Value of recreational land

[BowGuy84]

Very simple question to start this...what do you see the value of recreational (more specifically hunting land) doing over the next few years?

I think it will hold, but cash will be king. I'm interested in buying more land but am trying to find some that will not only offer some return in crop land leaseing, timber or minerals as well as allow for some manicuring to increase the hunting "curb appeal".

 

[fishboy1]

Entirely depends on what the economy and interest rates do.

Wealth is declining so disposable income for recreation lands is following. Home building is also at a crawl and that is draining demand.

When interest rates go up, so does the cost of money to purchase land creating a downward pressure on prices.

IF we have a serious turn around in the direction of our government and business thinks things are going to get better, prices will probably dip then hold until home building starts back up again. Then rise.

IF things continue to follow a socialist path, building will decline further and the jobs market will continue to shrink. As wealth decreases across the board, demand will fall and so will prices.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Doing nothing but falling here at the moment. But its the result of a market that got hyperinflated by Floridians, Yankees, and city people that were paying 10 times what a local would pay for the same ground. What locals will pay is holding fairly steady, as long as you dont have more than 500-1000 an acre into most of these recreational lands in my county then your doing okay. If interest rates go up where they were here in the 80's, even into the early 90's, then you'll really see a big drop. 150 an acre timber land was very common at that time here. At this time these Floridians, Yankees and city people are either just having to keep their property or settle for minute amounts compared to what they paid. A figure that will really show the state of the land/home business in my county right now....40 properties sold in the last 6 months....in the entire county.

 

[BowGuy84]

That is good data Steven. Puts it in perspective.

 

[landman]

Just really depends on were you selling it at.

I have been selling Stewart County tracts with hardwood timber, a little pine , ponds and good fields for plots and pasture for $2,200 to $2,500 per acre, these are 20 - 70 acre tracts. very close to hwy 79 and Ft C, have great deer and turkey hunting.

But know of a 350 acre tract that has super hunting that you could buy for $1,300/acre

Just closed a Crittenden Co, KY farm 637 acres, 130 tillable, 110 pasture, balance in hardwoods half of it is ready to cut.
$1,350/acre, Indiana buyer, buying for him and his sons to hunt on, had and 160" killed on it this past fall

Another Caldwell co, ky under contract for $1,300/acre, 30 ac tillable, great hunting only 118 acres.

There are still cash buyers out there, the biggest problem with land sales today is getting the money, banks have changed there ways and its harder to get terms. But its like anything else it will turn, may be longer to come back, but if you have cash, it king now.

Let me know were you're land is, I'll get you some up to date sales data.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

I've bought two tracks of land in the last two months and have less than $450 per acre in them. Both of the tracks previous owners where form FL, that had around $2000 per acre in them.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I've bought two tracks of land in the last two months and have less than $450 per acre in them. Both of the tracks previous owners where form FL, that had around $2000 per acre in them.

Now thats what Im talking bout! Congrats

 

[tn droptine]

I've bought two tracks of land in the last two months and have less than $450 per acre in them. Both of the tracks previous owners where form FL, that had around $2000 per acre in them.

Thats a really good price! Were they larger parcels? I've noticed that once you get into the larger chunks of land the price per acre tends to go down.

I paid 1800 an acre for my 46 acres in Chester Co, but I prob would have paid more - it was exactly what I was looking for

 

[Football Hunter]

Im looking at some land adjoining me now,will let ya'll lnow

 

[BowGuy84]

Nice work 8 points...how did you find these tracks?

FH keep me posted. Im not really looking in your area but I think land sales are trending the same way all over the SE.

To give comparison, my FIL just sold an 80 acre track in N IN that he had for a year. gave 200k for it sold it at auction for 308K. They are getting on up towards 7k an acre for farm land up there.

 

[BSK]

In my area (Humphreys County), many are asking $2,000/acre for undeveloped hunting/timber land, but I don't think anyone is getting it. I just saw a 700+ acre piece go off the market at around $1,500/acre and come back on at $1,000/acre.

 

[landman]

In my area (Humphreys County), many are asking $2,000/acre for undeveloped hunting/timber land, but I don't think anyone is getting it. I just saw a 700+ acre piece go off the market at around $1,500/acre and come back on at $1,000/acre.

In the last 12 months there has been 2 large tracts sell in Humphreys Co.
1,013 acre tract for $1,045/acre

560 acre tract house, barn, stream, nice place $1,300,000

 

[BSK]

Looks like one of the pieces for sale now is the old "TNDeer Central" timber company lease in northern Humphreys County (around 700 acres).

 

[richmanbarbeque]

Very simple question to start this...what do you see the value of recreational (more specifically hunting land) doing over the next few years?

as well as allow for some manicuring to increase the hunting "curb appeal".

I think it will be 3-4 years before we see a "demand" for land again, maybe longer.

If someone had the ability to visually forecast what property could look like they would never buy property on the high-end of the scale. I spent hours looking over my place and visualizing what I wanted it to look like. It is starting to take that shape. I bought most of it at a steal and the other part at a good price. The first realtor wouldn't show me the property because he wouldn't make enough money. :grin: That is when I got excited.

I have spent countless hours and weekends of sweat equity and about 50 hours of dozer work, but it has been worth every penny. It now has that curb appeal that you are talking about.

 

[BSK]

And the "curb appeal" that will sell a property faster than any other is 1) pretty food plots; and 2) nice, well-maintained interior roads.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

And the "curb appeal" that will sell a property faster than any other is 1) pretty food plots; and 2) nice, well-maintained interior roads.

Agree again. I have spent the most money on just that. I use my wife as a barometer. If we are riding rodes and she comments on how smooth they are and how pretty the "fields" (foodplots) are then I am doing good. Once she sees the areas I hunt and comments on how ugly, thick and gross they are again I know I am doing good.

 

[BSK]

Once she sees the areas I hunt and comments on how ugly, thick and gross they are again I know I am doing good.

Convincing my clients of that is one of the toughest parts of my job. Most of my "long-term habitat plan" clients are--and I'm trying to think of a Politically Correct way of saying this--"financially successful." Well, OK, they are "rich people" (they have to be to be able to purchase huge chunks of land). And what do rich people like? Just look at where they live--in immaculately manicured park-like, exclusive subdivisions. So what do they want from their hunting property? Immaculately manicured park-like exclusivity. Unmaintained, nasty, ugly, wooly land is poison to their eyes. Yet considering that is EXACTLY what deer want most, convincing these clients to create that type of habitat is like trying to convince them Obama is a great guy who loves the Constitution. They look at me like I have eight eyes and wonder what planet I'm from...

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Yet considering that is EXACTLY what deer want most, convincing these clients to create that type of habitat is like trying to convince them Obama is a great guy who loves the Constitution. They look at me like I have eight eyes and wonder what planet I'm from...

Now thats funny!

But I do hate that for you in all seriousness. Alot of people just dont "get it"

 

[landman]

Very simple question to start this...what do you see the value of recreational (more specifically hunting land) doing over the next few years?

as well as allow for some manicuring to increase the hunting "curb appeal".

I think it will be 3-4 years before we see a "demand" for land again, maybe longer.

If someone had the ability to visually forecast what property could look like they would never buy property on the high-end of the scale. I spent hours looking over my place and visualizing what I wanted it to look like. It is starting to take that shape. I bought most of it at a steal and the other part at a good price. The first realtor wouldn't show me the property because he wouldn't make enough money. :grin: That is when I got excited.

I have spent countless hours and weekends of sweat equity and about 50 hours of dozer work, but it has been worth every penny. It now has that curb appeal that you are talking about.

The Demand is here, maybe not like 3 years ago, but its still a strong market.
I sold more last year than I have every sold in doing this for 18 years, tracts from 18 acres to over 1,000 acres. Investors are buying, hunters and farmers, some Sellers are having to sell due to their current cash flow. You wouldn't believe how big of tracts are being looked at and are selling at this time.

Most don't know they can take retirement funds and buy land with it and still call it a SELF-Directed IRA, then one day sell and roll back to stocks, CD's etc. Have a buyer looking at doing that very same thing this weekend, says its not really growing in the current fund so why not , buy hunt and enjoy