Any land buying tips- I have to buy this property & owner knows it.

[Wcross]

A four acre parcel in front of mine is going to be sold. My easement to the road runs through it and in all honesty I really don't want any neighbors. Right now the nearest neighbor is a half mile away and that's just about right for me.
There was a recent auction up the road for a similar sized lot and it went for 3800 dollars an acre. This land is similar in appearance but only has a half acre of level area if a house was to be built. It also is entirely wooded & runoff from an adjacent hay field has caused serious erosion directly through the center of the property. There is also runoff causing erosion from the road side of the property that has caused a depression. The end result is only one of the four acres is usable as a building site. There is no sewage or city water available and none seen on the horizon. In order to build a leech field for the septic they would have to build the house right on the road. In other words it isn't an ideal building lot.
Any strategy to not pay out the nose for this land? I do know he needs 8,000 for an upcoming bill he has to pay. I don't know yet if he is planning on listing it with a realtor or holding an auction. He knows I want to buy the land, I asked him what he was looking for and he stated 25,000 which is 6,000 an acre (2200 more than the recent sale up the road). The ABSOLUTE highest price I am willing to pay is 4000 an acre.
Any ideas? There is always a chance that someone from out of state will see land at 6000 an acre to be a "bargain" and buy it at his price. (we have been getting a lot of Florida refugee's moving here lately)
I want to pay him a fair price but not get taken.

[supernova]

1. I would try to find out what the tax assessment is

Odd are that if the land doesn't perk, not suitble for building, then it's assessed value is way below what he's asking. Any way, you'd have a better idea of the worth of it.

[trof]

2. Have you asked him how he came up with that price?

If you know him well enough, I would.
You should still have your easement, no matter who buys it.
You can't 'land-lock' a piece of property.

[Wcross]

3. We had a conversation.

He really didn't state why he felt it was worth what he was thinking. I believe he picked the highest number he had seen land go for in the area. He mentioned "the horse show people" (Tennessee walkers) numerous times. The show is on the 23rd of August and he hasn't listed it yet. I don't know why any horse people would want a wooded lot?????
He did give me one good hint, he is under pressure due to the upcoming bill he has to pay.

[trof]

4. I guess I'd tell him what you'd be willing to pay.

Maybe he'll come to his senses?
:shrug:

[flvegan]

5. Why do you "have" to buy it?

For the easement? If your access for ingress and egress is via this easement, it should be a covenant that runs with the land. That means it can't be abandoned by a new purchaser.

However, if it's just because you don't want neighbors (which I can understand) then that's different.

[Wcross]

7. Neighbor issues.

Just don't see a good reason to have one. The easement is good but I may have to move my gate back from where it is now (by the road).

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Call up Shrubya and ask him to "condemn" the land like he did around Ranger's stadium.

Then give the guy $40 for it all.

[Wcross]

8. Excellent! I will send my minions to do that directly!

I believe you told me about the vista "ready boost" a couple of days ago, right? I appreciate the information, my new drive arrived yesterday and really gave my computer a kick in the ass!