LandAndFarm.com Newsletter  |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Wind Farms = Rising Land Values
2. Singles in Agriculture
3. Famous Farmers: Harrison Ford's Ranch
4. Advice From An Expert: The Power of Words
5. Recent Properties
Some Texas school districts are boosting their coffers by letting wind farms come into their towns, the Associated Press reports. So far 44 school districts in Texas have brokered deals with wind farms that will earn the schools $248 million and give the wind farm owners $700 million in tax breaks over the next 10 years. An additional 21 districts are still hammering out the details of their own plans. The tiny town of Sterling City, in west Texas, has seen property values shoot up after inking a deal that brings in $47 million over ten years in exchange for over $100 million in tax breaks given to wind farmers.
Under normal circumstances, tax money coming from the wind farms would go to the state to be divide among all communities, but Texas school districts have started taking advantage of the "Robin Hood" law, which allows school districts to dole out tax credits and receive payments in lieu of taxes that they don't have to kick up to the state. Some Texas lawmakers aren't happy with school districts' plans because less money will be going to the state and, they say, the intent of the law was to attract high-employing industry to communities that need jobs.
Greg Wortham, executive director of the West Texas Wind Energy Consortium, told the Associated Press that the wind farms could go elsewhere if the favorable deals are rescinded. "They're going to be anywhere the wind blows, and that covers a million square miles," he said.
Note, LandAndFarm.com didn't date any of the websites listed in this article.
Is life on the farm getting a little lonely? Were you hoping for better playmates than deer and antelope on the range? Maybe it's time to join Singles in Agriculture (http://www.singlesinag.org). "We try and do something interesting in agriculture at each event and sightsee the area we are visiting," said Lindy Hall, director of publicity for Singles in Agriculture.
The organization's founding was sparked by a 1985 letter to Farm Journal from a farmer upset with how hard it was to find a mate who wanted to living the farming life. After running the letter, the magazine got thousands of responses from other farmers and agricultural workers who had the same problem. From there, Marcella Spindler and others started working together to form an organization.
LandAndFarm.com staffers searched the web and found several other dating sites for rural, single and horsey folks. Farmers Only (http://farmersonly.com/) is clearly in the same league as Singles in Agriculture. We also found two horse lovers sites - that's for lovers of horses and lovers of lovers of horses: Horse Country Singles (http://horseandcountrysingles.com/) and Horse Lovers Connection (http://www.horseloversconnection.com/).
Likewise, the major dating sites, Match.com, eHarmony.com and many others also have geographic searches or forums or chat rooms where anyone can post a preference for the farming life.
If you are in the UK, there is Muddy Matches (http://www.muddymatches.co.uk/) and no giggling please about the name; this is serious, romantic stuff here. And for horsey, lonely Brits, there's Love Horse (http://www.lovehorse.co.uk/).
So, if you are reading this newsletter on a Saturday night while your laundry is washing and there isn't a Farmer Bob or Farmer Brenda waiting for you to finish your email, surf over to one of these sites...you never know.
little over 20 years ago, box office star Harrison Ford decided to leave L.A. for an 800-acre ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. On-screen, Ford has saved the galaxy as Hans Solo and gone on action-filled treasure hunts as Indiana Jones, but his life in Wyoming is more subdued.
An article on LandReport.com talks about Ford's farm chores in Wyoming. "I need to be in a situation where my every whim is not attended to, where I have to fetch my own nails, do my own shopping, and wash my own dishes. "Being normal is a kind of victory," Ford said. "I'll fix a fence, repair a piece of equipment, or plough the driveway if there's snow. There's always plenty of work to do." Ford was active in planning his ranch from the beginning. While on set in France he faxed back drawings of what he wanted his house to look like. Shortly after buying the large tract of land, Ford also started granting conservation easements along his property. In case things get too slow for Ford on the ranch, he has also worked as a Teton County sheriff's deputy and has used his planes and helicopters to help in mountain rescue missions, according to LandReport.com.
Note the following random selection of keyword searches on Google during the past 30 days;
"Colorado real estate" and "North Carolina real estate" both had more than 10,000 searches, "Oregon real estate" 5400, "New Hampshire real estate" 4400, "Panama real estate" and "real estate Costa Rica" were sought by more than 4000 people during April.
A complete list would indicate more than 100,000 investors actively researching land buying opportunities across America and beyond. According to Google Insights, searches for 'land values' have increased +80% in the last 30 days. District of Colombia, Nevada, New York, Colorado, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Arizona and Georgia (in that order) hold the greatest regional interest for 'investment real estate".
The above examples are broad searches. From there, searches get more specific i.e. "mountain view property Colorado", "New Hampshire farm", "Vermont riverfront lot", etc. In order to win in Googles' organic search results you need to get your web pages in the top 20 and to really make things happen you need to be in the top 5 for your keywords.
In the web business this activity is known as "search engine optimization" or SEO. If you are trying to sell a property valued at $250,000 or less it will be best to use a service like Landandfarm.com to reach prospective buyers. If you are a realtor or developer you will want to learn more about SEO. It's an increasing complex subject with many "experts" offering services. You need to be careful. Beware of all SEO sales pitches promising quick, inexpensive fixes. This is definitely a process where slow and steady wins. You need a sound strategy and a reasonable budget. Over the long term the benefits can be outstanding and well worth the investment.
Capturing the audience is job one. Engaging the audience is next. You have 30 seconds to make it happen. This needs to be done with words and images. Property descriptions are vital.
Put the prospect on the land by creating an experience, a special feeling of place. For instance; "It's a warm, sunny morning in early June. Imagine standing knee deep in the gin clear river that fronts your property fishing for trout. Just down river you see an osprey returning to its nest with a fish of its own. A young eagle soars overhead in the crisp mountain air. Here pollution, street crime and traffic jams seem part of another world."
Too many web sites would describe the same property by saying something like; "This remote area features good trout fishing in the river, abundant wildlife and great views".
Which of these descriptions is more likely to make a buyers short list?
You need to stimulate the imagination and make your audience comfortable. For example you can tell a woman "she has a face that will stop a clock" or you can say "she has a face that makes time stand still". If you think about it and accept words are powerful your internet marketing results will improve significantly.
To learn more about SEO check out our SEO for real estate section.
Phil Robinson is lead strategist for Land Merchants, experts in online marketing for real estate since 1996.
| | by LandAndFarm.com Staff
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Sample of Recent Properties
Kenosha Wi 147a (row crops) 148 acres.
Burlington, Wisconsin
Scenic Farm, Home & 93 Acres (ranch) 93 acres.
Bradford, Tennessee
CO Ranches 35 Ac 39,900 (ranch) 35 acres.
Colorado
80 Acres w/ Cape Cod Farmhouse (residential land) 81 acres.
Maryland, New York
127 Ac Farm Absolute Auction (residential land) 127 acres.
Blaine, Tennessee
Wanted Swap House For Farm (residential land)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
GET READY TO FISH AND RELAX (waterfront)
Creston, West Virginia
Dairy Farm In Ny (dairy farm) 94 acres.
Cuba, New York
National Forest Property (hunting property) 3 acres.
Dolly Sods, WV, West Virginia
Land Liquidation Trout Stream (hunting property) 8 acres.
Sugar Grove, West Virginia
reduced 40 Acres 79900 (hunting property) 40 acres.
West Virginia
306.2 Ac. (row crops) 306 acres.
Fithian, Illinois
Good Combination Farm (hunting property) 539 acres.
Missouri
Was 124900 Now 79900 (recreational property) 20 acres.
High View, West Virginia
Prime Hunting And Farming Land (hunting property) 120 acres.
Missouri
Wonderful Lake Lot (waterfront)
Missouri
154 Acres Ml In Missouri (row crops) 154 acres.
Missouri
Real Estate Auction (commercial land) 15 acres.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Hunting Heaven (hunting property) 305 acres.
MURRAY, Kentucky
200 Acres Ml In Missouri (pasture) 200 acres.
Missouri
237 Acres In Nodaway County (row crops) 237 acres.
Missouri
154 Acres In Missouri (row crops) 154 acres.
Missouri
5.19 Rolling Acres With Extras (residential land) 5 acres.
Columbia, Tennessee
389 Acres In Missouri (row crops) 389 acres.
Missouri
17 Acre Estate Owner Financing (residential land) 17 acres.
Dade City, Florida
100 Acre Woodlands (recreational property) 100 acres.
Salem, Indiana
310 Acre Farm (ranch) 70 acres.
prospect,virginia, Virginia
Large Tract Divided Into Lots (residential land)
Gay, West Virginia
2 Br Home 0.842 Acre Lot (residential land)
Sparta, Tennessee
Joppa Creek Farm (horse farm) 120 acres.
Joppa, Alabama
Secluded Wildlife Retreat (recreational property) 31 acres.
Velpen, Indiana
Jake Tom (undeveloped land) 5 acres.
Logan, Ohio
Rolling Hills Horse Farm (horse farm) 30 acres.
Tullahoma, Tennessee
Equestrian Middle Tennessee (horse farm) 21 acres.
Beechgrove, Tennessee
New 26.8 Acres (residential land) 27 acres.
Berea, West Virginia
Developer Ordered Auction (commercial land) 101 acres.
Vineland , New Jersey
Exclusive Domaine (recreational property) 4,338 acres.
near Otter lake, Quebec, Canada
Don''t Buy Anything Yet (residential land) 25 acres.
Mountain View, Missouri
209 Acres in Yazoo Co., MS (hunting property) 209 acres.
Bentonia, Mississippi
Mt Eaton (historic) 60 acres.
Doylestown, Ohio
Looking For A View Of Lake (residential land) 2 acres.
Elmwood, Tennessee
Picture Perfect Dairy (dairy farm) 130 acres.
CLARKSON, Kentucky
Unbelievable Views Wih Cabin S (residential land) 8 acres.
Franklin, North Carolina
Small Foothills Of Kentucky/Sale Pending (hunting property) 45 acres.
Edmonton, Kentucky
11.38 Acres Highway 9 (commercial land) 11 acres.
Bennettsville, South Carolina
1100 Acre Plantation Wilcox Co (hunting property) 1,100 acres.
Georgia
5 Acres Owner Financing (residential land) 5 acres.
Washburn, Tennessee
Bring The Building Plans (horse farm) 20 acres.
Dunnellon, Florida
Superior Outstanding Hunting (hunting property) 50 acres.
Hutchinson, Kansas
Nice Hobby Farm With Home (residential land) 37 acres.
Edmonton, Kentucky
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