Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Lease a lot or own a little?

We bought 40 acres a few years ago. Best decision I've made. It has a pond, a barn, and now a cabin. It's all wooded, but was a cattle farm at one time, so there's a fence all the way around it. I let the kids run and play. I don't worry about them getting lost. It's in Jackson County and it's a deer highway. It's crazy the amount of deer that come through it. My oldest killed his first deer on it and my youngest plans to this year is been great.

A little of your own is better than a lot of someone else's.

If you are generating profit from the land, you can get some tax relief. It is also good to diversify the portfolio from the market. That is in addition to the intrinsic value of owning the land. I can do what I want, when I want to do it legally on my land. If I want to cut a small tree down, no issue there.

What's everyone seeing price wise in Your part of the State.? It's almost unattainable for most around here in North Alabama..5 to 15k an acre is the norm now it seems..

I will answer out of turn and say it is dumb high just like the stock market you are seeing valuation multiples that seems insane and it sells and then short time later seeing similar acreage for more. Up like a rocket. People are looking for anywhere to park money that is a hard asset as they realize the realty of the gobal situation at hand.

From the pure perspective of recreational opportunity it would be to “lease a lot” (volume of acreage under controlled management trumps most else). From a financial and legacy perspective, it’s absolutely to “own a little”.

I would be curious if anyone has insight on this as well. With home prices it’s fairly easy to get a bead on list prices vs actual sales price however I’m not sure this lines up with rural acreage. In other words are the current list prices for acreage actually what these properties are selling for?

It is all over the map here in Jackson County. I pay 7 on some I keep just for some friends. If you have Ducks also I have seen it go for 50. I thought about this thread yesterday. Talked to a guy that is fixing to loose a lease he had for 48 years. The heirs move off and have no connection with the land.

It's crazy in Baldwin County too. I had to go further north to find something that I could justify.

I looked in Etowah,Cherokee,Blount DeKalb region for over a Year hard..Ended up buying 2 Hours from Home in Dallas County to be able to find it somewhat affordable!

THIS ^^^^^^^^

Yep...except if y'alls family doesn't want it, I'll be anyones son lol

Size of the tract will have a big impact on price in SW AL. Smaller tracts are generally higher because there are a lot of people who are looking for 10 acres to build a house on.

That being said, we bought 80 acres last year for a little over $2K an acre. Was listed with a real estate agent, approximately half is 3 year old pine plantation and the rest is SMZ and unthinned pine plantation that’s about ready to thin. Thing is, we looked at it as soon as we heard it was on the market and immediately made an offer at asking price. Has county road frontage and joins another tract we already own. When I called the agent he had just listed in on the web that morning. So the moral of the story is, be prepared to act fast. Especially if it fits your needs.

^^ Yep...saw mine on a Sunday night online pretty much right as it was posted...went and saw it monday after it basically going in between agents so was offline. Rode it Tuesday. Offered Wednesday after my wife had to take a day to deliberate with me blowing her phone up all day lol Swept in and got it. So moral of the story... Act fast

This is why communcation is so important among families.

The landowner -- let's say it's Grandpa -- assumes that his three kids will want the 148-acre farm (or land, or whatever). Even though one lives four states away and the other two only go for holidays or the dove opener, Grandpa just can't imagine why they wouldn't want such a tangible, nostalgic and valuable piece of land.

That's old school thinking. WE (on here) know the value and can appreciate it. But not everyone does. How many of us know of families, land, long-time ownership and when Grandpa dies, the sons-daughters-grandkids either sell it immediately or get into squabbles about who gets what? A lot of us. It's a sad situation but definitely isn't uncommon.

Joe wants to buy Sue's share, but Jimmy is pissed because he knows Joe's son is a window-licker who doesn't respect anyone and will be a pain in the ass during hunting season. Or, Sue wants Jimmy's share because she wants to sell her two pieces for "gentleman's farms" and Joe doesn't want it. Or they're all stupid as rocks and don't care or appreciate it because they don't want to pay any taxes, or have the gumption to do anything.

Whoever the landowner is SHOULD have a hard, serious conversation with any potential heirs and get over the emotional BS. Land transfers, generational transfers, sales, anything of the sort is one thing: a BUSINESS transaction. And you shouldn't assume anything - especially with family - when it comes to business transactions.

It's the same as elder care for medical situations. Just because PeePaw says he "don't wanna be hooked up to no machine!" doesn't mean sh*t if it's not in a legit legal document. Folks have too hard of a time having these serious conversations before it becomes too late.

This is why is believe the land should be left to the ONE kid that Grandpa knows loves it the most, the other kid can get Grandpa's house (assuming its not on the land) or other real estate, or the stock portfolio or whatever! Literally whatever but don't split up land that's in one block. It doesn't have to be FAIR or EQUAL!!~ F ya feelings! Be happy you got SOMETHING!

Depends on how close to civilization you are in South Alabama, but I am seeing anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 per acre in the Conecuh/Butler county area.

I had pretty good hunting on 11 acres for years. But I had other places I visited regularly.

If it were me, I'd skip the leases there in Baldwin county, buy a boat and hunt the Delta...

You would have plenty of company, with flat bills led lights and loud stereos