10 smart ways to sell your Vermont land faster in 2026

Vermont’s land market is moving in two directions at once: values remain historically strong, while buyers are taking more time to decide. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Vermont farm real estate averaged $4,400 per acre in 2025, up 1.1% from 2024. At the same time, the median land sale price in northwest and central Vermont declined 8.14% to $141,000 in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

Sellers also need to plan for longer lead times. The average days on market for land sales in Vermont rose to 134 days in 2025—an 8% increase from 2024—per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. The good news: demand is still active, and smart positioning can shorten your timeline. Below are 10 practical, current strategies to help you sell your land faster in Vermont—without losing the value your property deserves.

Vermont Land Market Snapshot (What Sellers Need to Know in 2025)

Understanding the numbers helps you set realistic expectations and build a pricing-and-marketing plan that works.

• Sales activity is holding up. In northwest and central Vermont, 116 land parcels sold in 2025, a 3.57% increase over 2024, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Inventory is growing. New land listings in Vermont increased 9.6% in 2025, signaling rising seller confidence and more competition for your listing, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Pricing varies sharply by county. Chittenden County retained the highest land values with a median sale price of $250,000 in 2025, up 11% year-over-year, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Buyers are exploring affordability. Franklin County saw a 31.6% jump in unit sales in 2025, reflecting growing interest in more affordable parcels, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.
• Land is still expensive compared to pre-pandemic norms. Even after the 2025 dip, the median land sale price of $141,000 remains well above pre-pandemic levels compared to $76,500 in 2017, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

10 Ways to Sell Your Land Faster in Vermont

1) Price it right for today’s market (not last year’s)

Land that sits tends to get discounted later—so accuracy upfront matters. Start with recent comparable sales in your area and price according to what buyers are paying now, not what they paid at the market peak.

In northwest and central Vermont, the median sale price declined 8.14% to $141,000 in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. That shift signals a more price-sensitive buyer pool. If you want speed, consider pricing to be the best value among similar parcels instead of the highest-priced option.

2) Write a listing that answers buyer questions instantly

Today’s buyers (and the agents, investors, and AI tools they use) scan for specifics. Make your listing easy to understand and easy to evaluate by including clear, factual details such as:

• Road frontage and access type (public road, deeded ROW, seasonal road)
• Survey status and boundary clarity
• Topography (flat, rolling, steep) and drainage notes
• Utilities (power at road, well/septic status, cell coverage)
• Deed restrictions, zoning, and permitted uses
• Nearby destinations (towns, ski areas, lakes, trail systems)

The more directly you reduce uncertainty, the faster buyers move from “maybe” to “show me.”

3) Use professional photos, drone shots, and a simple parcel map

Vacant land needs visual context. High-quality photos help buyers understand slope, tree cover, views, and access—without guessing. Add drone images to show boundaries and surroundings, and include a clean parcel map with major features labeled (driveway entrance, clearing, stream, potential building site).

4) List everywhere serious buyers look (MLS + land-specific platforms)

Distribution sells land faster. Get on the MLS (via an agent or flat-fee option where available) and add land-focused marketplaces. A multi-channel approach increases the odds that your buyer finds your parcel early—especially since land buyers often search across multiple sites before contacting a seller.

5) Market directly to neighbors and nearby landowners

Adjacent owners often pay a premium because your parcel solves a specific need: more frontage, privacy, hunting acreage, timber control, or future family expansion. Pull nearby owner information from town assessment records and send a short, personal letter with your parcel ID, acreage, and a clear call to action.

6) Offer flexible terms to expand your buyer pool

When financing is tight or underwriting is slow, flexibility can shorten your time to contract. Consider:

• Owner financing (with a strong down payment and documented terms)
• A slightly lower price for verified cash buyers
• Longer due diligence windows for buyers who need permitting clarity

Flexibility matters even more in a market where the average time to sell is longer. In 2025, average days on market reached 134 days (up 8% from 2024), according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

7) Add “proof of buildability” (or remove obstacles) before you list

Buyers pay more—and move faster—when you reduce unknowns. Depending on your parcel, the highest-impact pre-sale steps may include:

• A driveway entrance or cleared pull-off
• Soil testing or a septic design (where applicable)
• A simple boundary marking or updated survey
• Documentation for permitted uses and any local constraints

Even modest prep can turn your listing from “raw land” into a ready-to-plan homesite.

8) Sell the story: recreation, lifestyle, and Vermont’s working landscape

Many Vermont buyers aren’t just purchasing acreage—they’re buying a future: a homestead, a cabin base, a farm plan, or a long-term investment. If your land has agricultural potential, pasture history, or proximity to working farms, say so clearly.

Dairy, in particular, remains a defining force in Vermont’s land use and rural economy. Vermont’s dairy industry has an annual economic impact of $5.4 billion, and dairy accounts for 58% of Vermont’s agricultural sales, according to the Cheese Reporter citing Vermont dairy industry report. In addition, 52% of Vermont farmland is dedicated to dairy and dairy crops, per the Cheese Reporter citing Vermont dairy industry report. If your parcel supports grazing, hay production, or has soils suited to agriculture, those details can attract serious buyers faster.

9) Consider a land-savvy agent or broker (especially in high-variance counties)

Land values can change dramatically across short distances in Vermont, and pricing errors cost time. A strong agent or land broker can position your property correctly, package the right disclosures, and get your listing in front of motivated buyers.

This matters even more in premium submarkets. For example, Chittenden County posted a median land sale price of $250,000 in 2025, up 11% year-over-year, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. In higher-priced areas, expert presentation and negotiation often pay for themselves through stronger offers and fewer deal-breaking surprises.

10) Time your listing—and your visibility—for peak buyer attention

Seasonality still matters for Vermont land. Aim to launch when your parcel shows best and when out-of-state buyers are most engaged:

• Late spring through summer: access is easier, and land photographs well
• Early fall: foliage season increases travel and “we could live here” momentum
• Mid-winter (select parcels): strong for ski-area-adjacent land or recreation tracts

Also plan around competition. With new listings up 9.6% in 2025, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report, strong photos, clear documentation, and decisive pricing help you stand out when more sellers enter the market.

Final Thoughts

Selling land quickly in Vermont comes down to reducing uncertainty and meeting the market where it is right now. Values remain strong in the long view—Vermont farm real estate averaged $4,400 per acre in 2025 (up 1.1% from 2024), according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)—but buyers are taking more time, and pricing has become more sensitive in several regions.

If you price realistically, package your parcel with clear facts, market it broadly, and remove preventable obstacles, you give your land the best chance to sell faster—even with average days on market at 134 days in 2025, per the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to sell land in Vermont?

Timing varies by location, access, buildability, and price. Statewide, the average days on market for land sales reached 134 days in 2025, up 8% from 2024, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. Well-priced parcels with clear documentation and strong marketing can sell faster than average.

Is the Vermont land market slowing down?

Some regions have softened on price while sales activity remains steady. In northwest and central Vermont, the median land sale price declined 8.14% to $141,000 in 2025, while 116 parcels sold—a 3.57% increase in activity—according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

Which Vermont counties are strongest for land values right now?

County performance varies. Chittenden County led land values with a median sale price of $250,000 in 2025, up 11% year-over-year, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report. Meanwhile, Franklin County saw a 31.6% jump in unit sales in 2025, indicating strong demand for more affordable parcels, per the same report.

Are today’s land prices still high compared to before 2020?

Yes. Even with 2025’s regional median at $141,000, prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels compared with $76,500 in 2017, according to the Hickok and Boardman Vermont Land Market Report.

Does agricultural use help land sell faster in Vermont?

It can—especially when you document soils, access, and viable use cases. Vermont’s rural economy remains deeply tied to dairy: the industry has an annual economic impact of $5.4 billion, with dairy accounting for 58% of Vermont’s agricultural sales, and 52% of Vermont farmland is dedicated to dairy and dairy crops, according to the Cheese Reporter citing Vermont dairy industry report. If your parcel supports farming or leasing potential, stating that clearly can attract qualified buyers sooner.