State and local governments in this country have adopted a number of policies to regulate the conversion of rural land to developed uses. One of the most significant and least understood is preferential assessment of rural land under the real property tax, often called use-value assessment (UVA) or current-use assessment. This book explains and analyzes the critical questions raised by this fiscal tool for farmland preservation. Under UVA, the assessments of various parcels of land within a given state may vary tremendously from property to property. A tract that is zoned residential with access to a turnpike might be assessed at $7,865 per acre. In the very same neighborhood, though, an even larger tract of vacant land might be assessed at a mere $127 per acre, which is far below the market value. How can there be such dramatic differences in the assessment of land values within the same community or neighborhood? Has the town assessor failed to treat property owners fairly and equally, as required by state law? Not at all. Nearly all states across the country permit, and even require, local assessors to value some parcels of undeveloped land far below their fair market values for the purpose of levying local property taxes. Despite their stated purpose of preserving rural lands from urban development, UVA programs can have unintended negative consequences. One is erosion of the legal and constitutional principle of uniformity of taxation; another is shifting of the local tax burden to other property owners, perhaps in a regressive manner. Occasionally UVA programs generate political controversy and even legislative action concerning "fake farmers" who enjoy low property tax bills, but whose land might only be used to sell firewood or Christmas trees to a few friends and neighbors. This volume explains the origins, key features, impacts, and flaws of use-value assessment programs across the United States. It describes in detail the process and characteristics of UVA programs in 44 states and recommends reforms. This book serves as a road map for public officials, scholars, and journalists concerned with agricultural taxation and land use issues.

This title aims to use social science research to contribute towards solving policy problems raised by the rural to urban land conversion process and by high land prices in particular. Ultimately, this book aims to develop the information useful to public decisions on zoning, taxation, public investments, transport systems, new towns, and so on, as they might affect the cost and quality of the conversion process. This book will be of interest to students of environmental studies.

Public concern over land management has never been greater. This book provides a broad overview of the economics of rural land-use change, drawing attention to the meaningful role economic analysis can play in resolving public concern and supporting future, pro-active land management strategies in rural areas. The book's breadth distinguishes it from other recent texts, as it jointly offers rigorous treatments of theoretical and empirical models of rural land-use change and practical discussions of applications and relevant methods. Chapters are specifically designed to demonstrate the types of land-use questions economic analysis can answer, the types of methods that might be employed to answer these questions, and the types of public policy decisions that may be supported by such analysis. The book makes a significant contribution to contemporary land-use research, highlighting the key methodological and public policy issues that will be central to future research on the economics of rural land-use change.

Eleven proven steps that can help you add value to your land are identified and clearly explained by a leading land broker. The steps offered in this short book can help you sell your land faster by improving its overall desirability and helping it stand out among other rural real estate tracts on the market. Top land real estate agents and brokers will try to guide their clients to making reasonable improvements on their property in an effort to get a better price for their land and to help it sell faster. You, as the land owner, can often get these improvements done in simple and cost-effective ways. Your informed effort on the front end can often make your reward on the back more than worthwhile! You will be able to see how some of these steps look on real land tracts of various sizes by seeing some of RecLand's listings at http: //www.recland.net. Many of the rural properties listed there will serve as real life examples. You can also hear more practical information related to this by watching some of the videos at http: //www.reclandtalks.com. RecLand Realty is the Duck Commander and Buck Commander Endorsed Land Broker and sells hunting land, timberland, farms and ranches in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Iowa and Missouri. We have a broad range of experience in selling land and land management and have captured some of that experience here to help you sell your land faster...or improve it for your own use and enjoyment. (tags: land, real estate, land agents, land brokers, land management, buying land, rural land, recreational land)