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Why are so many properties for sale
in Colorado 35 acres? |
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35 acres in Colorado is currently
the smallest amount of land that you can own and
receive a domestic well permit. In 1972 a law (Senate
Bill) passed that says to be eligible for a domestic
well permit in Colorado you must have 35 acres of
land or more. There are instances where a domestic
well is available on smaller properties such as
when the developer has done work to get these permits
or the land was initially developed prior to 1972.
Other types of well permits are sometimes available
(for example, an in-house use only permit) which
literally is for water in the house only.
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What are the Top 10 facts to know
about buying land in Colorado? |
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1. What is the acreage?
2. If developed, is it registered with the
State of Colorado?
3. Where is it located?
4. Has it been surveyed?
5. Are the survey pins in the ground for
me to see?
6. Is there power and phone? If so, is it
underground?
7. If power will be available, when?
8. Is there an additional charge for power
and phone?
9. Are there covenants? If so, what kind?
10. What borders the land?
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Is financing for land different than
it is for a home? |
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Yes, there are not as many lenders
who finance raw land as there are who do home mortgages.
Lenders on land deals often have several requirements
such as the land being surveyed and a plat map available.
Another common requirement is that there be power
and phone available. Interest rates on raw land
tend to vary and the real estate agent that you
use is a good resource for lenders in the area where
you are looking to purchase land.
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How do I find the best agent? |
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1. Does the agent ask
and then listen to what you see
as your ideal property?
2. Does the agent you are talking to specialize
in land or sell all
types
of real estate?
3. Is the agent knowledgeable about the area
where you are looking?
4. What is the reputation of the company
that they are working for?
5. What is the agent's knowledge and understanding
about
water
law in Colorado?
6. Does the agent's personality style work
with yours?
7. Has the agent actually seen or walked
the property they are selling?
8. Does the agent respond to you promptly?
9. Does the agent's company have values and
standards that
are
acceptable to you?
10. Does the agent work with you in the range
that
you
feel comfortable with?
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What are the pros/cons about having
covenants on land? |
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At times the word "covenant"
means strict rules and codes on what a person can
or cannot do on their property. Covenants are generally
classified into protective or restrictive. Restrictive
is more specific and tends to have a lot of detail
on what is allowed or not allowed. Protective covenants,
however, are designed to protect the land and its
value versus dictate what can or cannot be done.
For instance, protective covenants will say no mobile
homes and minimum square footage for a house. The
design and look of the home is up to the owner.
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How can I create a pond on my property?
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In Colorado, water is a precious
resource and the state actually has water laws and
a water court.
For information on what you are eligible to do with
water it is best to contact the Division of Water
Resources at (303) 866-3581.
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What does government or public land
mean in Colorado? |
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In general there are four types
of government or public lands in Colorado. They
are: National Forest, BLM (Bureau of Land Management),
State Land and National Monuments.
National forests comprise the second largest area
of public lands: almost 200 million acres, the equivalent
of California, Oregon, and Washington combined.
There are 155 national forests in the nation, mostly
in the West and in Alaska. The Forest Service was
established in 1905 and, in addition to national
forests, it also administers 20 national grasslands
covering four million acres. National forests are
administered under the concept of multiple use for
sustained yield, which tries to balance such diverse
activities as grazing, logging, mining, recreation,
and watershed protection. The total acreage for
National Forest in Colorado is 14,508,108 acres.
Grasslands comprise 628,380 acres of this.
The Bureau of Land Management administers 264 million
acres of public lands, most of it in the western
states. The ecological, aesthetic, and economic
value of these lands is inestimable. The BLM also
manages mineral rights underlying 564 million acres
of public lands. Founded in 1946 by combining the
General Land Office with the Grazing Service, the
BLM was considered a "multiple use" agency focusing
on grazing and the development of timber and mineral
resources. Today, the BLM also manages wilderness
areas, wild and scenic rivers, national conservation
areas, a national monument, watersheds, historic
and archaeological sites, and a multitude of recreational
activities in 12 western states. The BLM manages
8.3 million acres in Colorado for use such as recreation,
mining, wildlife habitat and livestock grazing.
The National Park System preserves some of the nation's
most spectacular scenery and hallowed cultural and
historical sites. Totaling 83 million acres, the
system includes 54 national parks with a combined
area of 54 million acres. Another 24 million acres
are in national preserves; unlike national parks
and monuments, the preserves allow hunting and the
extraction of minerals and fuels. The 369 individual
sites within the National Park System also include
national monuments, national seashores and lakeshores,
battlefields, historic trails, and buildings.
State land was established in 1876 and includes
more than 3 million acres of surface rights and
4 million acres of mineral rights that the federal
government gave to Colorado primarily to generate
revenue for public education. In Fiscal Year 1997-1998,
the State Land Board helped to provide a total of
$36.2 million in benefits to Colorado's public schoolchildren,
and nearly $800,000 to seven other smaller trusts.
The Board generates income for its trust beneficiaries
primarily through agricultural leases for grazing
and crop lands, mineral development
and interest earned on invested funds. In recent
years, the Board has
also expanded its efforts to increase revenue through
commercial development activities and leasing lands
for hunting, fishing and
other recreational activities.
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What is the difference between a "lot"
and a "parcel" of land? |
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The term "lot" is often found
when looking at houses or land for a house
in a town or city. It is traditionally smaller in
size than an acre. When you
hear the term "parcel" used it often symbolizes
acreage that is available such as 35 acres.
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What utilities are available for mountain
property? |
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Utilities for mountain land include
a well, septic system, propane gas, and sometimes
power and phone which may be underground.
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I hear terms I'm not familiar with
in land descriptions such as a draw, park-like setting,
knoll, or ravine. What do these mean? |
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Mountain land is often not flat!
There are terms used to describe the lay of the
land or to help you locate a boundary line visually.
A draw is defined as a natural drainage basin or
a gully. Park-like setting is sometimes used to
give you "the feel" of land. For instance, a park-like
setting is a really nice treed meadow, the perfect
combination of trees and meadows. A knoll is a small
rounded hill or mound. With mountain land, a knoll
can also be part of a larger mountain. A ravine
is a deep, narrow gorge that may have been formed
by a flow of water running through it. |
