How to Avoid Buying Useless Florida Swampland

Everyone wants their little space in paradise. If you don't check the background before buying land in Florida (or elsewhere), you could end up with a useless property. Here's advice from the Lake County (FL) Property Appraiser's Office and from the Florida Attorney General.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• phone
• internet access

1. 

   Call the local property appraiser and ask about the location. Check this website to get the property appraiser's name, address and email for each Florida county: http://www.propertyappraiser.com/
   Move the cursor over the map (without clicking) and the info appears.

2. Look at the assessed value and annual taxes for the property. If the owner paid less than $1 in taxes for more than an acre of nonhomesteaded property, that should be a warning sign.

3. Check with local officials about zoning and land-use regulations. Ask about roads and utilities serving the property. Find out what you would be allowed to build.

4. Check out the seller. If looking at property for sale online, try to verify the seller's background. Some sites like E-Bay use a rating system for sellers.
   If it's a development, then check with HUD, your local and state consumer office, Better Business Bureau, and state agencies that regulate real estate salespersons and contractors to learn if there have been any complaints. Find out the length of time the company has been in business. Research the public records to determine if there have been any civil actions brought against the salesperson or the developer.

5. Visit the property before buying if at all possible.

Resources

• Find the county property appraiser
• Florida Attorney General's site on land scams
• Read more about Florida's swamps

[pointer]

on 1/18/2009 Good advice. I did not think abt. the property value