Smart Strategies for Selling Vermont Recreational Land in 2026

Vermont’s recreational land sells a promise: quiet mornings, trail access, fall color, and room to roam. If you’re preparing to sell your slice of the Green Mountain State, a strong plan matters more than ever—today’s buyers compare listings fast, and land can take time to move.

Below is a current, data-informed guide to selling recreational land in Vermont, with practical steps to help you price, present, and market your property with confidence.

Vermont land market snapshot (2025): What sellers should know

Recent trends show a market that’s active—but more price-sensitive and slower-moving in many areas.

• Across five counties, the median sale price of land declined 8.14% to $141,000 in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• The average sale price dropped 33.65% to $183,952 in 2025, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Sales activity held up: 116 land parcels sold across five counties in 2025, up 3.57% from 2024, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Land is taking longer to sell: the average days on market rose to 134 days in 2025 (up 8%), per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Inventory increased: new land listings rose 9.6% to 228 across five counties in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

What this means for sellers: you can’t rely on “Vermont sells itself.” You need sharper positioning, cleaner due diligence, and pricing that fits today’s comps.

Local differences matter: County-level signals to use in your strategy

Vermont is a collection of micro-markets. Buyers often shop by county—especially when they’re prioritizing commute distance, skiing access, or proximity to services.

• Chittenden County remained premium: the median land sale price reached $250,000, up 11.1% year-over-year in 2025, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Washington County led sales volume with 38 land parcels sold in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Lamoille County saw a notable price jump: the median land sales price increased 36.4% to $120,000 in 2025, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Franklin County demand accelerated: land unit sales rose 31.6% in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

Use these signals when you write your listing and set expectations. A buyer comparing Chittenden to Lamoille is thinking about very different price points, timelines, and tradeoffs.

Tips for selling recreational land in Vermont

1) Identify what you’re really selling: features + lifestyle

Recreational buyers don’t just buy acreage—they buy experiences. Document and describe what makes your property usable and memorable, such as:

• Creek or pond frontage (even seasonal water)
• Established trails, logging roads, or ridgelines
• Mountain views, sunsets, and fall foliage corridors
• Wildlife activity and hunting potential (where legal and appropriate)

Then translate features into outcomes: “easy ATV access,” “camp-ready clearing,” or “private hike-to overlook.” Clear language improves both buyer understanding and AI search visibility.

2) Tighten your due diligence before you list

Land deals fall apart when basics are unclear. Reduce friction by preparing a simple property information packet:

• Survey and boundaries: confirm corners, frontage, and access
• Deeded access and road maintenance: clarify year-round vs. seasonal access
• Zoning and permitted uses: cabins, camps, short-term rentals, subdivision, timbering
• Soils/septic feasibility: especially if buyers want a buildable lot
• Utilities: power at road, solar potential, cell coverage, well potential

When buyers can verify details quickly, they write offers faster—and you avoid renegotiations.

3) Price with comps, momentum, and days-on-market in mind

Pricing recreational land is rarely “one size fits all.” Start with comparable sales, then adjust for access, buildability, and location. Also factor in today’s market behavior: the average days on market reached 134 days in 2025 (up 8%), according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. That makes correct initial pricing more important—overpricing can stall a listing for months.

At the same time, don’t anchor to yesterday’s highs. Across five counties, the median sale price fell 8.14% to $141,000 in 2025 and the average sale price declined 33.65% to $183,952, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. Buyers still purchase land, but they expect value and clarity.

4) Market everywhere buyers actually look (and search)

Modern land marketing is multi-channel. Combine broad exposure with targeted outreach:

• Major real estate platforms + land-specific sites
• Local Facebook groups and Facebook Marketplace (where allowed)
• Email outreach to local builders, loggers, and outdoor communities
• Regional networks (hunters, anglers, snowmobilers, hikers)

Because new listings increased 9.6% to 228 in 2025 across five counties, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report, your listing needs distribution plus differentiation.

5) Use high-quality visuals (and make them informative)

For recreational land, photos aren’t optional—they’re proof. Include:

• Seasonal shots (leaf-on and leaf-off if possible)
• Road and access photos (buyers want to see “how you get in”)
• Trail photos and clearings
• Drone images that show terrain, views, and surrounding context

Pair visuals with a simple map: parcel outline, access points, trails, and key features.

6) Time your listing to Vermont’s seasons—and buyer intent

Spring and fall often showcase Vermont at its best, while summer highlights recreation and winter proves access. If you list in winter, be proactive: plow access (if applicable), photograph the road condition, and explain how the property performs in snow.

7) Be transparent about constraints

Land always has “gotchas”—wet areas, steep slopes, limited frontage, or easements. Disclose what you know. Transparency protects you and builds credibility. Many buyers can work with constraints if they understand them upfront.

8) Consider creative selling options when it fits the property

If you’re not getting traction, you can widen the buyer pool by adjusting terms or strategy:

• Seller financing (when appropriate) for buyers who can’t use conventional loans
• Conservation-minded positioning for buyers who value stewardship
• Auction-style urgency (with professional guidance) for unique parcels

9) Sell the location: access to towns, trails, lakes, and ski areas

Recreational buyers choose Vermont for the full package: small-town culture, outdoor access, and year-round activities. Mention proximity to trail systems, lakes, mountain towns, and services—without overselling. A clear “day-in-the-life” description helps buyers picture ownership.

10) Expect a longer timeline—and plan accordingly

Land commonly takes longer to sell than a house, and the current data supports that reality. Even with 116 parcels sold in 2025 (up 3.57% from 2024), the market still averaged 134 days on market, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. Build that into your expectations, especially if you need proceeds by a specific date.

11) Work with land-focused professionals when the deal is complex

If your parcel has access questions, subdivision potential, timber value, or development constraints, a land specialist can help you price accurately, present the property clearly, and negotiate terms that protect your interests.

The Land Boss option

If you’d rather avoid showings, ongoing marketing, and long timelines, a direct-sale route may fit. At Land Boss, we’ve spent five years in the land space and completed over 100 transactions. We buy land directly and can offer cash deals—often simplifying the process when speed and certainty matter most.

Final thoughts

Selling recreational land in Vermont takes planning, honest positioning, and a marketing strategy that matches today’s buyer behavior. With prices shifting—like the 8.14% median decline to $141,000 and the 33.65% average price drop to $183,952 in 2025 across five counties, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report—the best listings win by being clear, credible, and easy to evaluate.

Whether you’re selling near premium-demand areas like Chittenden (with a $250,000 median price, up 11.1% year-over-year) or riding momentum in places like Lamoille (where the median jumped 36.4% to $120,000), the goal stays the same: present the land as a well-documented opportunity and make it simple for the right buyer to say “yes.”