the house next door

[sparc]

If you had a chance to buy an adjacent lot would you do it and is it worth more to you than someone else might pay that didn't own adjoining land.

I heard the neighbor may be thinking of selling. The house is not much and there are no outbuildings other than a broken down shed for some gardening tools and the mower.

I'm certaintly don't want to pay more than I have to but is the property worth more to me because I could add double what my lot is and there is no other property which will ever become available that joins my land.

I'm disregarding tearing down the house and shed because whoever buys would have that expense. Seeing as its my only chance to add on to our lot I'm thinking I'd be willing to pay a little more to get it than someone else would.

 

[murphy1244]

I would be interested in buying my neighbors lot for sure. Then I would let the Fire Department burn the house down. Then build a nice big Barn.

P.S. Are there any Pallets on it??

 

[thatguy]

Absolutely I would buy it - and that is exactly what we did.. The lot beside our was put up for sale and if someone put a house in the middle of the lot (depth wise) it would have killed our scenic views..

We paid close to the listed price (which was above what it was worth) and never looked back. IF we hadnt bought it, and someone had put a house that blocked our views we should have kicked ourselves for the rest of our lives..

brian

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Absolutely I would buy it - and that is exactly what we did.. The lot beside our was put up for sale and if someone put a house in the middle of the lot (depth wise) it would have killed our scenic views..

We paid close to the listed price (which was above what it was worth) and never looked back. IF we hadnt bought it, and someone had put a house that blocked our views we should have kicked ourselves for the rest of our lives..

brian

Good advice, follow your little voice...

 

[Gary Fowler]

Pay a little more if you have to but I would start by talking to the owner and let him know I would be interested in buying. He could save realtor fees from listing and selling (6.5% last time I sold) by just doing a bit of paperwork like title search, taxes up to date etc. yourself.

 

[dave1949]

Good idea about by-passing the realtor fees.

Realistically, it is worth more to you than to someone else. If you want more land, don't want to risk whatever you may get for neighbors, then as thatguy said, buy it and don't look back.

We bought an adjoining lot two years ago. Mostly to keep open buffer around us. There is a two acre lot enclosed on three sides by ours with an old house and falling down sheds. I will buy it too if I get the chance someday. A nice 94-year-old widow lives there, says she is planning on dying there. She is a good neighbor, but ya never know about the next one. It could be a nice young family looking for a starter price house, or it could be junkers and meth cookers.

 

[sparc]

all good points, thanks.

Preserving the view is a good point but there is not much of a view from either property that is worth much. Still, not to have on that side of use would be nice, and one reason we are considering the purchase. And protecting the area from some undiserable is another point to consider.

It might be to late to save on Realtor fees, I heard it may already be listed.

 

[TomSeller]

Why not keep the house and rent it out? Pay a few bills and be very selective with your renters. And yes, you can be selective.

 

[Ed L]

I'm closing Thursday on the house across the road from our farm, my LOML has been renting it, owner wants to sell. She could go somewhere else, but anyone that has bought in our rural area lately is a danm slob!
The closest house sold last winter on a land contract, loser boy mowed 1/2 the yard for the 3rd time last weekend, I guess riding the mower all day is to much for him. He beached a wrecked camper on the edge of the driveway, a Mini Cooper on blocks next to it, hasn't done anything with either in 6 months....he's not the only one that has no pride, need I say more?

Not going to put up with that every time I look across the street. It's put out or shut up, IMO, I'm putting out.

Ed

 

[Gunny]

Get the lot, if you don't and the wrong kind of neighbor moves in, then who knows when you'll have another chance to buy it.

I turned down a deal on the house and lot next to me years ago and since then it's been a constant stream of renters who might mow the yard once or twice a year, but it seems like they always have two or three non running mowers cluttering up the side yard. I finally put up a privacy fence so I wouldn't have to look at it.
On the other side, I had a great older lady that kept her house and yard neat as a pin. When she passed away and the heirs offered me first shot a buying it, I didn't even bargain with them, just shook hands on the deal and I've never regretted it.