Many Oregonians dream of owning rural land — imagining peaceful landscapes, self-sufficiency or even starting a small farm. However, the reality of rural property ownership often comes with surprises. New landowners may not be prepared for the practical challenges, like managing a private well or septic system, or understanding whether the land is suitable for farming.
Additionally, important details such as soil quality, water rights and land use zoning can be easily overlooked. This disconnect between expectation and reality frequently leads to frustration and costly mistakes.
By making this information freely available and accessible, the program enabled both buyers and Realtors to make more informed, confident decisions.
In 2023, the Small Farms Program in the Oregon State University Extension Service launched a targeted educational effort to address this gap. The goal was to reach both potential rural land buyers and the real estate professionals who help them.
OSU Extension created a webinar series focused on the realities of buying and managing rural land in Oregon. Extension also partnered with the Oregon Realtors Association to offer the series to reach professionals who list and sell rural properties. Extension offered two webinars — Finding and Listing Agricultural Farmland for Realtors, which drew 68 attendees — and Before You Buy Rural Land for the public, which drew 162 attendees in 2023 and 166 in 2024.
The webinars were free, held in the evening for accessibility, and covered essential topics:
- Soil quality and capability
- Water rights and irrigation
- Well and septic system basics
- Land use laws and zoning rules
Four Extension experts presented, and each session ended with a question-and-answer session. Recordings were made available to all who registered.
The webinar organizers surveyed 2023 webinar registrants in December 2024. Results of the survey included:
- Ten respondents said they were taking action to learn about and maintaining septic systems and seven more said they planned to.
- Eight said they understood zoning and allowed land uses and seven said they planned to.
- Nine said they had researched soil types and suitability and six more planned to.
- Eight said they were investigating water rights and well information and 10 more planned to.
By making this information freely available and accessible, the program enabled both buyers and Realtors to make more informed, confident decisions. Education before purchase can prevent costly surprises — and help rural dreams become more achievable realities.
