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
86 The LandReport | S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 United Country Gibson Realty & Land Company www.gibsonrealtyms.com (601) 250-0017 2 104 Sales: $50 - $100 Million Who: Experts in Mississippi and Louisiana hunting land, timberland, poultry farms, and country homes with acreage with an emphasis on tax-saving products and programs includ- ing 1031 Exchanges, WRP, CRP, conservation easements, and wetlands mitigation. Wow: Record sales with several agents posting sales increases of more than 75 percent. Insight: "Sales prices were consistent in 2014," says Owner Patrick Gibson. A M E R I C A ' S BEST BROKERAGES LANDREPORT.COM G R E A T P L A I N S Dakota Properties www.dakotaproperties.com (605) 717-1000 2014 Sales: $50 - $100 Million Who: A leader in sales and auctions of farm, ranches, and recreational property throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming. Wow: Closed 109 transactions in 2014. Insight: "The pasture market was very strong," says Broker Jeff Garrett. "Demand for larger working ranches will continue as cropland leveled off or retreated depending on the quality." J.P. Weigand & Sons www.weigand.com (316) 262-6400 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Full-service real estate company providing auction and listing services with an emphasis on farm and ranch as well as recreational, transitional, and development land. Wow: Conducted the sale of a 5,530-acre ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas, driven by the demand for quality pasture and the strength of the cattle market. Insight: "The lower commodity prices have become a part of every conversation and started to have an influence on our land market toward the end of 2014," says President John Rupp. "The strength of ownership continues to be in place, but we started to see more financing of deals ver- sus cash buyers toward the end of the year." Newman Realty www.newmanrealty.com (800) 658-4431 2014 Sales: $50 - $100 Million Who: Leaders in exchanging ag production, recreation, and raw land-investment properties in Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana. Wow: Sold a 1,977-acre farm/feedlot for $5 million. Insight: "No matter the cattle prices, crop prices, or energy prices, nobody can pull the dirt out from under you," says Owner Blair Newman. "Financially, a lot of people get a lot of value from 1031 exchanges. I don't foresee much change in that." Pifer's Auction & Realty www.pifers.com (877) 700-4099 2014 Sales: $50 - $100 Million Who: Full-service real estate, auction, and land management company licensed in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, Arizona, and California. Wow: December's Corcoran a uction featuring 460.65 acres of cropland in Cass County, North Dakota, divided into three parcels for a total sale o f nearly $3.2 million. Insight: Down 10–20 percent in 2015. W E S T Arnold Realty www.eranches.com (307) 746-2083 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: Family-owned boutique brokerage focused on ranches, hunting property, and recre- ational holdings in Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana. Wow: Marking its 25th year of business in the Black Hills area. Insight: Whereas 2014 saw a demand for grass ranches, "2015 is starting out with a strong mar- ket for working ranches, quality hunting land, and scenic moun- tain properties," says Broker Julie Pederson. Aspen Snowmass Sotheby's International Realty www.aspensnowmasssir.com (866) 925-2811 2014 Sales: > $1 Billion Who: A leader in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. Wow: No. 1 in the Roaring Fork Valley with a 34.65 percent mar- ket share followed by the No. 2 company at 12.61 percent and the No. 3 company at 6.77 percent. Insight: "2014 was our best year ever with a record-setting dollar sales volume, and we are very excited about 2015," says Broker Mark Overstreet. Bates Land Consortium www.bateslandco.com (800) 819-9920 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: A 45-year leader in sales a nd acquisitions of premier ranches, farms, and recreational land with $2 billion-plus in sales. Wow: Sold the 7,550-acre Hell Canyon Ranch, a big-game hunting and fly-fishing jewel in Northern Utah that borders the renowned 202,000-acre Deseret Livestock Ranch, which the bro- kerage has sold twice before. Insight: "The market loosened up the day after the mid-term elections as good numbers of hesitant players quit dancing in the dust and decided to invest," says Broker C. Patrick Bates. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Montana Properties www.bhhsmt.com (406) 556-2237 2014 Sales: < $50 Million Who: The former Prudential Montana Real Estate is a full- service firm with 11 offices and 200 seasoned sales professionals. Wow: Little Lake Creek Ranch listed at $4.25 million and went under contract in less than two weeks. Insight: "Ranches and recreational land from Big Hole Valley to the Ruby saw increased activity and sales," says Managing Broker Frank Colwell. Clark & Associates Land Brokers www.clarklandbrokers.com (307) 334-2025 2014 Sales: $100 - $250 Million Who: Experts in farm, ranch, auction, and recreational tracts. Wow: Total acres sold in 2014? A whopping 226,772. Insight: Optimistic outlook on 2015, thanks to low interest rates and strong cattle markets.