5 Reasons to Own Virginia      Land

There are five reasons to purchase land in Virginia: history, escape from metropolitan areas, farms and timberland, water frontage, and Blue Ridge Mountain communities.

Boasting as the  Mother of Presidents, Virginia has a long history starting with the Indians before the Jamestown settlement. With three presidents and the University of Virginia located around Charlottesville, this location has gotten hot. The surrounding mountains and farm life have been meticulously described by Thomas Jefferson. Desirability, has caused land prices to rise in Charlottesville/ Albemarle county, but surrounding counties offer many great opportunities.

Virginia is known as a halfway state because it divides the northern from the southern states. Our land records show that many properties along the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay and our many lakes are owned by people from New York, New Jersey, the Washington metro area, Charlotte, and Raleigh. Even international ownership can be found around Smith Mountain Lake and Virginia Beach. Virginia tends to offer lower taxes and cost for land than its northern neighbors, making it more desirable.

Competing with the water sites is the Mountain region. This area tends to be less dense with bustling small communities in the Southwest, and two larger communities: Lynchburg and Roanoke, in the Central. Another difference between the Atlantic part of the state and the Mountain could be insurance. It is important that you do your due-diligence, which includes insurance costs, before purchasing anywhere.

Personal observation and studying tax records has shown me that people want to get away from their main house. In my hometown of Lynchburg I was surprised when I understood how many second homes were built within ten miles of primary homes one hundred years ago. As transportation improved the search for the second home expanded more in miles than the time it took to get there. This is why you find so many people from the Washington metropolitan area in Madison County, and inhabitants of Charlotte and Raleigh at Smith Mountain and Leesville Lakes.

“Agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry by far, with nothing else coming a close second. The industry has an economic impact of $70 billion annually and provides more than 334,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. The industries of agriculture and forestry together have a total economic impact of over $91 billion and provide more than 442,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. Every job in agriculture and forestry supports 1.7 jobs elsewhere in Virginia’s economy” – This text comes from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. I don’t think I could say it better. Farming and forestry are financial investments and it is important to use qualified REALTORS, those with the ALC® (Accredited Land Consultant) designation, to assist you.   Is president

Bill Burruss III is president of W. H. Burruss III, Inc. Real Estate. He is also president of the Virginia Chapter of the REALTORS Land Institute and was recent recipient the 2018 Land REALTOR of America award. For further information checkout, www.Acreage4U.com.