A family member is considering buying a cabin that's on his deer lease. Both he and the cabin's owner are on the lease, but neither owns the property. This is the first time I've ever heard of such thing and it seems odd to pay for a fixed structure that's on property you don't own.

Anyone have experience with this type of arrangement? TIA

Bad idea.

Why would you want to improve someone else's real estate? It would have to be very cheap to even remotely consider it. If it was cheap enough that I could walk away from it, that's the only way I would do it.

If it is cheap enough to rent during the season and you can justify the cost then maybe. But when the year is over unless you want to move it ?

If I bought a cabin for use on a deer lease, it'd sure be one of those portable building types.

Has bad idea written all over it but by all means...

So he wants to buy a cabin that his lease mate currently owns sitting on property neither one of them owns and he actually thought this sounded like a good plan? Why wouldn’t he simply buy a camper and leave the future nightmares locked in the closet of the current cabin owner? If that cabin doesn't have retractable tires under it you might suggest to him it’s a bad idea unless it’s small enough to be hauled out by truck and trailer.

Had two members on our lease have cabins delivered to the lease, but they’ll have them moved off if they leave the lease.

No, No, No.
What is he thinking, I'm out!

We gots a new one moving in next week.

What are we talking about, a small house etc., type of cabin or a portable building that is semi finished out?

That was my first reaction when my SIL first mentioned it to me but I thought I would check with others to see if I might be missing something.

As someone already noted, I'm thinking it would have to be at a garage sale price to even consider it.

All depends on price and portability.

Since he does not own the land, then who really owns the cabin? Could he sell it if needed? Who would buy it under these conditions? Maybe he could rent it himself? Horrible idea to buy it. No upside except for a very expensive place to stay while he is still on the lease. If the current cabin owner gets off the lease, and no sucker buys this, he is FXXXED. That's just how it rolls.

Afixed cabins are famous for squatters rights perceptions by landowners, not saying they would remove it or burn it but

I'm looking for an upside to this, but I cannot find one. Only thought would be as an example: price was $1,000
and you spend $1,000 each year on Motels while at your lease. Then it would be break even after one year and
free room after that. I see no other positive about it.

Portable, priced right and if you buy it is for your use only. Beats going to a motel during the season and after.

Ours are all on skids.

Let's say this is portable. Could you move it yourself? If not, what would it cost to hire someone? Were would you store it? What would it cost to get it moved to a new lease? This is a money pit. If you can buy it at a very reasonable price, and are willing to walk away from it when the time comes, maybe worth considering. A tent/camper/motel sure appears to make more sense.

This
Unless u have one that can be moved and is agreed with land owners in writing
We built one the land owners got old n kids took over but it was nice while it lasted
I don’t lease anymore but have my own property with my own cabin

A lot of this depends on the lease that allows the cabin to be on the property. This could be a very good thing, depending on the lease and what rights it conveys to the cabin owner. I would want to know that before knowing if it was a good deal to buy. There are many cabin's here that are on 99 year leases where you pay a nominal fee each year (say $100 a year).

Depending on the lease, it may give the cabin owner first rights on continuing his hunting lease there. It also may provide some protection if the property is ever sold. It may provide for year round access to bring the family to camp and use the property. There could be upside to this, but until you know the lease terms for the cabin to be there, it is hard to say if it is a good or bad thing.

-TJ

how is it different than buying someones shanty in a leased boat slip on texoma? lots of people do it.

I hear time shares are a good deal too.

Seems like the owner of the cabin is the land owner who has to pay taxes on it as it is a fixed structure
I would suggest travel trailer to avoid this issue