Whether you have found the perfect piece of land to build a home or are looking for a parcel of vacant commercial property to develop, sometimes it’s impossible to purchase property that has direct road access. These plots of land are known as landlocked. However, landlocked property does not have to be completely off limits for real estate buyers. It is possible to get access to landlocked property if you are willing to do some negotiating with neighboring property landowners to establish legal right of way or an easement on their land to allow you to gain access to your own land.
In many cases, landlocked property sells at a discounted price to account for the lack of direct road access. This is especially true of commercial properties that are landlocked behind a shopping mall or other large development. This can be a great deal for buyers that are interested in getting into a specific market or neighborhood but are not in a position to afford land with easy road access.
It is not uncommon to find landlocked properties in very desirable settings, such as the edge of a mountain or in wooded areas. It is also very common for these types of properties to be surrounded by lots owned by other people, meaning they have limited or no road access. Landlocked properties can also be located in an urban setting such as a downtown or suburban area.
If you have found the perfect piece of land for your dream home, or a great investment opportunity in an urban area, you may be tempted to buy it even though it’s landlocked. However, before you make any final decisions, be sure to take the time to speak with neighbors or property owners of the neighboring properties and ask them if they would grant you an easement. Whether they are willing to do so or not is going to depend on a number of factors, including their own level of comfort with you building a road through their property, whether they have a need for additional income from your road use or if the landlocked lot is adjacent to a public property that they do have access to.
When speaking with the adjoining property landowners, be polite and respectful and remember that they are likely to require compensation for granting you an easement. This could include the cost of installing a driveway, property taxes on the easement land and/or monetary compensation for any inconvenience they may experience as a result of you constructing a road that traverses their land.
If the adjoining property owners are unwilling to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution, it might be necessary to pursue a court order granting you access to the landlocked property through an easement by necessity. This is a process that requires substantial legal research and a thorough understanding of your local property laws. It is not an option that should be taken lightly, but it can be a viable solution for buyers that are prepared to fight for their rights to own landlocked property.