Understand an access easement, rights-of-way, shared roads, utility corridors, recorded documents, and jurisdiction-specific property rights before making improvements.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 6 minute read · Subscriber article

Property Boundaries: When a Fence Is Not Enough

Check a property boundary with deeds, monuments, and a professional survey before replacing fences or building near a neighbor.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Water Rights on Rural Land: Why Location Matters So Much

Understand surface-water rights, groundwater districts, permits, existing rights, and the importance of location before planning water-dependent improvements.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Mineral Rights and Surface Rights: What a Landowner Should Understand

Understand mineral rights and surface rights, deed reservations, mineral title, development impacts, and surface-use agreements.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Landowner Liability: Guests, Hunters, Contractors, and Recreational Users

Manage landowner liability and hunting liability involving guests, lessees, contractors, recreational users, known hazards, insurance, and state law.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 6 minute read · Subscriber article

Insuring Rural Property for the Risks That Actually Exist

Review rural insurance for barns, equipment, livestock, hunting leases, guests, and business activity, including liability limits and exclusions.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 8 minute read · Subscriber article

Understanding What Rural Land Is Really Worth

Evaluate rural land value, agricultural value, recreational value, improvement value, timber income, water, and comparable sales.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 6 minute read · Subscriber article

Evaluating Comparable Land Sales Without Fooling Yourself

Evaluate comparable sales using verified prices, location, acreage, improvements, water, property rights, and timing.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Leasing Grazing Land Without Creating Avoidable Problems

Plan a grazing lease or agricultural lease around stocking, drought, water, fences, maintenance, improvements, insurance, and written responsibilities.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Building a Hunting Lease That Protects the Land and the Relationship

Build a hunting lease with clear rules for guests, vehicles, harvest, feeders, blinds, livestock, lodging, insurance, and habitat.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 6 minute read · Subscriber article

Creating Income From Recreation Without Turning the Property Into a Business You Do Not Want

Evaluate recreational income and lodging against visitor management, sanitation, roads, privacy, insurance, and local requirements.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Conservation Income, Carbon Markets, and Environmental Payments

Assess conservation income, carbon markets, environmental markets, verification costs, contract duration, permanence, and financial risk.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 9 minute read · Subscriber article

Evaluating Energy and Utility Agreements on Rural Land

Review a wind lease, solar lease, pipeline easement, transmission agreement, oil and gas proposal, or telecommunications agreement before committing land.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 7 minute read · Subscriber article

Hiring the Right Land Professional for the Problem

Choose a land consultant, surveyor, engineer, wildlife biologist, forester, agronomist, soil scientist, or specialty contractor for the problem.

Ownership, Economics & Land Operations · 8 minute read · Subscriber article

Planning a Land Project Before Asking for Bids

Plan a land project with a clear scope of work, estimates, bids, contractor selection, contracts, scheduling, change orders, inspection, and documentation.