Sell Your Land
Our Offer:
Sell Your Land for Conservation
If the time has come to sell your land, we invite you to begin a confidential discussion with us about whether selling your property to a conservation organization might be right for you and your family.
Conservation sales can help you:
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Protect land that you love for generations to come
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Create a family legacy in the community
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Prevent unwanted development around the lands that you don’t sell
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Get paid for the land, and earn tax deductions, too
Here’s how it works: You negotiate a confidential sale directly with us. Working together, we’ll decide what lands you will sell, what lands you will keep, how much you will get paid, and how much you will donate.
These sales agreements are flexible. We want you to feel great about what happens to the lands you may have cherished for generations.
You and your family can still visit the land after the sale! In most cases, we will maintain it as open space for the community to enjoy.
Conservation sales aren’t for everyone — but they might be right for you! After we buy the land from you, you won’t have to manage it or pay taxes on it. Your land will be in the hands of conservation professionals who will care for it as much as you do. You can still visit the land and tell your story to your children and grandchildren.
What is the Tomhannock Rural Land Campaign?
It is a program to preserve open space, woodlands, and agricultural land around the Tomhannock Reservoir, which is the water supply for more than 100,000 people in Rensselaer County. The campaign partners are the Rensselaer Land Trust, Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, and Agricultural Stewardship Association.
Where Does the Money to Buy the Land Come From?
We have a dedicated pool of funds from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. We will use these funds on a first-come, first-served basis until they are gone.
Who Can Sell Their Land for Conservation?
Candidate properties can be woodlands or natural areas that drain to the Tomhannock Reservoir. We prefer parcels that are 25 acres or more, land with streams, and land near other protected areas. We will consider other parcels as well. If we can’t buy your land, we may negotiate a Voluntary Land Protection Agreement instead.
Why Not Sell My Land to the Highest Bidder?
Selling your land for conservation has many benefits compared to selling to developers. Here are some to consider:
What are the Tax Benefits of a Conservation Sale?
The Tomhannock Rural Land Campaign will buy your land at its “conservation value,” which is less than full market value. The difference between the conservation value price that we pay for your land and an independently determined appraisal value of your property may be tax-deductible.
How Do I Get Started?
Call or write Jim Daus, Land Protection Manager, Rensselaer Land Trust, 518-659-5263, jim@eres4land.com
Once you reach out to us, we will begin confidential negotiations with you about protecting your land. The negotiations continue until we come to an agreement on a fair offer.