"Disclaimer" I'm not in real estate, but below is my experience and first impression of the questions.
Good luck.
-When buying only land - can you expect to get it for less than the asking price like you can with a house?
You should, but it probably depends on the region, I would assume in this economy you could offer less and get a good reception, You should look around at comprable sites, with utilities and without. With utilities include value for power, well, phone, septic, and driveway. Without should be considerably less.
I would have it appraised before buying, if the seller had it appraised I would still get your own, might cost $200 bones but save you a couple thousand.
-Anyone know the going rate on drilling a well?
Depends on the soil, rock, and depth. I would call a local outfit and they could tell you the average based on the depth of the well, they can probaly tell you how deep the average well is in your area.
-How about the going rate for a Modular or Mobile home (new or used)? Or the price to transport one?
If you buy them from the dealer I beleive transportation is free, the cost up here is about $40 single-$60 double and up to $120 if you get a nice double with attached garage for a mobile.
-Can you put a Mobile home on a basement? A Modular on a basement?
Yes/yes
-Approx. how much will a small basement cost (mainly the concrete price)?
-The land is currently zoned A1 (agriculture). Does anyone know if you could throw a cow and a house on the land and still call it A1 for the tax break benefits? Or if we rent out 3-5 acres to be farmed?
You can transfer the zoning and use it for feild or pasture, around here you can only be tax exempt if your land is over a certain size. It might not be considered ag if it is broke out of a larger section once you buy it. Your 10 acres might be the county min size so you instantly are disqualified. Check with the county zoning department.
-Is it better to finance a loan through a bank or a loan broker?
I'm going through a broker right now for a farm, yet he is going to turn it around and sell the paper to Washington Mutual. I get a better rate this way, he does the work, they get the interest. Just ask the broker who he would sell the paper to.
Hope it helps, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong :eek: .