Lou Jewell, ALC is a reputable land broker practicing in North Carolina. Last year he wrote an article listing 93 land Disclosure issues that a buyer or seller might come across in a rural land transaction. Although most of my transactions are more urban than rural, I have run up against many of these same issues. For anyone interested in buying or selling land, here are some issues that may come into play. Are you aware of  any: encroachments, easements, endangered species, flooding, groundwater contamination, landfills, mineshafts, odors, pipelines, tunnels or wells? How about conservation easements, capped wells or burial sites? Has the land been tested for Radon or Methane gas? Is there a possibility that any type of underground storage tank has ever been present?  How about soil settlement, drainage, earth movement,erosion,  or fissures? Do you have a survey? Is it an ALTA or standard boundary survey? Is your land subject to CC&R’S and or Design Guidelines? How about local zoning, hillside, hilltop and floodplain regulations ?

Those were only 29 potential disclosure issues rather than 93. I guess the important point is understanding the critical issues involved in the transaction that you’re considering and going into it with your eyes wide open.

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