Elegment Land

Ready to learn how you can make money in Texas residential land? In this post, we’ll explore five proven ways to use real estate to increase your financial standing!

Owning residential land is one of the best ways to build wealth. There are a number of ways to use it to make money. Some are obvious, while others are a bit more out o the box. Keep reading to learn more about some of our favorite ways to make money in Texas real estate!

Buy and Hold

As an investor of Texas residential land, it’s always good to have a few properties in your portfolio that you are holding onto. Look for properties that are likely to appreciate in up and coming areas. Holding investments and cashing in on their appreciation over time is a great way to create a steady income, with a large reward when you decide to finally sell the property.

Buy and Divide

You can choose to buy a larger tract of land and subdivide it, selling each lot for an amount much higher than your original purchase price. It’s important to make sure this is feasible before you jump in and make the purchase! Know the zoning laws and local ordinances. Also, it’s important to ensure there will be a demand for the lots. Just because you can score a great deal doesn’t mean that people are going to want to buy the individual lots. Ensure there is an interest in building so that you will be able to make your money back more quickly.

Buy and Develop

Another option would be to purchase land and develop it yourself. Depending on the size and the zoning, you could build one building, or divide it up for multiple structures. Consider the options so you can use the property to it’s highest and best use! Doing something like this is typically best reserved for someone with a background in real estate or construction. You will want to have a clear understanding of the process and everything that goes into it.

Buy and Lease

Traditional investment buyers don’t always consider buying a large piece of land for leasing; however, they should be! As long as you have a clear understanding of whether the land can be leased to neighbors for parking and/or storage. If this land is heavily wooded, it can be leased to local hunters. If the land has high quality soil and water source, it can be easily leased to local farmers. You’ll want to look at the utilities and accessibility for the land fitting different clientele. You’ll also want to ensure you are leasing the space to qualified tenants who you believe will be in a lease for a long time in your location.

Buy Mobile Homes

Buying selling mobile homes and put them on your land can be a great way to get your feet wet in real estate investment. Units can usually be acquired at a relatively low cost and repairs made will often cost you much less. There are things to know about mobile homes such as specialized repairs and the demand in the area. With the rise of small living spaces, and the increased affordability due to lower rent and utility costs. In some cases, you are able to buy the land where the mobile home sits, but this all depends on where you choose to invest.

Are you looking for great residential land investment opportunities in Texas? Elegment Land can help you find the right properties in Texas no matter your budget.

Let us help you make money with Texas real estate! Contact us today for more information! 832-856-2002

 

Are you looking for investment real estate in Texas? As a buyer, you will need to do your due diligence on a house before signing on the dotted line. In our latest post, we will discuss a few of the online resources a Texas area investor should utilize before purchasing Texas investment property! We want to help local investors find the properties that are right for them!

When it comes to investment real estate, many people are going online to find the best available deals. Most of the information you need is public and can be accessed with a little digging. Below are 5 great places to find the information you need about a property before making a purchase.

Your Local MLS

While investors aren’t likely to find the great deals on the MLS, it can be a great place to find sales information, market history, trends, and other data that may be more difficult to find elsewhere. An investor can see what is being bought and sold and where. Getting access to your local MLS isn’t necessarily to find homes for sale, but to get all the data on what is being bought and sold. It will make diving into the numbers much easier than trying to source all of the information on your own.

For Example:

• Houston REALTOR Information Services

Your Local Central Appraisal District (CAD) Website

The property appraiser’s website for your county may offer maps, sales history, ownership information, and property tax data. Each county’s site is a little different, so you might have to look around a little bit to find the data you need. You can also reach out to the county directly if there is something specific you are looking for and aren’t able to find on their website. If it is public information, they will let you know how to find it.

For Example:

• Texas Brazoria County Central Appraisal District
• Texas Tyler County Central Appraisal District

Google Maps

Using Google Maps can bring driving for dollars into the modern age. While you can still find great investment opportunities simply by driving the neighborhood, you can now do the same thing using Google Maps. You can use the street view function to drop down into the neighborhood to see what’s going on. What types of businesses are in the area and even real-time traffic data. Learning these kinds of details about an area can give you an edge when making a real estate investment.

You’ll want to make sure the images you view are relatively new. If the maps are a few years old, a lot may have changed. You should also keep in mind that you will only be able to see the front of the house. The backyard and inside of the home can be something different altogether.

Peerstreet & Fundwise

Peerstreet and Fundwise are two great ways for the novice investor to get their feet wet with real estate investment. They are crowdfunding platforms that will allow even the most novice real estate investor get their feet wet by investing with many others into different real estate projects. Investing with these companies is very similar to investing in a REIT. You will be able to invest in real estate while leaving all the work to others. There are long term options as well as options that will pay out your dividends right away. You will have to find the plan that works best to help you reach your goals.

Going Offline…

There are many great online resources out there for investors who want to learn more about real estate and find the best deals available in the area. However, Elegment Land can help to answer many of your questions about buying investment properties in the Texas area. By utilizing our local knowledge and experience we will help you to find the best investment properties out there, without having to worry about agent fees or commission costs.

Are you ready to buy investment real estate? Elegment Land can help investors find the best deals on real estate in Texas. Take a look at our current Texas Listing, or Contact us today!

Whether you are looking to purchase a piece of land as an investment or as a place to build your dream home, there are some things you must know before buying. Elegment Land is a team of residential land professionals.

In this blog post, we have put together some of our favorite tips for buying land.

Tip #1: Make A List of What You Want

Are you buying the land as an investment? Or as a recreational or building site for yourself? The land’s use will determine exactly the types of land you will want to focus on. A few things you should consider are:

• Price. Sure this seems obvious, but you will want to set a maximum budget and stick to it. If you are planning to build, you don’t want to blow your budget before you’ve even broken ground. And if you buying for investment, you should know the exact price you can purchase in order to sell for a solid return. Stick to your guns, and don’t go over-budget.
• Size. How much land do you need? You might think you want several acres until you see the maintenance that will be required. Maybe 1 or 2 acres would better suit your needs. Or maybe you want to build a decent sized home, and still, have a big yard. An oversized lot might be perfect.
• Dirt & trees. What kind of soil is on the property? Is it sandy or clay? The actual dirt on the land can cause issues with building and have a huge effect on what you are able to grow on the property. Many buyers love seeing a lot with trees or a house painted a certain color.

Tip #2: Educate Yourself

There are many variables to consider when making a land purchase. Often times there are many things people will over look. Buying land in about more than just location.

• What type of access does the property have? Ideally, your land should accessible via a road. However, if it’s not, you will need to ensure the proper easements are in place so that you may transverse another’s property to get to yours.
• Does the property have a clear title? Liens and other encumbrances can cause a big headache if they aren’t dealt with before closing.
• Zoning. Sure your land might be zoned residential today, but what if there is a zoning change planned for the future? Make sure you know of any potential zoning changes so you don’t get stuck with land you can’t use.
• What are comparable properties selling for? Do not go by what they are listed at, but rather the actual sales prices of some comparable lots.
• Covenants are basically the rules of the land. If you want to have a small farm, the rules might say you cannot. Or if you want to build a three-story home, you might not be able to. Make sure you understand all the rules placed upon the land by local authorities.
• You will want to make sure you understand your water rights. Let’s say you bought 2 acres for your small farm, but then you find out that you are only allowed to irrigate an eighth of it. You will have a lot of dried up farmland on your hands.

Tip #3: Work With A Pro

The process of buying and selling land is quite different than buying a home. Because a realtor might receive less commission when working with land, they typically don’t put in as much effort into understanding the variables. Working with a team of highly skilled professionals, such as the team at Elegment Land will help you to make the best investment possible.

A land professional will help educate you on all the points above and make sure you find the best property possible when looking to by land. Find a Realtor who specializes in helping people buy land is a must. They can help answer any questions and help you find the perfect piece of land to YOUR needs.

Elegment Land can help you whether you are looking to buy or sell land in the California area. Give our office a call now to find out how we can help you! 832-856-2002

Investing in Texas land can be a great way to boost and diversify your portfolio. It is a fairly low-maintenance and hassle-free way to increase your assets and overall wealth. In our latest post, we will take a look at some of the pros and cons of land investment in Texas! 

Land investment is often times overlooked, however it can be an excellent asset to any real estate portfolio. If you want to begin your investment journey, add to a portfolio, or find smart ways to diversify, land can be an excellent way to go.

Pros:

Low Cost

Land is cheap in comparison to other types of investments. Many people will find they only need to save up for a few months in order to generate enough cash to buy a lot. This opens the door to many people who want to begin investing but weren’t sure how to get their foot in the door. If you find the right property, you can buy low, sell it off or develop it, and use the profits for an even larger investment. Before you know it, you’ll be a real estate mogul and it all would have started with one small patch of dirt!

Low Maintenance

When you buy land, the is pretty much no work involved. It just sits there until the time is right for you to cash in. You might have to deal with small things, like keeping the lot free of brush and trash if it is in a residential neighborhood. You will not, however, need to deal with bad tenants, repairs, maintenance, or damage to your property.

Lower Taxes

Property taxes are much lower for land as opposed to lots with structures. Land can be a few hundred while a home can be a few thousand. These low holding costs are another reason why people love land investment so much.

It Can Be Developed

You can opt to develop the land yourself, adding a residential or commercial building depending on how the land is zoned. By creating something where there was once nothing, you will be able to generate tremendous profits renting it out or selling it off.

Make It Income Producing

Many people avoid land because it does not bring in any income. However, you can find creative ways to make it work for you. You can lease it to a neighbor so they have more room for their car or children’s play area. If it is a large parcel, and if it is allowed, you can lease the land to a hunter. You can use the lot for parking during special events if it is in a commercial area. There are many creative ways to make your land generate income.

Cons:

No Income

Land doesn’t typically bring in income unless you get creative with it. Of course, there are some exceptions as noted above, however, most of the time the property will sit until it is developed or resold. This is why you should look for land in developing areas, selling when it becomes a more “in demand” location.

Smaller Buyer Pool

Traditionally, there is a smaller consumer buyer pool for residential land. Everyday consumers like to buy residential homes directly. Residential lots might take longer to sell, depending on your market. The buyer pool you do see will likely be smaller than what you would find with a residential home.

Overall, adding land to your portfolio is a very safe and practical choice for new and seasoned investors. It is an excellent way to get into real estate investment as the costs to get started are very low in comparison to other types of investments. You should always keep land investment in mind when purchasing Texas real estate.

Interested in Texas land investment? We can help! Contact us today to learn more! 832-856-2002

In the U.S., real estate records are public data. A typical consumer can usually easily check official real estate ownership records. This article explains how this works.

Usually, there are three county government departments to deal with on real property transactions. County Clerk, who handles all document recording, including real estate deeds, mineral rights, marriage certificates of residence, death certificate of residence, company registration and filing. County Assessor, who specializes in assessing the appropriate tax value for the real property within the county. And finally County Treasurer, sometimes also called County Tax Collector, who base on County Assessor’s tax valuation, collects annual taxes from real property owners.

The most official source is with County Assessor. In Texas, it is called the County Appraisal District. Real estate records are maintained with county government. The first step is to find out what county your land or your house is located. For example, our land in the City of Woodville is located within Tyler County, Texas.

County usually maintains an APN (Assessor Parcel Number), Parcel Number, or Parcel ID to identify the unique land or house. Search the county assessor website for Parcel Number, Owner Name, or property address, as shown below. This information shows county recorded ownership information and the address of for receiving annual county real property tax statements.

California is a special case – state regulations prevent the display of ownership information on County Website. Although not available online, you can still verify ownership information by alternative methods such as phone, fax, email.

Most of the time, you will also be able to see property or land details.

A majority of counties also have digitized county map, making them available online to check location, shape, and boundaries of the land.

Keep in mind that there are situations where county assessor does not have the most updated information.

1. The deed is signed, but Buyer has not yet sent the deed to the county for recording. From a legal perspective, a Buyer becomes the new owner of the land or house ON THE DAY deed is notary signed by Seller. Sending the deed for county recording is a form of public notification and announcement of new ownership. If a deed is signed, but not recorded at the county, the new owner is at a disadvantage in legal and court cases.
2. Another common delay is between county departments. After the deed is recorded with County Clerk, new ownership information is sent to County Assessor. After County Assessor updates the new ownership information, it is then forward to the IT department to update public-facing real property systems. It is common to take between two weeks to two months to have all department synchronize with such new ownership information.
3. If County Assessor finds an error in the Deed, Buyer needs to work with Seller to file a deed correction. During such time, a delay on new ownership is not available for the public.

We hope you find this information useful for your search of your dream residential land. At Elegment Land, we own all the vacant residential land parcels directly as the owner (and selling as owner). Feel free to reach us if you would like to check ownership information, get driving directions to visit the land, or check utility information. We are always here to help. hello@elegment.com or call/text +1 832-856-2002.

First of all, Congratulations on owning a piece of American Dream!

In U.S. there are many different types of residential buildings. Traditional Single-Family House, Manufactured House, Mansions, Tiny House, and Recreational Vehicles are common.

Traditional Single-Family House

Traditional homes are often called “site-built homes” by home builders. A traditional or site-built home is one that’s constructed piece by piece on a building site. A home is considered built by traditional standards when it’s constructed on the land where it’s intended to remain basically forever. Traditional housing comes in all shapes and sizes, from small one-room living units to ultra-luxurious mansions. New site-built single-family homes cost an average of $83.38 per square foot, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. A typical 2000 square feet traditional house would cost about $167,000 (in 2010 price index).

Manufactured House

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Manufactured housing is sometimes referred to as “mobile housing” or as “mobile homes.” Manufactured housing is factory built and manufactured homes are delivered to building sites in one or more pieces and then joined together. Most manufactured homes aren’t permanently affixed to foundations but sit on wheeled platforms. The Oregon Manufactured Housing Association says that the cost per square foot of a manufactured home is nearly half that of a stick-built home, at about $41.24. A typical 1200 square feet Manufactured House would cost about $50,000 (in 2010 price index).

Mansions

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word mansio “dwelling”, an abstract noun derived from the verb manere “to dwell”. Mansions usually have specially designed rooms meant to accommodate leisure activities of a particular kind. Many will have a conservatory or greenhouse, a library, while others will have an infinity pool or a home theater. Some have all of these features. A modern mansion today may not necessarily be limited to a single house standing alone, mansions may be compounds or a grouping of larger houses. In general in Manhattan or many cities a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) house would certainly be described as a Mansion, but a similar-sized house in the Atlanta suburbs probably would not. Calling a dwelling a mansion indicates a level of grandeur and consumption considerably greater than the norm in that location, with the additional connotation of quality, and correlates highly with the housing patterns of the upper class.

Recreational Vehicle

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer which includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Typical amenities of an RV include a kitchen, a bathroom, and one or more sleeping facilities. RVs can range from the basic — containing only sleeping quarters and basic cooking facilities — to the luxurious, with features like air conditioning (AC), water heaters, televisions and satellite internet. RVs can either be trailers (which are towed behind motor vehicles) or self-motorized.

Tiny House

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

The tiny-house is an architectural style that advocates living simply in small homes. A residential structure under 500 square feet (46 m2) is generally considered a tiny home. Tiny-house promotes financial prudence, economically safe, shared community experiences, and a shift in consumerism-driven mindsets.

Smaller homes are less expensive than larger ones in terms of taxes and building, heating, maintenance, and repair costs. The lower cost of living may be advantageous to retirees. In addition to costing less, small houses may encourage a less cluttered, simpler lifestyle, and reduce ecological impacts for their residents. Small houses may emphasize design over size, utilize dual purpose features and multi-functional furniture, and incorporate technological advances of space saving equipment and appliances. Vertical space optimization is also a common feature of small houses and apartments.

This building type is probably the most affordable option, and the easiest to set up. For example, Amazon has a solar powered Tiny House for sale for only $38000 including shipping delivery of the house to your residential land!

 

At Elegment Land, our hand-picked residential lands can accommodate all your needs, from recreational to living, from mansions to tiny houses. We specialize in selling beautiful and affordable residential lands. However, please keep in mind that we are not building developers 😉

Buying a piece of residential land or a house in the U.S. as a non-U.S. citizen or foreigner is straight forward. If you’re wondering whether a non-citizen can buy real estate in the U.S., the short answer is yes, though it’s easiest if you’re paying cash. If you’re seeking financing to purchase real estate in the U.S. as a non-citizen, getting a mortgage is the challenging part.

Buying a House as a Non-U.S. Citizen

Buying property in the USA is not a problem for foreigners. You do not need a green card, a particular type of visa, or even US citizenship to be eligible to do so. Anyone may buy and own property in the United States, regardless of citizenship. There are no laws or restrictions that prevent any individual of any foreign citizenship from purchasing or owning property in the U.S.

Do foreign buyers have to pay extra stamp duties?

No. There are no extra stamp duties imposed on foreigners buying US property, unlike Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Vancouver, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne, which all add between 7% – 30% additional tax on foreign buyers. The United States does not penalize foreigners when buying US property.
In fact, many foreign nationals purchase residential lands and vacation houses in the United States, and there are many wealthy foreign investors who purchase investment property such as multi-unit apartments or condos, single family homes, and even business properties such as shopping malls.

Who do I work with on buying U.S. properties?

As a foreign buyer, you can choose to working with a real estate agent, or purchase directly from owners. You want to work with companies and teams who won’t push you beyond what you’re comfortable offering or rush you into making a bad decision is key. Elegment Land directly own all the residential lands they sell, and always have buyers’ best interests at heart.

Are you trying to decide whether to invest in vacant residential land for sale in California? In this blog post, we’ll look at the fundamental reason why investors are becoming increasingly interested in vacant residential land, and the steps you can take to benefit…