Buying a property is an exciting, but sometimes overwhelming, experience. Looking for the right place for both you and your four-legged friends can be even more of a challenge. That’s why working with a horse farm realtor can cut down your search time and help you to find your next home.
Whether you’re looking to move from one farm to another or it’s your first time bringing your horse home to live with you permanently, equestrian realtors are the experts that you need to find your dream horse property.
Equestrian Realtors Know the Equestrian and Real Estate Industries
One of the biggest benefits to working with a dedicated horse farm realtor is that they have local expertise that you can’t find anywhere else. Many are personally involved in the equestrian industry and are enthusiasts themselves, beyond their obvious knowledge about the property market in your search area.
Buying a property is an exciting, but sometimes overwhelming, experience. Looking for the right place for both you and your four-legged friends can be even more of a challenge. That’s why working with a horse farm realtor can cut down your search time and help you to find your next home.
Whether you’re looking to move from one farm to another or it’s your first time bringing your horse home to live with you permanently, equestrian realtors are the experts that you need to find your dream property.
Needs That Equestrian Realtors Can Help With
When you’re looking at horse farms for sale in Ocala, your realtor will be able to give you insider insight into whether a property is right for you. Equestrian realtors understand the unique needs that you have beyond searching for a single-family home. That means that they won’t show you any properties that don’t live up to these requirements, saving you valuable time in the search process.
You’ll benefit from their expert knowledge and industry experience in key areas such as:
Acreage
The total amount of land that you need from a property will depend on the size of the house that you’re looking for, along with how many horses you plan to keep. Your realtor can advise you on whether a property under 10 acres would suit, whether something from 10-20 acres or 20-50 acres is best, or even properties over 50 acres for larger operations.
Barns
When your horses need to be stabled, your property should have an appropriate barn that can house your animals comfortably for their size and breed. The barn should have proper ventilation and stall flooring, along with good lighting and storage space for feed, hay, and tack.
Your realtor will be able to tell you whether any existing barns on the property are suitable. If you’ll need to build one yourself after purchase, they can also advise on-site locations and styles that adhere to local regulations and access to utilities like water and electricity.
Paddocks
Paddocks are typically fenced areas directly next to the barn, where horses can be separated and movement controlled. Depending on how you’ll be using the paddock, i.e. for an injured horse, breeding, or to monitor diet, your realtor can provide recommendations for the size and number of paddocks that you should be looking for.
Grass Type
Your horses will likely be spending most of their time in the pasture, so having high-quality grazing is essential. You don’t need to be an agricultural expert by any means, but understanding different grass types can save you money in supplemental feed.
You should also be aware of this if you plan to keep other animals besides horses. Both cattle and sheep are grass-eaters that can be rotated through adjoining fields to horses in order to improve grass turnover and reduce parasites. Your realtor can give you some suggestions on which properties allow for this setup.
Soil Type
Just like grass, soil type is also an important aspect to consider when looking at horse farms for sale in Ocala. If the ground isn’t right for the type of grass that you need, you’ll quickly find yourself spending large amounts of money on minerals and chemicals to adjust it.
The vegetation in your pastures does make a difference to the overall health of your horses. Ask your realtor questions about this when viewing properties.
Fencing
Fencing your pastures and paddocks can quickly become a costly endeavor. This is especially true if you have a large number of horses that need separating or rotated through different pastures across the year.
Ask your knowledgeable equestrian realtor for their thoughts on any existing fencing that a property might have, the general upkeep required, and any costs associated. You can also get their opinion on costs for adding additional fencing and what may be required for your particular needs.
Shade and Shelter
The Florida sun is incredibly hot for most of the year, so providing your horses with shade to shelter themselves in is essential. Look for any open barns or pasture shelters that already exist on the property and ask your realtor whether these are the appropriate sizes for the number of animals that they need to hold.
Training Facilities
You may or may not require training facilities at your new home, depending on the type of work that you do with your horses. If exercising your horses on-site is an important part of your move, your realtor should be able to find horse properties that feature the training pens that you need.
If dressage or showjumping arenas are already part of the properties that you’re viewing, talk to your realtor about the surfaces that are being used and what maintenance costs might look like. Round pens should be examined to ensure that they are structurally sound and safe for training your horses.
Off-Site Needs
Location really is everything when you’re looking for a new home, and that applies even more to horse farms.
If you’re looking at smaller properties without extensive training facilities, your realtor will be able to give you guidance on nearby tracks and arenas. In the Ocala area, the Florida Horse Park is a state-of-the-art facility that caters to all disciplines. The World Equestrian Center, Ocala Jockey Club, and HITS Post Time Farm all host world-renowned equestrian events all year.
Local vets and farriers are also essential when it comes to supporting the wellbeing of your horses. Your realtor should be able to give you the names of individuals within several miles of the properties that you’re looking at who can help you. This is also true of feed suppliers, as well as tack shops and other equestrian specialists.
When you work with a horse farm realtor, they will also be able to tell you more about the local equestrian community where you can meet other enthusiasts and help you get to know the area better. They’ll likely have details about events that you can attend, along with trails that you can ride on.
Home Features You’re Looking For
Even though finding the perfect place for your horses is your top priority, you also need to find a home that you will love living in. Your realtor will be able to match up any amenities or needs that you have for your home with the requirements that you have for your animals.
Whether you’re looking for a certain number of bedrooms or total square feet, a pool or beautifully-maintained garden, or even additional residences like guest houses, your equestrian realtor can help you to find what you’re looking for.
Particularly if you’re new to the area, an equestrian realtor can give you advice about maintenance and weather considerations that you may not have thought about. As horse-enthusiasts themselves, they have first-hand experience that can make your property search less stressful.
If you’re ready to start looking for a unique equestrian property or the horse property of your dreams, take a look at the current horse farms for sale in Ocala and contact our equestrian realtors today.
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