Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Brought to you by Scott P. Rogers, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540-578-0102, scott@HarrisonburgHousingToday.com
Monday, July 28, 2025
If you've ever sold (or tried to sell) a piece of land you've probably notice that it usually takes longer than selling a home.
But why?
There are a few key reasons why land tends to move more slowly than houses in our local market...
1. Buying a home immediately solves a need.
Most home buyers are making a decision because they need housing -- now. Whether they're relocating, buying a larger house, downsizing, or just ready to stop renting, there's usually a timeline and some sort of a sense of urgency. Buying land, on the other hand, doesn't provide immediate housing. It's just the first step in a longer process of planning, designing, permitting, and building -- that can stretch out over many months (or years).
2. Many people definitively decide to buy a home -- fewer people definitively decide to to buy land.
When someone starts their home search, they've often made a clear decision... we're going to buy a home. With land, that decision is usually not as clear. People often think about buying land, especially if they dream of building one day, but it's a slower, more tentative process. Many land buyers are still deciding if they want to build -- and when -- which naturally leads to a longer decision-making process.
3. It's easier to evaluate a house than a piece of land.
A buyer can walk through a home and quickly assess whether it fits their needs. With land, even if a buyer loves the location, views, acreage, or price, there are still many unanswered questions... what will we build, who will build it, how much will it cost, and more. These unknowns can make it harder for a land buyer to get to a decision on moving forward.
So, what does this mean if you're selling land?
Be prepared for a slower process. Land buyers move through their decisions much more gradually, often weighing variables that don't come into play with an existing home. It's not unusual for land to sit on the market longer than a house -- even in a strong real estate market.
That doesn't mean land won't sell -- it just means it usually takes more time, patience, and the right buyer who's ready to take on the longer journey that starts after the sale.
But why?
There are a few key reasons why land tends to move more slowly than houses in our local market...
1. Buying a home immediately solves a need.
Most home buyers are making a decision because they need housing -- now. Whether they're relocating, buying a larger house, downsizing, or just ready to stop renting, there's usually a timeline and some sort of a sense of urgency. Buying land, on the other hand, doesn't provide immediate housing. It's just the first step in a longer process of planning, designing, permitting, and building -- that can stretch out over many months (or years).
2. Many people definitively decide to buy a home -- fewer people definitively decide to to buy land.
When someone starts their home search, they've often made a clear decision... we're going to buy a home. With land, that decision is usually not as clear. People often think about buying land, especially if they dream of building one day, but it's a slower, more tentative process. Many land buyers are still deciding if they want to build -- and when -- which naturally leads to a longer decision-making process.
3. It's easier to evaluate a house than a piece of land.
A buyer can walk through a home and quickly assess whether it fits their needs. With land, even if a buyer loves the location, views, acreage, or price, there are still many unanswered questions... what will we build, who will build it, how much will it cost, and more. These unknowns can make it harder for a land buyer to get to a decision on moving forward.
So, what does this mean if you're selling land?
Be prepared for a slower process. Land buyers move through their decisions much more gradually, often weighing variables that don't come into play with an existing home. It's not unusual for land to sit on the market longer than a house -- even in a strong real estate market.
That doesn't mean land won't sell -- it just means it usually takes more time, patience, and the right buyer who's ready to take on the longer journey that starts after the sale.
