Buying or selling property can be a complex, time-consuming process. Without the guidance and professional help of an experienced land specialist, the land market can seem foreign to a regular person. That's why many turn to Mossy Oak Properties for qualified expertise and knowledge of the latest industry trends, regulations, land values and market factors.
Brokers at Mossy Oak Properties develop both professional and personal relationships with their clients, getting them the best deal for a tract of land. Unlike other brokerages, MOP has the proven track record and national reach to help connect clients with the land of their dreams. To highlight this connection, we spoke with one of the very best in business, Bobby Harrell of Mossy Oak Properties North Carolina Land and Farm in Nags Head, North Carolina.
What's the most enjoyable/rewarding part of your job at Mossy Oak Properties?
Without a doubt, helping an individual or family identify and acquire the right tract of land to fit their needs and future goals. Knowing that their family will create many wonderful memories spending time together enjoying the outdoors.
What drives you to go above and beyond for your clients?
After 30+ years in the business, I am still not driven by the financial success, but the satisfaction of helping people, whether it's buying or selling. Our job description is "to help people." We are not just land brokers, we're all charged with the responsibility of helping people, and in some cases, to make the largest financial decision of their life.
Did you always have a strong connection to land growing up?
Yes I did. I grew up on a family produce farm, spent time after school and every summer working on the farm and took a lot of pride in what our family accomplished and the reputation we enjoyed in the produce industry. After college, I was active in the family farming business for 10 years and eventually evolved into farm management and brokerage.
If you had to give a land buyer one piece of advice, what would it be?
Find a qualified broker, share with them your wants and needs and be candid about your financial ability to purchase and enjoy the special tract of land. Also, take your time; It's a lifetime commitment in many cases.
What is something most people wouldn't realize about the land sales industry at first glance?
Most people/buyers do not understand the details involved; soil types septic permits, well water, wetland regulations, WRP programs, site indexes for timber, management for wildlife, etc. A lot is involved with finding the most suitable tract for the inexperienced buyer.
Where do you see the land market in your area in the next 10 years?
Our primary market is between the I-95 corridor running through North Carolina and the Barrier Islands of the North Carolina coast. This area will continue to attract buyers due to diversity, accessibility, affordability and the options of privacy. We're seeing discretionary money start to flow back into the area. We are also fortunate to be an easy drive from the Research Triangle area of Raleigh/Durham as well as northern Virginia/Washington D.C. - both areas that seem to still prosper even during difficult economic times.
How has the affiliation with Mossy Oak Properties impacted your business?
We have been in business for over 30 years, enjoying an excellent reputation in the adjoining five counties. Now we are marketing to over 40 counties in North Carolina, listing and selling in South Carolina and have recently opened a new office in Virginia. The Mossy Oak Properties name recognition has opened these new doors for us. As we tell prospective agents: "If our company goes head to head with another company for a listing, we'll get the listing every time due to the MOP name recognition."
If you were mentoring a young land specialist, what advice would you give him?
Listen to your buyer carefully! As I mentioned earlier, our job is helping people. If you approach the business with that attitude, you will be successful and prosper.
If you had to invest your personal nest egg in rural land, what characteristics would you look at first?
As an investment, I would look at solid timber tracts with good site indexes, land that may be in the path of future growth and land with some water quality; be it pond, swamp, creek, canal, river, sound, etc. Most any of these, if carefully chosen, can still be enjoyed for recreation as well and allow your investment to grow tax free.
Harrell is a true testament to the strength and success of Mossy Oak Properties, and his clients benefit from having a trusted partner at their side during the land sales process.
For more information about the best land brokers in the country, contact an MOP representative today.
