Lets talk about easements folks, once easements used to be put in place to stop developers from turning farmland into shopping malls and condos. I can get behind that.
But it seems people are trying to use easements to their own advantage these days. We recently came across an amazing house that came with a conservation easement, I’m all about conserving land and restoring it, however this easement came with rules that I’m just not down with.
- Not allowed to drive a tractor on the property that I purchase
- I’m not allowed to repair current or add a new structure.
- The grantor, their heirs, lawyers, and their heirs for years to come, are allowed to build a vacation home with a swimming pool….they can put a swimming pool on land that I am paying for, but if a barn is falling down, well that’s just too bad.
Let me just add, that this house had three hundred acres and we were only allowed to touch 10 of it. I think not.
This last week we fell in love with another house, this one had thirty acres and it seemed to fit perfectly….until our realtor emailed us the land deed
- Horses and cattle only
- Not allowed to put a trash can out for the garbage man, because it is unsightly
- No cutting down trees for firewood.
Now if we found a farm with an easement that stated “no condos, apartments, or strip malls shall be built, no pesticides, insecticides, or chemicals shall be sprayed” then heck, we are you’re people.
So there you have it folks, if you are selling a farm in New Hampshire and you have a crazy easement on it, good luck to you. If you are trying to sell a farm with a reasonable easement, well chances are, your house is on the list of houses to be viewing next week.
