Rural Residential Property

Rural Residential Property
••• country road image by Soja Andrzej from Fotolia.com

Rural residential property, according to real estate professionals, is a piece of land zoned for residential use that is located in a less densely populated area than cities. This can include agricultural or farming areas. In many senses, it is the direct opposite of city or urban property.

Geography

Rural residential property can be found across the globe. Typically it is thought of as farmland in the plains. However, rural property can still be found for purchase in mountainous regions, dessert areas and tropical regions, among others.

Identification

Rural property is land in which there is open country and with less than 2,500 people in the area, according to the United States Census Bureau. This would equate to less than 1,000 people per square mile of land. The United States Department of Agriculture defines rural property as a city or town that has a population of less than 50,000 people. The Office of Management and Budget defines rural areas as those that fall outside of metropolitan areas. They are broken down further into areas that have populations that range from 10,000 to 50,000 residents.

The National Center for Education Statistics considers rural areas to be any areas that are outside of an urban area. Rural Residential Property is usually bought and sold with land acreage. Typically rural residential lots are those with no less than an acre.

Read More: Meaning of RE-1 Zone

Considerations

It is wise for owners to build a property plan for their rural property. Identify the property features (farm buildings, yards, yards, fences) and land management units (soil type, slope, vegetation, and water resources). Use topographic maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery to help identify features like dams, drainage lines, vegetation types, and erosion. At this point, the owner can set goals and objectives for the property. With a rural property, crop farming, cattle ranching and dairy farming are just three of many options for the owner to consider.

Benefits

The rural lifestyle is attractive to many property owners. It is usually quite peaceful and quiet. Rural properties that are just outside of urban areas are driving the growing trend of rural property ownership. Being surrounded by open space and the natural environment is appealing to those willing to take on this type of ownership.

Warnings

Living on rural residential property may require more knowledge and skills than living in an urban area. The property owner will need understanding on the management of land, water, weed, animal, fire and biodiversity issues. Many rural properties are subject to the jurisdiction of a conservation authority, which can impose severe restrictions on any construction or alteration of the land.

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