Learn about investing in and adding value to your land, get tips on selling your property, and take an inside look at some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities. Subscribe to receive weekly content from Land Investor.

Investment



Strategies for Managing Wildlife to Cultivate Trophy-Quality Animals

I have been a student of animal health my whole life. Growing up in Eastern Oregon on a 22,000 acre ranch ignited an interest in the wildlife our land hosted from a young age. This land was not only a source of sustenance and livelihood for my family but also ignited an enduring passion for […]

Land, Legacy, and Opportunity: The Essence of Ranch Ownership

As a co-host on the Land Investor Podcast, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with remarkable individuals whose profound expertise spans diverse subjects such as conservation, nurturing wildlife habitats, restoring streams, responsible land management, and successful ranch operations. Reflecting on these enriching episodes, a recurring theme becomes strikingly evident – the opportunity of ownership. Delving […]

Wyoming: Past, Present, Future – Crafting a Legacy

If you have embarked on a drive through the American West, the exploration will likely include the State of Wyoming. The state echoes with the whispers of its past, stands proudly in the present, and tirelessly builds its future. From the rutted tracks of the Oregon Trail to the cutting-edge frontiers of energy, Wyoming provides […]

Strategic Investments: Practical Improvements to Enhance Your Property’s Value

As the fiscal year winds down, you may find yourself in the fortunate position of having enjoyed a prosperous year on your ranch or farm or through other business ventures. Now, you’re contemplating reinvesting in your property. This is a great position to be in, offering the potential opportunity to offset income for tax purposes […]

2023 Letter From The Publisher & Market Update

Fay Ranches experienced some milestones in 2023, and we continued our thoughtful and strategic growth. We also celebrated our great fortune to live and work on the land, meeting new customers and working and recreating with clients we’ve known for decades. After 31 years, we’re just getting started. Our strategic alliance with Republic Ranches of […]

Investing for Now: A Ranch Broker and Interior Designer Discuss Common Hurdles Facing Modern Ranch Investors

Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a shift in the needs and wants of buyers. Pre-pandemic buyers typically wanted to buy bare land and build their own dream as opposed to buying into someone else’s. But that narrative has shifted. Buyers are looking for ranches they can enjoy now to serve as a refuge for their […]

Three Compelling Reasons to Invest in Costa Rica

Costa Rica sits in the southern part of Central America. It offers miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, 28 National Parks, and temperatures that stay favorable year-round. Being easily accessible by air from a wide range of destinations and offering extraordinary scenery and adventure has made it a thriving […]

5 Things All Landowners Should Know About Renewable Energy Opportunities

In 1820 the United States Government started selling publicly held land for $1.25 per acre. This event allowed citizens in urban areas new opportunities, but buying land in unsettled areas was only practical for some. Later, Congress was urged to offer free land to encourage more settlement in these unestablished regions. The Homestead Act was […]

How to Grow Sustainable Profit Through Analyzing Ranch Performance

In late August 2021, as the world settled into the bottom half of the Covid pandemic, the sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card in near-perfect condition grabbed headlines when it sold for a staggering $12,600,000.00, making it the largest amount ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia. In my last article, […]

How to Build Wealth by Renovating and Upgrading Ranches

Renovating residential homes has been a hot topic for many years. Television has promoted the process of upgrading real estate through multiple shows across several networks. However, did you know upgrading and renovating farm and ranch properties has also become popular? The rising price of agricultural land has made it difficult for the average producer […]

Succession Planning

To Sell or Not to Sell? After decades of ownership, generations of family succession, years of toil, blood, sweat, and tears, drought, floods, fires, depression, great successes, failures, and everything in between, you now have arrived at the point of needing to create a plan that guides the future for your ranch and your family […]

Maximizing Your Timber Investment

For a timber owner, the decision to harvest is frequently a function of timing and often catalyzed by factors such as the economy, age of the timber, log markets, leverage and, on occasion, naturally occurring events such as infestation, drought, or fire. There are undoubtedly many more factors not mentioned here that would impact a […]

Carbon, Climate, and Trees

By Troy Dana, Designated Broker, Licensed in WA, AK The Runaway Greenhouse Effect occurs when the planet produces more atmospheric carbon than it can absorb by either natural means or through manmade technology. Scientists, government agencies, corporations, and private citizens worldwide are working on solutions to prevent what is perceived by many as inevitable if […]

A Short Guide for Success on Your First Ranch

By Neil Bangs, Principal Broker, Licensed in WY Over the past decade, Americans purchasing land and moving to rural Wyoming and other northwestern states has become commonplace. The appeal has never been greater than this past year, with heavily-populated areas experiencing the bulk of the Covid-related issues, causing people to feel the urge to flee […]

Invest in the American West | Why Idaho?

Idaho is still the unfound secret to the northwest, filled with a vast array of wild forests, snow-capped mountains, fertile soil, picturesque canyons, clear rivers, and plenty of public lands to enjoy in conjunction with your private. Sparsely populated, full of scenic wonders, and featuring world-class trout fishing and hunting, Idaho is an outdoor enthusiast’s […]

Investing In Ranches

By James Esperti, Partner/Ranch Sales, Licensed in MT, WY, ID People pursue ranch real estate in the Intermountain West for many reasons. Some are looking for that perfect hunting and fishing property with big mountain views, live water, and a variety of wildlife. Others may want a large, productive cattle ranch with abundant water rights […]

Can You Benefit From The Placement Of A Conservation Easement?

By Richard W. Dickinson, Benchmark Advisors It is always surprising to me how few people are familiar with conservation easements and the tax benefits provided. The enabling legislation was first enacted in the early 1980s, and while thousands of easements have been placed since that time, it is still a relatively unknown and/or misunderstood opportunity. […]

Investing In And Adding Value To Ranch Lands

By Clarke Watson The Western U.S. has a reputation for landscapes that are rich in rivers, mountains, and open space. But the American West is losing large chunks of land as landscapes are carved away to accommodate the urban sprawl and commercial development that affects many western cities. According to a study by the Center […]

Agricultural Lease Rates: A Guide To Estimating Income Potential For Landowners

If you are a farm or ranch owner but farming or ranching is not your trade, you are not alone. Landowner demographics in many parts of the West have shifted toward non-operators, particularly in recent decades. If you are a non-operating owner or prospective owner, evaluating your property’s income potential requires an understanding of agricultural […]

Investing in Timber

By Dick Ludington, Veteran Land Broker Veteran Land Broker Dick Ludington joined Fay Ranches in 2014, bringing over 37 years of experience in timberland, conservation, and recreational land transaction knowledge for public and private agencies to our team. His understanding of timberland investment has involved the buying and selling of millions of acres from California […]

How To Buy A Ranch

By Greg Fay, Founder | Broker, Licensed in MT So, you’re thinking about buying a ranch? There are a few steps to keep in mind as you embark on this adventure—but let me back up a bit. I’ve been brokering ranchland since 1986 and founded Fay Ranches in 1992. In the beginning, Fay Ranches was […]