Field Guide to Land Investment
(Updated November 2011)
While land investment may not provide the instant gratification of a home purchase, this sort of venture can be quite lucrative. Land investors have different needs and concerns than those of typical real estate investors - zoning, planning, environmental issues are just a few of the challenges they must face. This Field Guide will help those who wish to take on this interesting branch of the real estate industry. (S. Hogan, Information and Web Content Specialist)
Investing Basics 
Investing in land, (University Federal Credit Union, 2011).
Farm Land Rush, (REALTOR® Magazine, Sept. 2011).
Why farmland is not an easy investment, (Euromoney, Sept., 2011). Q
Best Way to Buy Land for Retirement?, (Realtor.com, Feb. 14, 2011).
9 considerations when investing in land, (Find Land Auctions Online, July 21, 2009).
8 ways to cover your holding costs on land, (Find Land Auctions Online, Sept. 2, 2009).
Land Appraisal
Land Values: 2011 Summary, (National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2011).
Land and Property Values in the U.S., (Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2011).
Valuing Properties with Wetland Potential, (The Appraisal Journal, Spring 2011). Q
Why Real Estate Assessments Matter, (www.HouseLogic.com, Oct. 11, 2009).
Environmental Considerations
Flood-Prone Land Likely to Increase by 45%, (REALTOR® Magazine, Daily Real Estate News, July 25, 2011).
LEED-ND: What the Skeptics Say, (Planning, Dec. 2010). Q
Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment that Respects Rights, Livelihoods and Resources, (Worldbank.org, Jan. 25, 2010).
Smart Growth: A Key to Sustainable Development, (www.HouseLogic.com, Aug. 28, 2009).
Useful Websites
American Farm Bureau, (www.fb.com).
Landowners information, (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
REALTORS® Land Institute, (www.rliland.com).
Smart Growth, (Government Affairs department, National Association of REALTORS®).
US Forest Service, (www.fs.fed.us).
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Be a successful green land developer (Adobe eReader)
The dynamics of property location (Adobe eReader)
Land use law for sustainable development (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
The Smart Growth Manual, (New York, NY : McGraw Hill, 2010). HT 392 D85sg
Fundamentals of land development: a real-world guide to profitable large-scale development, (Hoboken, NJ : J. Wiley & Sons, 2008). NAC 1800 J62f
Essentials of real estate investment, (Chicago, IL : Dearborn Real Estate Education, 2007). HG 4521 Si7 Ed. 8
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Agricultural/Farm Land
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The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
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