Top Land Buyers in Wooded & Timberland

How long does it typically take to sell vacant land in Nebraska?

In the 2025 Nebraska market, the average timeline to sell vacant land ranges from 6 to 12 months, though velocity is heavily dictated by land classification. High-quality, tillable farmland in regions like the East and Northeast districts remains a scarce asset and can often go under contract in as little as 45 to 60 days due to strong demand from local operators and institutional investors. Conversely, remote recreational tracts or dryland parcels in Western Nebraska may require 18 months to find a buyer. Sellers should expect a standard closing period of 30 to 45 days once an offer is accepted, as Nebraska’s centralized title and escrow processing is relatively efficient compared to regional averages.

What are the common closing costs for land sellers in Nebraska?

Nebraska is a title company state, meaning transactions are primarily facilitated by title agents rather than attorneys. While hiring an attorney is optional, they are often consulted for complex agricultural lease terminations or water rights transfers, with hourly rates averaging $248 per hour in 2025. Sellers typically pay between 6.5% and 9.5% of the final sale price, with real estate commissions and a newly adjusted transfer tax accounting for the majority of the total.

Specific costs for late 2025 include:

• Documentary Stamp Tax (Transfer Tax): Effective September 3, 2025, the rate increased to $2.32 for every $1,000 of the purchase price. For a $300,000 land sale, the seller would owe $696.
• Title Search & Insurance: Sellers customarily pay for the "Owner’s Title Policy," which generally costs between $800 and $1,500 for mid-range parcels.
• Closing/Settlement Fee: Title companies typically charge a fee ranging from $400 to $650 to manage the escrow and disbursement of funds.
• Recording Fees: Generally cost approximately $15 to $40 for the deed and any required groundwater hazard disclosures.

Do I need a survey to sell my land in Nebraska?

While a new survey is not strictly required by Nebraska law to transfer a deed, it is almost always required by lenders and title companies to provide an insurance policy without "boundary exceptions." In rural Nebraska, where section corners may be obliterated or fence lines have drifted over decades, a Boundary Survey is essential for large acreage to confirm exact tillable versus non-tillable counts. In 2025, a basic survey for a suburban lot costs $500 to $900, while large-scale agricultural acreage can exceed $3,000. Providing an existing survey (conducted within the last 10 years) is a major selling point that can expedite the due diligence period by 3 weeks.

How is the land market trending in Nebraska for the next 12 months?

The Nebraska land market is entering a period of divergence through 2026. For the first time in 46 years, the market value of average agricultural land declined by approximately 2% in 2025 due to lower commodity prices and elevated interest rates. However, grazing land and hayland have bucked this trend, seeing 1% to 5% growth driven by strong livestock prices. We expect for-sale inventory to increase by nearly 10% over the next year as multi-generational owners capitalize on record equity before potential further market cooling. Demand remains strongest for parcels with high-capacity irrigation potential or 1031 exchange eligibility.

Can I sell land in Nebraska if I have back taxes or title issues?

Yes, you can sell land with issues, but you must navigate Nebraska’s three-year tax lien process. In Nebraska, if property taxes go unpaid, the county treasurer sells a tax lien certificate at a March auction. The property owner then has a three-year redemption period to pay the back taxes plus 14% simple interest. If the debt is not redeemed within three years, the lien holder can initiate a foreclosure action to obtain the deed. Sellers should act within this window to ensure they can pay off the lien at closing and retain their remaining equity.

For land in probate, Nebraska law allows for a "Power of Sale". If the decedent's will explicitly grants the executor the power to sell real estate, the property can be sold without a specific court order for the sale itself. If the estate value is under $100,000, a simplified Affidavit for Transfer of Real Property may be used after 30 days, reducing the sale timeline from 9 months to roughly 60 days.

What is the most in-demand type of land in Nebraska right now?

The most in-demand land use in Nebraska for 2025 is Utility-Scale Renewable Energy and Livestock Grazing. As the state expands its energy grid, large tracts of flat land near high-voltage transmission lines are fetching premium prices for solar and wind leases. Additionally, non-tillable grazing land in the Central and Southwest districts is seeing heavy competition from cow-calf producers capitalizing on high beef prices. In urban corridors like Omaha and Lincoln, Industrial Infill land for logistics and data centers remains highly sought after, driven by the state's central U.S. location and low energy costs relative to the national average.