How Does Acquiring a Ranch
​Differ from Buying a House?
​​Making a wise investment in a ranch property needn’t be difficult, but it does entail a different set of skills and poses risks that differ from most people’s experience when buying a home.

Ranching offers a wonderful, healthful, lifestyle. Like a family home, it becomes the cornerstone of your family life, often for multiple generations.

Ranches have consistently proven to be savvy investments when purchased and maintained with a careful eye toward eventual resale value.

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How Does Acquiring a Ranch
Differ from Buying a House?

By Lem Lewis
The Ranch Broker

​Making a wise investment in a ranch property needn’t be difficult, but it does entail a different set of skills and poses risks that differ from most people’s experience when buying a home.

Ranching offers a wonderful, healthful, lifestyle. Like a family home, it becomes the cornerstone of your family life, often for multiple generations.

Ranches have consistently proven to be savvy investments when purchased and maintained with a careful eye toward eventual resale value.

As a fourth-generation Texas rancher, I pride myself on helping others make wise choices, whether buying or selling a ranch.

Like purchasing a home, buying a ranch the correct way involves accurate appraisals, carefully prepared title documents, identifying and closing on an affordable mortgage, a thorough inspection, and the search for just the right property to serve you and your family’s needs, tastes, and budget. 

To the casual observer, the property may appear fine. But a ranch specialist may be able to pick up on less-obvious risks, such as flooding or fire. Even when the ranch itself is located away from a water source, like a river, it can be impacted by water runoff.  

Ranching, however, encompasses additional dynamics that seldom arise with home-buying.

A ranching title may include, or preclude, important mineral reservations or royalties. There may be specific timber-related clauses, or grazing and wildlife rights that limit the ranch-owner’s flexibility.

Ranch inspections should extend well beyond the house, itself, to include a careful analysis of surrounding water and soil conditions, and possible erosion. This is especially true for large ranch properties, such as those I typically handle.

To the casual observer, the property may appear fine. But a ranch specialist may be able to pick up on less-obvious risks, such as flooding or fire. Even when the ranch itself is located away from a water source, like a river, it can be impacted by water runoff.  

If you have questions about buying or selling a ranch, please don’t hesitate to contact me. The more you know, the greater your chance of acquiring the right property and maximizing both your investment and enjoyment.

I’ve designed a series of short videos, “Ask Lem,” that address common questions I hear from both ranch buyers and sellers. You’ll find them here [http://www.theranchbroker.com/ask-lem-faq.html]

For more detailed answers, I’m always just a phone call away – 210-275-3551. It would be my pleasure to speak with you and share my experiences in buying and selling great Texas properties. Live water ranches and large acreage transactions are my specialties.