RURAL LAND RESOURCES
The resources on this page represent a huge time saver for anyone interested in buying, selling or owning rural land near Houston. Of course we can’t guarantee the information service provided by these resources but they were chosen because of their wide spread use in the rural land community of Texas.
We have included useful items (some serious, some fun) such as books, websites, publications, blogs, software, vendors, organizations, articles, and vendors. If you have a resource to add, please CONTACT US. Thanks in advance.
ORGANIZATIONS
Realtors Land Institute
The RLI is the oldest and largest organization for land professionals in the nation. These folks represent the top tier of the land profession. They award the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation. The Houston Chapter is the largest in the nation. You can visit their website at rlitexaschapter.com
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM LANDMEN- AAPL
Landman refers to a role in oil and gas with responsibilities including researching property titles, maintaining leases and auditing mineral rights.
King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management
Texas A&M University at Kingsville offers the only Master of Science in Ranch Management in the World.
Texas Land Brokers Network
TLBN is a forum for brokers, lenders and vendors specializing in rural land near Houston. They network and provide educational activities for their members.
Texas Alliance of Land Brokers
TALB is an association of land brokers, lenders and related professionals located statewide but concentrated primarily in the Hill Country and southwest Texas.The host monthly luncheons and sponsor educational presentations.
TCU Ranch Management Program
Beginning in 1955 TCU has offered an intensive 9 month ranch management certification program to individuals interested in agriculture asset management.
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
TSCRA is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. They have published The Cattleman Magazine since 1941.
Future Farmers of America
FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education.
Texas Real Estate Research Center
The real estate center at Texas A&M is the nations’ largest publicly funded organization devoted to real estate research. The Centers’ staff conducts research on financial, socioeconomic, public policy, trade, legal, land use and local market analysis issues related to real estate.
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
A network of 250 county extension offices and 900 professional educators provide resources, teaching and extension services for rural Texas communities.
American Society of Farm and Ranch Managers and Rural Appraisers
Members of the ASFMRA specialize in agriculture and rural properties. They award the Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) and the Real Property Review Appraisers (RPRA) designations. The ASFMRA is the oldest appraisal organization in the United States and their designations are highly regarded.
SOFTWARE AND APPS
TerraStride Mapping
TerraStride pro is an advanced next generation mapping program which is easy to use and provides a robust toolset for creating and editing maps of rural property.
MapRight
Web based GIS custom mapping system to map geographical areas and individual properties with tools such as georeference, layer mapping, centralized dashboard and cloud based interactive maps for desktop and mobile. It is probably the top choice of rural professionals nationwide.
LandGlide
I use LandGlide on a daily basis. It is one of the most advanced Parcel Data and Property Line map mobile apps on the market. It uses GPS to show you which parcel you are on or near.
WEBSITES AND BLOGS
Rural Land Near Houston Blog
If you are interested in the ownership, buying and selling of rural property and the country lifestyle within 100 miles of Houston, this weekly blog post is what you are looking for.
Texas Landowners Association
Great organization for both land owners and folks interested in Texas land. Their website features one of the best resource pages and blogs related to rural Texas land.
Land Broker CO-OP
This is a cooperative owned by licensed real estate agents, brokers, lenders, and appraisers who specialize in rural property. It features nationwide land listings, a magazine, property alerts, insurance, list of lenders, a resource page and a blog. Land Broker Co-op members receive discounts from Landhub another national listing service.
Texas Ag Land Blog
Tiffany Lashmet, Agriculture Law Specialist, writes a blog for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service which is generally considered the go to source for commentary and updates on agriculture law in Texas. She frequently travels throughout Texas speaking at various meetings and conferences on issues affecting Texas landowners.
Texas Listing Service
This listing service is aimed primarily at rural property, both land and homes in South Central Texas. It is very well designed and easy to use. The membership fees are very reasonable. I use the comparable sales feature regularly. There is a find an agent feature. The staff quickly answers any questions.
Land Watch
LandWatch is owned by land.com just as is Lands of Texas. A listing on one will end up on the other. It features listing of all types of rural property. Additionally, they provide information about international property and also land auctions. Agents can advertise on the website and a feature makes finding agents quite easy.
LandFlip
This is a land marketing platform network of listing sites to include landflip, farmflip, ranchflip, lotflip, auctionflip and commercialflip. They maintain landthink an extensive blog. They conduct an email network through which they market their listings. They also feature information about auctions, property for lease and for sale by owners.
LandHub
LandHub is a rural property listing service with a national outreach. It features a blog and buyer’s profiles. They market aggressively across social media and by using email lists. They network with the Realtors Land Institute and the Land Broker Co-op. I use them often and have found their technical support to be impressive.
Lands of Texas
Lands of Texas features a comprehensive coverage of rural property listings throughout Texas to include land, farms, ranches, recreational properties and country estates. They publish Texas Land an upscale magazine quarterly. It is an extensive website providing information about rural land agents, comparable sales, and a monthly analysis of traffic to each individual agent’s listings.
Landgate
Landgate is a listing service and blog which includes information about land, solar, wind, carbon, oil & gas, minerals and water. The focus is on the exchange and valuation of energy and environmental resources. A glossary of terms is included. The platform includes an online market place.
Rethink : Rural
This is one of the most comprehensive blogs on the rural lifestyle I have run across. Topics range from what kind of ATV to buy to garden prep, from how to build a pond and from financing property to how many acres you need to raise cattle. Content includes property listings, a blog and an index of rural property specialists.
RuralOnly.com
Rural Only is a property listing site which does not include property within city limit. There are no featured property or display ads in order to make the site navigation very easy for users.
Quailpro, LLC
This website/blog belongs to Jim Mullen, well known wildlife consultant and and ranch broker in South Texas. He is the author of Finding, Buying and Developing a South Texas Ranch. This book is one of the best guides I have run across. He lays out a step by step process for the individual who wants to have a successful hunting ranch in the South Texas brush country.
Solar Energy Industries Association
Solar farms are a popular use for rural land but they may or may not suit your needs. I have included this website because of its resource list and also the directory of companies in the solar farm industry.
Texas Oil and gas attorney blogs
This is a blog produced by Aimee Hess a Texas based attorney who specializes in oil and gas. I have not had an occasion to work with Ms Hess accordingly I am not endorsing her. However, her posts are excellent and I think you will enjoy them.
Texas Rural Water Association
This group is heavily involved in Texas rural water resources and especially rural water districts. The site includes a blog with primarily political and legal developments.
LENDERS
Capital Farm Credit
Capital Farm Credit is the largest farm credit bank in Texas and has offices throughout the greater Houston Metro area. They provide all types of agribusiness lending to include land purchase, homes, equipment and operating loans.
Texas Farm Credit
Texas Farm Credit provides flexible financing for agriculture production, agribusiness, rural real estate and rural homes. They also provide insurance that helps customers manage risk. They have offices throughout South and East Texas.
West Texas National Bank
West Texas National has been making farm and ranch production and energy loans since 1904. They are located in Midland and serve the West Texas area.
Lone Star Ag Credit
Lone Star AG Credit is part of the Farm Credit System. They have 16 offices and serve 48 counties in North and East Texas. They offer Ag loans and insurance for mortgage, life and disability.
Heritage Land Bank
Heritage Land Bank is part of the Farm Credit System and provides loans for a wide variety of agribusiness purposes. They are headquartered in Tyler and have offices in North and East Texas.
PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES
Farm and Ranch Publication
Farm & Ranch has excellent publications and website featuring information about agents and high end properties.
Minerals, Surface Rights and Royalty Payments
Texas Real Estate Research Center technical report by Judon Fambrough is a good summary of surface and mineral rights in Texas.
The Appraisal of Easements
Article by Albert N. Allen in the International Right of Way magazine dealing with the impacts on value of easements and rights of way on rural land.
Easements in Texas
This is an excellent treatment of legal aspects of easements in Texas by Judon Fambrough with the Texas Real Estate Research at Texas A&M.
Guidelines for Qualifications of Ag Land in Wildlife Management Use
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Publication related to Wildlife Exemption.
Application for 1-d-1 (Open Space Use Appraisal)
Ag exemptions are managed by counties in Texas. Send the Agriculture Exemption Form to the County Appraisal District in which the property is located.
Agriculture, Timber and Wildlife Management Use Special Appraisal
Complete resource for exemptions on open space land. Provided by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Home Security: Understanding and Negotiating Title Insurance
Texas Real Estate Research resource with detailed explanation of Section 6, Title Policy and Survey of the Farm and Ranch Contract (TREC).
TPWD Wildlife Management Valuation FAQ
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department answers to typical questions asked about wildlife exemption.
TPWD Legal Summary of Wildlife Management Use Appraisal
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department resource regarding Ad Valorem taxes.
BOOKS
Finding, Buying and Developing a South Texas Ranch
Jim Cullen, well known wildlife consultant, is the author of this book. It is one of the best guides I have read. He lays out a step by step process for the individual who wants to have a successful hunting ranch in the South Texas brush country.
Texas BBQ: Small Town To Downtown
Coffee table size book featuring photographs of BBQ joints across Texas.
Buying Rural Land in Texas
Great basic reference book by Charles E. Gilliland. Dr. Gilliland is a Research Economist with the Real Estate Research Center and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Agriculture Economics at Texas A&M University.
The Texas Farm and Ranch Buyers Guide
J. Blair wrote this primer on the Farm and Ranch Contract and Closing. It is one of the best I have read.
Sharing the Common Pool: Water Rights in Texas in the Everyday Life of Texans
Water Rights expert, Charles R. Porter, PHD explains in the simplest possible terms who has rights to water in Texas. Who determines who has those rights and who benefits or suffers because of it.
The Raven
The Pulitzer Prize winning biography of the legendary Sam Houston. He was President of the Republic of Texas, US Senator from Texas and Governor of Texas. This book is considered to be the classic work of the Hero of San Jacinto.
A Beginners Handbook For Rural Texas Landowners: How to Live in the Country Without Spoiling It.
Jim Stanley has written a wonderful primer dealing with native grasses, trees and wildlife. It will of particular interest to those interested in a wildlife exemption.
Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans
Written by T. R. Fehrenbach, this is considered to the Classic History of Texas.
The King Ranch
This is the classic history of the King Ranch (two volumes) written by Tom Lea.
TITLE COMPANIES
Botts Title Company
Botts Title Company was established in 1883. They have offices throughout South Central Texas.
VENDORS
South Texas Surveying
South Texas Surveying Associates is Houston based and provides all phases of land surveying to include ALTA/NSPS land title surveys, Category 1A Condition ii surveys, residential surveys, placating services and elevation certificates.
Texas 1031 Exchange
The folks at Texas 1031 Exchange are based in Sequin. They are members of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA) and hold the Certified Exchange Specialist (CES) designation.
CourtHouse Direct
Houston based CourtHouse Direct provides links to courthouse records nationwide. Information available includes Grantor and Grantee Indexes and images of courthouse documents. They also provide custom reports.
SUMMARY
If you are a newcomer to the country, or even if you have been there awhile, there is always something new to learn. Hopefully, the above resources will save you time and money plus make you aware of activities and services you might not have run across. We are happy to add to the list, so let us know about any information you think would be helpful. Contact Us Today!
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