The Magazine of the American Landowner is an essential guide for investors, landowners, and those interested in buying or selling land. The award-winning quarterly is known for its annual survey of America's largest landowners, The Land Report 100.
Issue link: http://landreport.epubxp.com/i/522012
S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | The LandReport 77 LANDREPORT.COM M I D W E S T Hertz Real Estate Services www.realestate.hertz.ag (515) 382-1500 2014 Sales: $250 - $500 Million Who: Midwest farmland experts providing acquisition services and expert knowledge of 1031 tax-free exchanges. Wow: Helped an investor sell 566 acres at $12,014 per acre, transacted through a cooperative brokerage agreement with a national farmland brokerage company. Insight: "The land market in 2014 was in a holding pattern of retracement," says Broker Randy Hertz. "The land market will continue its adjustment to the new farm economies and will be quieter than the last couple of years." Land Pros Realty www.landpros.com (402) 932-5499 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Specializing in farm, ranches, and recreational land in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri. Wow: Listed and sold a 2.5-mile tract of Platte River Frontage in Butler County, Nebraska. Lashley Land and Recreational Brokers www.lashleyland.com (308) 532-9300 2014 Sales: $50 - $100 Million Who: Focuses on the western half of Nebraska with an eye toward the needs of the rancher, farmer, and outdoor sportsman. Wow: Listed Winemaker's Island Preserve for $14 million, a p restige property boasting 2,000 acres of farmland and rangeland t hat also includes a lodge, four houses, and a 50-year-old roost that serves upwards of 35,000 ducks and geese daily. Insight: "I truly believe com- modity prices will rebound with a normal growing season in the corn belt," says Owner/Broker Mike Lashley. "The discretionary dollar is back, making recreation- al real estate a very good buy." Martin, Goodrich & Waddell www.mgw.us.com (815) 756-3606 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Illinois-based firm that focuses on appraisals and farm management. Insight: "We expect continued weakness in the land market until both buyers and sellers come to terms with lower commodity price levels," says Operations Manager Mark Mommsen. Mossy Oak Properties AgriRec Land www.agrirecland.com (888) 311-5263 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Full-service brokerage and auction company with CLS serving Illinois and Indiana. Wow: Transactions increased by 60 percent in 2014. Insight: "The tillable land market contracted a bit due to a downward pressure on corn and bean prices," says Managing Broker Tom Rayburn. "However, the prime class-A soils remained steady with strong demand." Mossy Oak Properties Land Sales and Services www.landforsaleohio.com (614) 829-7070 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Recreational, timber, farm, and investment specialists. W ow: M ossy Oak Properties' Office of the Year. Insight: "With the continued Utica Shale play and Oil/Gas investors trying to increase their holdings, properties with mineral rights sell quickly," explains Owner/Broker Brian Bauer. "Ohio also continues to be a destination state for the trophy whitetail hunter." Mossy Oak Properties of the Heartland www.mopheartland.com (816) 224-6868 2014 Sales: $50 - $100 Million Who: Land brokers with expert- ise in Illinois and Indiana's rural, farm, and recreational properties. Wow: Strong referral network of loyal clients; a single sale resulted in five additional sales from the original client's family and friends. Insight: "We felt the difference in the number of people that called to get values of their property and the number of new buyers inquiring," says President Rayburn Hare, who adds that he remains optimistic about 2015. Peoples Company www.peoplescompany.com (515) 240-7500 2014 Sales: $100 - $250 Million Who: Offers investment, man- agement, and appraisal services in eight Midwestern states. Wow: 2014 saw a 56 percent increase in sales; Peoples Company also acquired Total Realty in DeWitt, Iowa, expand- ing its presence in Illinois. Insight: "2014 was a transition year as commodity prices declined from their highs and farm incomes continued to fall," says President Steve Bruere. "This will create a buying opportunity for well-capitalized farmers and land investors, who will become a larger part of t he market in 2015." Whitetail Properties Real Estate www.whitetailproperties.com (217) 285-9000 2014 Sales: $250 - $500 Million Who: Experts in farms, ranches, and hunting properties. Wow: Finished 2014 nearly 30 percent up year-over-year. Insight: "We had our best year in sales," says COO Paul Sawyer. "The market for recreational properties with a return seems to be strong." N O R T H E A S T Fountains Land www.fountainsland.com (802) 223-8644 2014 Sales : < $50 Million Who: This subsidiary of Fountains America assists investors throughout acquisition with due diligence for timber- land, conservation properties, and rural estates. METHODOLOGY The Land Report's fifth annual survey of the land brokerages in the U.S. is based on the total value of self-reported 2014 domestic land sales by traditional brokerage. Totals do not include commercial, industrial, or residential sales. Figures were provided by each of the respective firms from January 20 through February 12, 2015.