5 Important Considerations When Buying a Rural Property Near Calgary

Pay Attention to These 5 Things When Buying Rural Real Estate

Lots of people have dreamt about buying a rural property in and around the Calgary Metropolitan Area (CMA) for a number of reasons. We don’t blame them; Southern Alberta is absolutely beautiful with its deep valleys, rolling foothills, and sprawling gorges – not to mention the stunning acreages found all over the region.

If you’re one of the folks thinking about a rural property near the CMA, there are some important considerations you’ll want to make before moving forward with buying one. Here are a few tips for all you potential buyers of rural property near Calgary. Also see:

• Acreage Properties for Sale Near Calgary
• Foothills District Acreages for Sale
• Rocky View Acreages for Sale
• Rocky View vs. Foothills: Which Should You Choose?

#1 – Hire a Professional Realtor®

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again! Hiring a professional Realtor® is the number one thing you should always do before buying any type of property, let alone an expensive rural plot of land and house.

More often than not, rural properties have special requirements, bylaws and regulations that you should be made aware of before pursuing a listing, including (but not limited to):

• Real estate bylaws for the district or county you are considering
• School bus pick up and drop off for your children
• Garbage pick up (you may have to drop off garbage yourself)
• Fees associated with living on a private road (if any)
• Frequency of power outages and options of one does happen
• How to maintain your home during the winter

#2 – Get a Survey Done

Avoid headaches over property line disputes by having a professional survey done. A survey will provide you with documents marking the boundaries of your rural property, allowing you to see exactly what’s included in your purchase.

Consider also getting an aerial drone survey done to scope out your lot. If you have several acres or hectares under the title for your rural property, you’ll want to scan them with video surveillance to check for flooding, instability or other issues that can arise on rural lots.

#3 – Test the Water

Rural homeowners sometimes rely on wells as a source of water. It’s not always the case, but if the rural home you’re looking at buying does, make sure to get the water tested.

These wells can sometimes become contaminated, making the water unsafe to drink. A tainted water supply will not bode well for your family or livestock (if applicable), so testing it is the first step in protecting everything that you hold dear.

#4 – Evaluate the Septic System

Some rural homes near Calgary – unless in a developed community such as Watermark at Bearspaw – rely on a septic system for sewage storage and disposal. Finding out what the condition of this system is and its max storage volume should be a major priority for any potential rural home buyer.

For example, a listing that has undergone renovations may not have a septic tank large enough to supplement a medium-sized family. Double-check its size and make sure that your septic tank will be adequate for your rural lifestyle.

#5 – Shop Around & Trust Your Gut

Some rural homes may be simply better than others. Red flags encountered during the discovery process should indicate to look elsewhere for that perfect rural property near Calgary.

If you aren’t sure about how a certain feature of a rural home will affect your lifestyle, chat with your Realtor® and any friends/family that may have more knowledge on the subject.

After all, rural properties near Calgary aren’t cheap (in most instances), and such a large purchase should be taken with due care and diligence.

Questions about Rural Properties?

As top producing REALTORS® with RE/MAX House of Real Estate, we have the knowledge and tools to help you accomplish your rural real estate goals when the timing is right for you!

Give us a call anytime at 403-370-4008 or send us a message if you have any questions about the local real estate market or would like to know more about particular listings and we will be happy to help!

We are looking forward to connecting with you!