Landstake

Shifting Real Estate Market

I did just what I didn't want to do when starting to blog - let too much time lapse between posts.  I've been working hard on something great, beaTycoon. We're working on an October release, so expect some behind the scenes information soon.

Some of my other endeavors have opened my eyes to opportunities that are available for those not caught in the doom and gloom mentality the current real estate market has burned into our psyche.  A colleague wrote an interesting blog regarding supply and demand in the real estate market and it's impact on pricing. With the S&P/Case-Schiller home pricing index being released today, home prices dropped at levels not seen since 1991. Also, National Association of Realtor also announced that home sales have dropped to the slowest pace since 2002.  I can't help but notice that it's at the same point that the median home price in currently overvalued markets began to exceed 7% annual growth. Are home prices realigning to more realistic values in the over valued markets? 

Granted, this only deals with single home purchases.  What about raw land?

If you're really savvy, you're doing your homework right now.  You're out there pounding the pavement, back roads or internet looking for that next major Planned Development.  Heck, even the State of Florida during a time of budget cuts is considering additional funding for the Florida Forever land conservation program due to the relatively low land prices.  During good economic periods, land will be a much larger cost in your development.  When things do sour, will you be hemorrhaging greenbacks to deplete your existing inventory?  Or will you be able to still remain profitable because your land purchase was not at a premium?

 

Why Landstake?

I shared my blog with several colleagues to get their opinions on content and posts.  One of them asked me...  "Why Landstake? What's the significance?"

For those of you who have bought a house, you know that a boundary survey is performed and your lot corners are marked with stakes and colorful flagging.  The purpose of the stakes is to show you the extent of your ownership.  Imaginary lines between corners delineate your boundary and physical improvements, if any, are shown on a final survey.  All of these items are visible and readily understood.  But what about other elements which are not easy defined.

The home purchase is a simple example.  But what about your future planned residential development, apartment complex or commercial complex?  How may you use or develop your land - zoning and land use regulations?  How much of your property is encumbered by wetlands?  What utilities service your parcel - water, sewer, electric?   Are there neighboring factors which would potentially decrease the value of your property - landfill, rare or threatened species, chemical plant, prison?  Is there infrastructure to support a new, planned development - transportation, schools, shopping?

Determining what you own is more than a few stakes in the ground.  There are all of these underlying components, that when bundled together, impact the value and usefulness of land of the land you own or hope to acquire.

I hope to share with you some of my experiences, the tools I use and the tools currently being developed to help you make informed decisions.

Hello World!

For those of you who are familiar with programming, or who were required to take a semester in college, the "Hello World" program is always the first thing you learn to write.  I found it fitting to start my Blog in just the same fashion. Typically I'm ahead of the curve when it comes to computers and technology - just ask my wife if she can operate my home entertainment system - but social networking has taken a back seat on that ride for me. Until now...

LAND is perhaps the single most important possession.  Wars have been waged and fought for it.  Empires have set sail across vast oceans in pursuit of more of it.  Harsh journeys have been endured to map it.  And big government regulates what you do with it.

My goal with this blog is to share with you how you can use land information more efficiently to better develop, acquire and manage land.

Because, after all... nobody's making anymore of it.   (Ok, some very rich Arab's are making islands in Dubai, but you get the point.)