This is a must read for the professional and novice country real estate buyer. We purchased Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country in 1974 and have used it as our source of valuable information since then. Though the cover is now a bit tattered and dated, the book has a prominent place on our bookshelf. It was this book that caused us to look realistically at a piece of property and to put emotion aside. We can honestly say that the book saved us from making purchasing mistakes that would have been financially devastating back when we had very little money. This had to do with investigating access to landlocked property. It looked like a good deal until we found we couldn't legally get to the property without going through a lengthy and costly court fight. We have purchased over 50 pieces of rural property and have used the book as a primer for each purchase. The book's contents prompt us to think out of the box and to question those things that seem to be appropriate on their face, but may have underlying problems. We suppose it's time to buy the newest revision, however, we have scrawled notes on the pages of the old book and that provides a 30-year history of the deals we have completed. It would be like getting rid of an old friend. Final note- we were prompted to take that step of living a life rather than making a living after reading the book for the first time. It gave us the confidence that 20-year olds typically lack. Thanks to the Scher's for making our lives better. We wake up every morning to the sounds of a waterfall in the stream that meanders down to our own private lake. Our dreams came true due, in no small part, to Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country.

... the author is a long practicing attorney in rural real estate. This book requires STUDY, not just reading, but the author does a good job of keeping you out of the legalese. You will understand EVERYTHING with careful reading.

I bought similarly titled books written by real estate agents, and these are nearly worthless by comparison. The real estate agent stands to profit from the transaction, and he puts his own interests ahead of both seller and buyer, especially if he can get his hand into the legal documents to prevent his being held responsible for anything at all.

Let me make a point that is not mentioned by the other reviewers or the book: Various deal-breakers can come up while the deal is in the escrow process, but that is AFTER the price has been agreed and the sales contract signed. Using this book's advice, you can discover most of those encumberances ON YOUR OWN before you make the offer, as well as making a good personal inspection of the property and house before you hire a professional inspector on your behalf.

Look out, Mississippi! I'M COMING HOME!

I purchased this book along with two others as we embark on our journey to move to the country. The other two books were very good at helping to identify location and prospective properties. "Finding and Buying" is the reference to winnowing propsective properties. Les Scher goes into great and well written detail on what to look for and look out for relative to the common issues of water, surveying, easements and access. Additionally, Les describes Eminent Domain, Condemnation and Adverse Posession; things to consider in a rural purchase. The model contract alone is worth the price of the book!
Les - If you ever read this, THANK YOU!