During 30 years of business, Fay Ranches agents, clients, and partners have experienced almost every scenario you can imagine when facilitating transactions for buying and selling land. The Land Investor guide brings together educational content from experts in the land sales and adjacent industries.
Posted: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I'm interested in investing in waterfront property. As I've begun my search for the perfect piece of land to live out my waterfront dreams, I keep coming across...
Posted: Thursday, April 18, 2024
Author: Cody Richardson
Since the 16th century, the American West has created its own legacy forged from legends with unparalleled grandeur and an unmistakable image. Mountain men and fur trappers such as Jim...
Posted: Tuesday, April 09, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I’ve got my eye on this farm that seems perfect for what I want to do—the land seems very suitable for farming. But here’s the thing, its historical...
Posted: Thursday, April 04, 2024
Author: Cody Richardson
The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition is a well-known telling of the discovery and exploration of the American Western frontier. Renowned historian and author Stephen Ambrose depicts the...
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am facing an issue where a road on my property that also allows public access to some adjacent land is seeing increased traffic and deteriorating without maintenance...
Posted: Thursday, March 21, 2024
Author: Kelsea Vaughan
Cattle ranching plays a crucial role in global food production, providing a significant portion of the world's meat supply. However, one of the persistent challenges faced by ranchers is the...
Posted: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, Can I list my property if the home is winterized? We are considering selling, but I'm wondering what the next steps are. How does having a home that's...
Posted: Thursday, March 07, 2024
Author: Joette Schalla
If you take a drive through the modern-day New England countryside, you will still find stone walls lining the edges of historic farm properties. These charming walls were very labor-intensive...
Posted: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Author: Ryan Bramlette, ALC
In one of our more recent Land Investor Podcast episodes, Montana Hunting Tags: Resident and Non-Resident Applications, my co-host Matt Henningsen and I dive into the strategies accessible to a...
Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, Could you shed some light on what exactly a fish stocking permit is, and why is it relevant in the context of property ownership? I’m eyeing a few...
Posted: Thursday, February 08, 2024
Author: JW Robinson
If you have embarked on a drive through the American West, the exploration will likely include the State of Wyoming. The state echoes with the whispers of its past, stands...
Posted: Thursday, February 08, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I recently inherited agricultural land, but I currently live abroad. I don't plan to return, but I don't want to sell the land because I see it as...
Posted: Thursday, February 01, 2024
Author: Susan Ferrin
The vast lack of resources in rural America poses multifaceted challenges that can have far-reaching consequences on the well-being of individuals and the sustainability of communities. Access to quality education...
Posted: Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I'm a Texas ranch owner looking to expand my portfolio and buy out West. What should I know about ranching and buying in the West? What seasonal challenges...
Posted: Thursday, January 18, 2024
Author: Bob Goodson
As interest rates rise and financing gets more challenging, sellers who are motivated to sell may offer to finance a portion of the purchase price. At the closing, the buyer...
Posted: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I'm considering buying a property that is home to an endangered species. How would this affect my ability to work and enjoy the land? How does this affect...
Posted: Thursday, January 04, 2024
Author: Alex Robertson
As the fiscal year winds down, you may find yourself in the fortunate position of having enjoyed a prosperous year on your ranch or farm or through other business ventures...
Posted: Tuesday, January 02, 2024
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, What are the reasonings or benefits behind placing my land in a trust? Could you elaborate on how this decision might affect aspects like estate planning, asset protection...
Posted: Thursday, December 21, 2023
Author(s): Kiyomi Bramlette, Ryan Bramlette, ALC
Since the pandemic, we've seen a shift in the needs and wants of buyers. Pre-pandemic buyers typically wanted to buy bare land and build their own dream as opposed to...
Posted: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am currently looking at purchasing a property with mineral rights. I have never really given much thought to minerals on my land. What kind of due diligence...
Posted: Thursday, December 07, 2023
Author: Bob Goodson
A 1031 exchange that starts near the end of a tax year will often run into the following tax year. The regulations address how to handle incomplete exchanges and cash...
Posted: Tuesday, December 05, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I'm currently in the market to purchase a piece of land primarily for investment purposes. My intent is not to immediately utilize the land for agricultural activities, such...
Posted: Thursday, November 30, 2023
Author: Clayton C. Jeffords
The signs are here, and the mornings and evenings start to carry a cooler breeze. The dove fields cool down both in temperature and action. The days are still warm...
Posted: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Hi Vinny, I'm currently interested in a property that is under a conservation easement. Could you tell me what kinds of things might be potential concerns or "red flags" to...
Posted: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Author: Susan Ferrin
For many individuals, retirement marks a time to reflect on a lifetime of hard work and consider how to give back to the causes they hold dear. Qualified Charitable Distributions...
Posted: Tuesday, November 07, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I have received an offer for my ranch, and they mentioned that it's part of a 1031 exchange. I've heard the term but don't know what it means...
Posted: Thursday, November 02, 2023
Author: Rebecca Danforth
Shortly after Montana's big game hunting season came to a close in the fall of 2021, I attended a gathering of women hunters. As we gathered over cocktails and appetizers...
Posted: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Author: JW Robinson
Costa Rica sits in the southern part of Central America. It offers miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, 28 National Parks, and temperatures that...
Posted: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Vinny, I'm a city person looking into investing in some rural land. This kind of investment is new to me, and I know there's a lot to consider. I know...
Posted: Thursday, October 12, 2023
Author: Cheryl Summer
Welcome to the West! Maybe you have already been fortunate enough to purchase the ranch you have been dreaming of, or perhaps you are considering a move and searching for...
Posted: Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Vinny, I have reservations about the individual interested in purchasing my ranch, as their financial situation appears somewhat questionable. Should I be concerned? What precautions can I take to ensure...
Posted: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I'm in the process of selling my ranch, and my real estate agent has requested that I fill out a property disclosure form. I'm curious about the necessity...
Posted: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My house is located in a floodplain, and I’m concerned about the potential risks and regulations associated with this. Can I sell my property? Are there specific considerations...
Posted: Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Vinny,My property has a very dense forest on it. In the past few years, there have been a lot of fires in my area. What should I do on a...
Posted: Thursday, August 24, 2023
Author: Bob Goodson
Taxpayers conducting tax-deferred 1031 exchanges must take great care to ensure that they are following the fundamental rules of the exchange, buying up in value and reinvesting all exchange proceeds...
Posted: Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Vinny, Why do government easements take so long to be removed and corrected? ~Waiting...
Posted: Thursday, August 03, 2023
Author: Dane Reed
When buying a new farm or ranch, it can be easy to overlook the potential cost, time, and effort ofpersonalizing fencing applications. Fencing needs will vary widely from property to...
Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, We have been watching the markets pretty closely here from Ohio. And we are curious to know why some of these large ranches are folding up and selling...
Posted: Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Author: Ren Martyn, ALC
“Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting.” You’ve heard this proverbial quote before, and today you hear it louder and more often in the Colorado River Basin. Western water...
Posted: Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny – I’m interested in a property with a single home with two septic systems. What should I know about septic permits and inspections as part of my due...
Posted: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Author: Jesica Hicks
Considering a move, but not sure where the ideal location might be? Check out Central and Eastern Oregon! When people picture Oregon, they often think of the coastline, beaches, sea...
Posted: Tuesday, July 04, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am considering purchasing a property in Southwestern Montana with some water features, including three ponds. The previous owner had stocked the ponds when he first purchased the...
Posted: Thursday, June 29, 2023
Author: Joette Schalla
In 1820 the United States Government started selling publicly held land for $1.25 per acre. This event allowed citizens in urban areas new opportunities, but buying land in unsettled areas...
Posted: Thursday, June 22, 2023
Author(s): Richard Ellis, Kevin Stowe
How and why real property interests came about: Real property interests are typically understood to include both the surface and subsurface, or mineral, estates. For those of us involved in...
Posted: Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I recently found my perfect property and am moving forward with finding an agent to purchase the property. I have been asked to sign a brokerage disclosure form...
Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2023
Author: Greg Fay
My career in selling land began in 1986, and I founded Fay Ranches in 1992. Over the years, I've been involved in some of the most significant land transactions in...
Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I live in Montana, I have an underground creek showing on our property map. Can I legally dig down to make it an above-ground creek? - Underground Creek...
Posted: Thursday, June 01, 2023
Author: Matt Henningsen
In late August 2021, as the world settled into the bottom half of the Covid pandemic, the sale of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card in near-perfect condition grabbed...
Posted: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Author: Anna Perkins Buongiorno
There is a renewable energy boom happening across the country. New wind and solar projects are cropping up at extraordinary rates, creating an abundance of new jobs and investment in...
Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I have been raising cattle for 15 years now on what I would consider a fairly successful cattle ranch. Lately, we have noticed the growth of the grass...
Posted: Thursday, May 18, 2023
Author: JW Robinson
Renovating residential homes has been a hot topic for many years. Television has promoted the process of upgrading real estate through multiple shows across several networks. However, did you know...
Posted: Thursday, May 11, 2023
Author: Bob Goodson
A 1031 exchange allows you to preserve wealth through reinvestment of “like-kind” property. Knowing some basic rules behind Internal Revenue Code 1031 can help investors defer paying capital gain tax...
Posted: Tuesday, May 09, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I would consider myself a fairly savvy investor with a somewhat diverse investment portfolio. However, I have recently heard some of my friends talk about investing in land...
Posted: Thursday, May 04, 2023
Author: Joette Schalla
It was once said, “The best thing about the land is the landscape.” A good point, but what is also very rewarding is an additional return on your investment through...
Posted: Tuesday, May 02, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My family has made the decision to sell our working ranch. We have gotten our family affairs in order, but we are unsure of where to start to...
Posted: Thursday, April 27, 2023
Author: Jerry Hicks
To Sell or Not to Sell? After decades of ownership, generations of family succession, years of toil, blood, sweat, and tears, drought, floods, fires, depression, great successes, failures, and everything...
Posted: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I have been working closely with a land sales agent to find my perfect property. They have brought a lot of options to the table, one of which...
Posted: Thursday, April 20, 2023
Author: Neil Bangs
Through my years of ranch real estate, one thing that has become very apparent is the expectations of what a cattle ranch should look like in the eyes of a...
Posted: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My wife and I recently purchased a large working ranch in a very rural area. We do not have any paved roads, just dirt. My wife insists on...
Posted: Thursday, April 13, 2023
Author: Clayton C. Jeffords
Winter in the Southeast always leaves us wanting more, one more duck hunt in that flooded corn field or timber bottom, one more chase in the field where geese feed...
Posted: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny – My partner and I own a large ranch. We are thinking of putting it into a conservation easement. Do you know if this will affect the value...
Posted: Thursday, April 06, 2023
Author: Katie Salsbury
What is regenerative grazing? Regenerative grazing is the practice of using grazing animals to regenerate the land. To regenerate something means to regrow or bring new and more vigorous life...
Posted: Tuesday, April 04, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny – Have you watched the show Yellowstone? Do you feel like more people are moving to Montana because of the show? The show never shows winter. Do you...
Posted: Thursday, March 30, 2023
Author: Alex Robertson
Prior to being a broker with Fay Ranches, I spent a ridiculous amount of time around horses. I mean a lot. My mother has been training and breeding horses for...
Posted: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am looking to purchase a large piece of property and want to not only cultivate the current aspects of the property but add value to the land...
Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2023
Author: John Hudgens
Three Ways to Become a Successful Angler Have you ever fished with someone who you consider to be “fishy”? I’m talking about the angler who is just different; the angler...
Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am an excited first-time land investor! I know the areas of the country that I am interested in, but I don’t know specifically where I want to...
Posted: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Author: Troy Dana
For a timber owner, the decision to harvest is frequently a function of timing and often catalyzed by factors such as the economy, age of the timber, log markets, leverage...
Posted: Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am a land broker with a large list of clients. Some of these relationships span years and decades, and some are new. As I grow my business...
Posted: Thursday, March 09, 2023
Author: Michael Hamblin
WINDS OF CHANGE As wind turbines begin to line the horizon among America’s heartland, many rural landowners are being approached with an opportunity to lease their land for wind energy...
Posted: Thursday, March 02, 2023
Author: Katie Salsbury
How to Draft a Ranch Management Plan in Five Steps You have spent years earning, planning, and shopping for a ranch, now that you own it, what should you do...
Posted: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My property is under contract and scheduled to close in 120 days. The buyers will be moving onto the property themselves. I know that I have a lot...
Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Author: Jesica Hicks
Thinking of listing your ranch, farm, recreation, or luxury property this spring? Here are 5 reasons why now is the right time to do it! Listing now will position you...
Posted: Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am interested in purchasing a rural ranch property. I have some cash on hand but need more for the size and types of properties that I am...
Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Author: Ryan Bramlette, ALC
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Rob Arnaud, who is finishing his 8th year on the Montana Board of Outfitters and is arguably the most knowledgeable resource...
Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My family is preparing to sell our family farm. We have been irrigating about 40 acres on the eastern side of the property for years. We have water...
Posted: Thursday, February 09, 2023
Author: Bob Goodson
Selling a farm or a ranch, like selling any business, often involves many different types of assets. The transaction may include equipment, livestock, water rights, crops, inventory, and, of course...
Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I’ve been doing a lot of duck hunting lately and have developed a strange rash on my chest and back. I live in the SW and have been...
Posted: Thursday, February 02, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Having spent the past ten years of my life as a land broker, I can attest to the fact that the most rewarding aspect of a successful career isn’t financial...
Posted: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My family and I live in what most people would call a crowded metropolitan area. My wife and I were not raised here, but this has become our...
Posted: Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Author: Matt Henningsen
As an educated investor, you know that proper asset allocation is essential to portfolio diversification, and of course, real estate has always been a mainstay of a well-balanced portfolio. However...
Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, Over the holidays, my family finally decided to sell the family property. At first, I was very upset and angry that they would even consider letting someone else...
Posted: Thursday, January 19, 2023
Author: JW Robinson
It doesn't matter if you have lived in Wyoming for 50 years or if you just moved to town, winter can leave you with cabin fever. The cold winds leave...
Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I live in the drought-stricken hell hole called California. Water and water rights are my top priority as I plan my move to MT, WY, ID, WA, or...
Posted: Thursday, January 12, 2023
Author: Troy Dana
For Sellers of remote Alaska properties, there may not be a better time to sell than now. Never before has Alaska captured the hearts and imaginations of so many from...
Posted: Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, My property is listed for sale with a local broker. I listed with him because we live in the same town and have known each other for a...
Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2023
Author(s): Joette Schalla, Jesica Hicks
At Fay Ranches, we are proud of our agents, the culture, and the family that we have cultivated over the years. A big part of the team is the Women...
Posted: Tuesday, January 03, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, With the new year already here, my family will be sitting down to discuss the future of our family ranch. My brother and I have our own families...
Posted: Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Author: Vinny Delgado
Dear Vinny, I am a buyer, and I have been working with a Real Estate agent in my local state – let’s call him Steve. My agent, Steve, called me...
Posted: Monday, December 19, 2022
Author: Troy Dana
Alaska is one of the most amazing places on earth and continues to inspire people from around the world to visit the pristine wilderness and breathtaking scenery. Alaska appeals to...
Posted: Friday, December 09, 2022
Author: Scott Coe
My earliest memory of hunting is stumbling around the fields looking for pheasants with my dad and uncles at seven years old. I filled my first deer tag by the...
Posted: Monday, November 07, 2022
Author: Greg Fay
Two thousand twenty-two marks the 30th anniversary of Fay Ranches and ten years since we forged our Strategic Alliance with Republic Ranches. Thirty years certainly signifies our ability to weather...
Posted: Friday, October 21, 2022
Author(s): Brian Eischeid, Clayton C. Jeffords
There are many ways to measure time. The days, weeks, and years seemingly continue to pass us by with increasing and unsuspecting swiftness. We often want time to stop, to...
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2022
Author(s): April Churchill, Susan Ferrin
When wandering around Montana, you will inevitably wind-up in a rural community at just about every turn. With just over a million people state-wide, roughly half of those individuals and...
Posted: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Author: George Duke
Upland game bird hunting in South-Central Montana is no longer a secret. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River valley all the way down into Wyoming, and the surrounding Pryor...
Posted: Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Author: JW Robinson
One of the largest attractions to the Western United States is the vast acreage of land allocated for public use, including large tracts of state land, National Forest, regions managed...
Posted: Thursday, August 18, 2022
Author: Jim Vidamour, ALC
As I was writing this, the two largest wildfires in the history of New Mexico were burning. The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, just northeast of Santa Fe, and the Black...
Posted: Friday, July 29, 2022
Author: Troy Dana
Alaska offers some of the most extreme geographies in the United States and some of the most iconic features readily known around the world, such as Mt. McKinely, now known...
