals. Counteroffer or indicate you’re amenable to negotiate. Chasing away early potential buyers slows your sales momentum. Expressing willingness to work with reasonable offers keeps interested parties engaged.

Withholding Known Property Conditions 

Transparency is key when marketing land for sale. Willingness to disclose known issues like access limitations, drainage problems, easements etc. builds trust with buyers. Attempting to hide land defects typically backfires once a buyer learns the facts and abandons the deal. While imperfections may decrease a sale price, honesty ultimately catalyzes faster transactions.

By avoiding overpricing, dismissing early offers, and concealing property conditions, you steer clear of missteps that obstruct a swift land sale. Adjust your strategy instead to attract buyers ready to close quickly.

Final Thoughts

Selling vacant land efficiently requires strategic preparation and decision-making. While imperfect pricing, negotiation blunders, and lack of transparency won't guarantee failure, they certainly slow progress. Being aware of these potential pitfalls enables you to course correct quickly and keep your land selling momentum going strong. Adjust your approach to pricing accurately, leverage all offers made, and disclose fully to emerge with the fastest sale timeline possible. Stay proactive and vigilant in avoiding missteps, and you’ll maximize your chances for closing securely in record time. With some preventative measures, selling your land faster is within reach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it typically take to sell vacant land?

The average land parcel takes 12-24 months to sell in most markets. More desirable lands in developed areas sell on the quicker end of that timeframe. Remote, unimproved lands often sit even longer unless aggressively priced.

What impacts how quickly my land sells?

Factors like location, parcel size, zoning, land uses allowed, access, terrain, views and pricing strategy all impact selling speed. Parcels already surveyed, permitted and connected to utilities also tend to sell faster.

Does my land need to be surveyed before selling?

While not required in most states, a professional boundary survey gives buyers confidence in the exact acreage and boundary markers. Surveying demonstrates the seller’s commitment to smooth the sale.

Should I offer owner financing to sell the land faster?

Sometimes. By financing a portion of the sale price for several years, more buyers may compete for your land. But owner financing also comes with financial risk if the buyer defaults payment.

Is it faster to sell land yourself or use a land buying company?

Attempting a private land sale generally takes longer but may pay more if you can wait. Selling directly to an established land buying company nearly always closes faster, usually within 30 days, by sacrificing some profit.

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