Thursday, October 4, 2012
Land Report Survey Finds More People Investing in Land BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – According to a new survey published by The Land Report, more people are investing in undeveloped land and sowing the seeds of the United States’ economic recovery while protecting America’s greatest resource, the land. Data show the private holdings of the top landowners have grown nearly 20 percent over the last five years. “In the aftermath of the Great Recession, land and land-based assets have propelled our economy out of the doldrums,” says Land Report Editor Eric O’Keefe. “Look at farmland prices. Look at energy assets. Look at the rise in minerals and commodity prices. Each of these elements is tied to the land, which is why so many savvy investors are anchoring their portfolios with this asset.” The 2012 edition of The Land Report 100 is an annual survey of the largest private U.S. landowners. It excludes leased and public lands and focuses exclusively on deeded acreage owned by individuals, families, family-owned companies and family-controlled foundations. About The Land Report: Founded in 2007, The Land Report is an award-winning quarterly magazine focused on America’s greatest resource – the land. Its readership includes landowners, land brokers, investors, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who cares for and about the land, from mountain retreats and timberland to working ranches and historic estates. Excerpts from “The Outdoor Wire”