Land Searching & Legal Documentation

Typically, I enjoy some good social media and recently I came across some information regarding ones ability to find land, farms, homesteads, etc. I then found another piece of media that broke down some of the legal steps you might want to take to make yourself more appealing to the USDA and any federal grants and programs.

Land Searches

General Marketplaces

  • LandWatch.com – Huge selection of farms, ranches, and rural land

  • LandAndFarm.com – Strong filters for acreage, price, and land type

  • Land.com – Aggregates listings from multiple land sites

  • LandSearch.com – Clean map tools + nationwide listings

Real Estate Platforms

  • Zillow.com – Hidden land deals mixed with home listings

  • Realtor.com – Solid inventory + agent connections

  • MossyOakProperties.com - robust filtering and search capabilities

Land-Specific Platforms

  • LandsOfAmerica.com – High-quality listings for farms, ranches, and hunting land

  • LandHub.com – Simple, land-focused search by state/county

  • LandFlip.com – Great for FSBO and off-market style deals

  • FarmFlip.com – Best for agricultural land

Off-Market / Hidden Deals

  • Facebook.com/Marketplace – Direct-from-owner opportunities

  • Craigslist.org – Underrated for rural deals

Bonus (Don’t Skip These)

  • Landio.com – Owner-financed land deals

  • LandCentral.com – Affordable rural land, often with financing

  • ClassicCountryLand.com – Smaller parcels + easy terms

  • GovDeals.com – Government land auctions (hidden gems)

  • Local MLS – Agents can unlock listings you won’t see online

  • LoopNet.com – good for larger tracts, farm, or mixed-use land

Most people check 1–2 sites regularly. To find the best deals, keep checking 5+ sites consistently.

Legal Documenation Steps/Options

Here’s a breakdown of where you can obtain an LLC, EIN, and trust for free or at minimal cost:

LLCs

Forming an LLC for Free while forming an LLC often incurs state filing fees, some platforms make the process affordable by only charging for state-required costs.

  • Incfile: Free LLC formation (you only pay the state filing fees). Offers tools to manage your business after formation.

  • ZenBusiness: Free LLC option with basic filing services; state fees still apply. Affordable plans for added features like operating agreements.

  • LegalZoom: Not free, but competitive and includes ongoing compliance reminders. Steps: Choose your state and file the Articles of Organization then pay the state’s mandatory filing fee (varies by state).

EIN

Getting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) An EIN is issued free of charge directly by the IRS.

  • IRS EIN Application: 100% free application process. Instant EIN issuance upon completing the online form. Steps: Go to the IRS website, select “Apply for EIN online”, then complete the form (you must have a valid Social Security Number or ITIN).

Trusts

Setting up and creating a trust typically involves legal work, but you can create basic trusts for free or at low cost using online tools.

  • FreeWill: Free platform for creating simple living trusts. Focuses on estate planning and charity bequests.

  • Do Your Own Will: Free trust creation templates for revocable living trusts.

  • Rocket Lawyer: Offers a free trial that includes trust creation tools. Subscription required for continued access. Steps: Decide on the type of trust (e.g., revocable living trust), use the online form to enter details about the trustor, trustee, and beneficiaries, then print and notarize your trust document (if required by your state).