Selecting a Broker

Working with a farmland specialist when buying agricultural real estate makes sense. It can result in savings in the purchase price and the long-term return on investment. The seller will have a broker working on his behalf; shouldn't you? Ask yourself these questions when evaluating a broker to help you with any ag land purchase.

Does the broker:   

• Specialize in farmland sales?
  
  
• Make you feel comfortable with the sales process and encourage your questions?
  
  
• Communicate professionally with you, answering questions and explaining terms and procedures clearly?
  
  
• Have the experience to help you set realistic investment parameters for  your farmland purchase?
  
  
• Know farmland values in the area you wish to buy? Provide you with recent comparable sale information to support this value?
  
  
• Have experience in analyzing and assessing farmland values and understand the variables that will impact long-term return on investment?
  
  
• Understand complex financing arrangements?
  
  
• Deal regularly with out-of-state and/or institutional sales?
  
  
• Have experience in tax-deferred exchanges?
  
  
• Know how to maximize the purchase price via brokered sale and via auction?