REtipster

The Infinite Game of Land Underwriting

Land investors are discovering that relying on a simple average price‑per‑acre can misprice deals, especially in volatile markets like East Texas where comparable sales range from $4,000 to $7,500 per acre. The author outlines a 1‑to‑5 scoring system that weights comps based on similarity, and stresses the need for granular due‑diligence, particularly in non‑disclosure states where sold prices are hidden. Using this method, the team priced an exit at $6,000 per acre, well below the mean but above the worst‑case, protecting their 41% operating margin. The piece underscores that meticulous underwriting is the only way to avoid losses in today’s buyer‑sensitive market.