Farming Land: Listings, Loans and Checks

Farming land is sold through brokers, auctions and private sales. Checks matter more than speed.

Updated Oct 20, 2026. Edited by: Ilyass Ben Hakim.

Where to buy

Land listing sites, farm brokers and land auctions carry most sales. Retiring farmers also sell privately. Ask neighbors, the county extension office and farm lenders who is selling.

Professional insight

Land buyers price ground on soil, water and access. The house and sheds come second.

Pull the soil survey map before your first visit.
Water rights can be sold apart from the land.
Check whether current tenants hold a lease into next season.
Walk drainage after heavy rain, not on dry days.

Check the label

Legal description and parcel number match the county record.
Total and tillable acres are both stated.
Zoning allows the farming you plan.
Water rights or well permits transfer with the sale.
Easements and rights of way are listed.
Recent survey date and boundary markers are noted.
Property tax amount and any farm-use status are shown.
Mineral rights are included or excluded in writing.

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Before you buy

Write down what you will grow or raise.
Draw a balance sheet and a simple farm business plan.
Test whether the plan cash flows at today's loan rates.
Get lender pre-approval before you call brokers.
Budget for title work, survey and closing costs.

Financing

Farm Credit lenders, local banks and USDA FSA all lend on land. FSA Farm Ownership loans help buyers who cannot get commercial credit.

FSA may ask for a decline letter from another lender first. Its loans can be slow. Allow 90 to 100 days to close.

Buying steps

1Set your budget and secure lender pre-approval.
2Shortlist parcels and read each soil survey.
3Visit in different seasons if you can.
4Order a title search and environmental check.
5Make an offer subject to financing and inspections.
6Close through a title company or land attorney.

Questions for the seller

What did the land yield over recent seasons?
Which chemicals or manure were last applied?
Are there drainage tiles, and where do they run?
Is any acreage enrolled in a conservation program?
Are there boundary or access disputes with neighbors?

Red flags

No legal access road to the parcel.
Seller refuses a survey or title search.
Water rights are vague or held by someone else.
Signs of dumping, old fuel tanks or buried debris.
Wire transfer requested before any title work.

Common questions

Can I buy farming land online?: You can find listings and bid in online auctions. Closing still needs title work and signed deeds.
How long does a farmland purchase take?: Plan for about three months. Government loans often take longer.
Who checks soil quality?: Start with the official soil survey. A soil lab or agronomist can test samples.