{"id":11025,"date":"2025-10-01T10:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T14:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalland.com\/blog\/?p=11025"},"modified":"2025-10-01T10:45:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T14:45:05","slug":"how-a-pre-listing-soil-test-can-boost-buyer-interest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalland.com\/blog\/how-a-pre-listing-soil-test-can-boost-buyer-interest\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Pre-Listing Soil Test Can Boost Buyer Interest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re bringing farm or ranch ground to market, a simple pre-listing soil fertility test can make your property stand out and even become the reason a buyer chooses your listing over the one down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a recent episode of the National Land Podcast,<\/a> Alec Bean<\/a> and Karly Pavlinac from the Soil Tax Guys<\/a> explained the ins and outs of IRS Section 180, a powerful tool that farmland buyers can use to potentially save money on their land purchases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what to know about Section 180 and how sellers can leverage these benefits to attract buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Section 180 and How Does it Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Section 180 is a federal tax provision that lets a new<\/em> landowner deduct the value of excess soil fertility already in the ground at purchase.<\/a> In practice, a buyer purchases the property, gets a soil test to establish a baseline, and converts the surplus nutrients like phosphorus and potassium into dollars using USDA fertilizer pricing reports.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buyers can then claim that amount as a deduction, similar in spirit to writing off improvements like irrigation or fences. The catch is timing, as Section 180 is a one-time opportunity with a small window. The soil test must happen after closing and before<\/strong> any fertilizer is applied. This point is crucial, as applying any fertilizer after the purchase is finalized exempts the new landowner from any potential deductions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Test Before You List?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. It Gives Buyers a Ready-Made Financial Upside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Section 180 lets eligible buyers deduct the excess fertility already in the soil after a purchase. When buyers can see credible test results up front, they can model their deduction and move faster on an offer. Buyers can also choose to receive their deduction in a few different ways (all-at-once, or divided over time), meaning Section 180 can be tailored to appeal to a variety of buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. It Differentiates Your Listing in a Crowded Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even buyers who aren\u2019t familiar with Section 180 see a soil report as professional due diligence that reduces uncertainty. \u201cJust taking a soil test\u2026 will put you above and beyond 50 to 75% of the other brokers out there,\u201d says Alec. In a competitive market like we\u2019ve been seeing over the past few years, presenting a completed soil test will not only help your listing stand out but also expedite the process of attracting qualified buyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. It Signifies Well-Cared-For Land<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Healthy test results often reflect good stewardship. High per-acre values often show up where owners have adequately cared for their land. Even where Section 180 deduction values aren\u2019t extreme, buyers can still average around $500 per acre in deductions. Presenting credible test results up front reduces uncertainty and assuages concerns regarding cropland productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in learning more about conducting a soil test on your property or would like to learn more about how Section 180 could benefit you, get in touch with your local Land Professional today!<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re bringing farm or ranch ground to market, a simple pre-listing soil fertility test can make your property stand out and even become the reason a buyer chooses your listing over the one down the road. During a recent episode of the National Land Podcast, Alec Bean and Karly Pavlinac from the Soil Tax … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “How a Pre-Listing Soil Test Can Boost Buyer Interest”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":11027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[747],"tags":[869,1940,375,1938,233,1936,1937,1927,1939],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow a Pre-Listing Soil Test Can Boost Buyer Interest - National Land Realty News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A soil test is a great thing for any farmland owner looking to sell their property, as it allows buyers to utilize tax code section 180!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalland.com\/blog\/how-a-pre-listing-soil-test-can-boost-buyer-interest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How a Pre-Listing Soil Test Can Boost Buyer Interest - 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