Definition of "Rural Property"

When we think of rural property or rural real estate, most of us think of farms, properties with large areas designated to agricultural land. That’s how rural communities generally look. But there’s more to rural properties than how they look. The first distinction for a rural property was made in 1874 by the U.S. Census Bureau. In the beginning, considered rural areas had 8,000 people or less, but in 1910 the figure dropped to 2,500 residents. Today, rural areas consist of less than 500 residents per square mile and fewer than 2,500 residents.

The reasons why rural areas need to be defined are zoning and funding. Zoning administers how the areas are developed and used to protect them while funding deals with the amount of federal funding invested at the county level.

What is considered Rural Property?

While rural properties can be of any type, shape, or form, some types are predominant: farms, ranches, stables, and homes. Because of the architectural aspect of rural life in cities like Upper Marlboro, MD and economy, livestock and heavy equipment are included, and large land is expansive for crops if people want to learn how to grow vegetables.

The general characteristics of the rural property or rural real estate are that at least 50% of the parcel is vacant. The size of the rural property parcel is also at least one acre, perfect for those that want to make some homemade recipes straight from their garden. Those are the two standards, but there are other elements that appraisers consider when determining whether a property is rural or not.

In rural areas, the most reliable way to access running water, heating, and sewers is to supply it for each rural property, unlike suburban properties. Most rural properties have wells for water, furnaces for the heat, and a septic system for the waste. The property’s use can also determine whether it’s rural or not. Raising livestock or farming on your land will make the property more rural than not, and the existence of a dirt road might also sway an appraiser’s decision.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

The meaning of a disclosure statement is a legal document signed by both parties, the lender and the borrower or buyer. This statement outlines the terms and conditions, the potential ...

Oral or written contract that is not enforceable by the judicial system. Examples are contracts with minors, fraudulent agreements and contracts that exceed the statute of limitations. ...

The abstract of judgment definition is best explained as a written summary of the judgment passed by a court. This abstract of judgment includes the amount of money the losing party of a ...

Securities supported by a pool of mortgages. The principal and interest are due monthly in the mortgages and are passed through to the investors who bought the pool. ...

The geographic moving of an individual from one region to another usually because of a change in employment. Relocation normally involves the complete moving of the individual's ...

Device that places the ownership of real property with one or more trustees for security until the loan is paid by the debtor. It is used in place of a conventional mortgage contract in ...

Estimated value of property after a specified time period. ...

Building or other structure used to receive, hold, and issue products and other goods for a fee. A warehouse is a commercial property typically located in an industrial area. ...

Regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) establishing the criteria to avoid a private offering. For example, John wants to sell shares in an apartment house to several ...

Popular Real Estate Questions