Raw Land and Real Estate Markets
By Lance Winslow 

Despite the collapse in the real estate market for new housing starts and the bursted bubble in so many of America’s largest real estate market not all real estate has slowed to bargain basement prices. In fact in many now built up suburban neighborhoods, raw land for commercial development is still at a premium. This is a very interest situation considering the downtown commercial real estate markets, office parks and residential markets, which are so typical of down markets in post bubble periods.

How can you find good deals on raw land? Well it is easy if you are not so particular to where it is and you are only buying for speculation. Most cities grow North and West so that is a good bet, especially if the areas are growing towards a lake, river, mountain, ocean or Indian Land.

Why? Well, because as the growth continues it will squeeze heavily on the remaining areas left as the land becomes more and more scarce. Thus if you have such a piece of property, well it may just be the nest egg you need and you can wait to sell out to the highest bidder in the future.

Is it difficult to spot such prime real estate land to speculate in? No, not really, but it takes a little patience, review of the local master plan for the area and a little insider knowledge as well. But all in all you can generally sense the growth in an area by watching it for a few years, but do not wait too long, as the goal is to buy low, hold and sell very high. Consider all this in 2006.