Five Reasons to Buy a Ranch This Year

At the start of a new year, we often say that “this will be the year for big changes.” One of the major changes which people want to achieve is to escape from the rat race of city living and enjoy life somewhere within this beautiful country. A viable option is to start ranching in one of the western states such as Colorado or Wyoming.

Living the life of a “cowboy” seems unrealistic to many people, but with hard work, there is no reason it can’t be a successful change in life for both you and your family. There are many reasons to buy a ranch this year, and here are five to consider.

 

Return on Investment

Even if you have no real desire to work the ranch or to live on the ranch, the land represents an excellent opportunity to gain considerable returns on investment. Owning large tracts of land in desirable locations is a valuable commodity, and income from the property can be raised in many different ways.

• Leasing Pasture Land:High-quality pastures are always highly sought after in cattle rearing states.
• Hunting and Fishing: Many ranches have extensive water rights and hunting tags within their boundaries. These can be leveraged to attract trophy hunters looking for premium experiences.
• Mineral Rights: Having access to the mineral rights to the land can lead to considerable profits if any mineral deposits are found under the ranch land.
• Dude Ranching: Another way to gain regular income from the land is to set up a dude ranch offering a wide range of activities.

 

Tax Benefits

Each state has different tax rules regarding land ownership, but ranch owners can usually qualify for tax breaks or deductions if they use the land for agriculture or participate in conservation programs. 

Get Away from It All

For some people, though, the choice to move out to a ranch is purely to get away from it all. This can be in the form ofa vacation getaway or as a new home altogether. For people who love being immersed in nature, owning a ranch is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Whether you are investing in a small or large ranch, you will have the feeling of being completely disconnected with the rest of civilization. Being surrounded by trees, creeks, and mountains as well as a diverse range of fauna is the antithesis of city living

A Wealth of Opportunities

Living on a ranch presents a wealth of opportunities for work and leisure. Depending on what state you opt for, there will be options to work the land as a cattle ranch or grow crops such as hay to support the local farming community. During your downtime, you can enjoy all the fantastic attributes of your ranch. If you love fishing, you could help cultivate productive fisheries on-site, or maybe there are outstanding trophy hunting within or near the ranch.

Choosing a ranch in a state like Colorado offers year-round possibilities for recreational activities for all members of the family. In the summer, horse rides and hiking are enjoyable, and during the winter, there are numerous world-class ski resorts on the doorstep. If you decide to offer lodging on the ranch, it is possible to maximize income streams throughout the year.

Sense of Pride

There is no doubt that owning and creating a successful ranch is a vast undertaking, but the pride of doing it is well worth it. Many ranch owners see it as a labor of love no matter what they use the ranch for.

After a busy day, the moment you sink into a chair on your porch, looking out across a stunning vista, is one that will never get old.