In this time of increasingly diminishing returns on many traditional investments such as CD's and "blue chip" stocks and bonds many investors are looking at alternative investment vehicles, which may offer the opportunity for much higher yields. As part of this process many investors might want to consider investing in "pre-development" or "raw" land as part of their portfolios.

What To Look For In Selecting Properties . . .

1: Highway or Property Access, and Location:

Look for a property with existing highway access and plenty of frontage. Location, location, location! Make sure the location has desirability.

2: Water and Sewer Access:

Make sure the land will support a well, wastewater, septic service. If your best-laid plans go astray we still need to be able to sell the property. For more information contact the Missouri State Department of Natural Resources.

3: Clean Environmental History:

Don't assume all rural non-developed properties are clean.

4: Soil Types:

Look for soil types with good drainage. Your County Extension Service should have a book of County soil maps available for reference and/or for sale.

5: Topography:

Look for as even of topography as possible. Hills and gullies (especially near the roadway) make for lots of expensive fill dirt and unhappy developers.

6: Obnoxious Neighboring Properties:

Make sure the adjacent properties aren't involved in some sort of continuous noise or smoke (or smell) emitting quasi-industrial activity that would make a prospective developer think twice about choosing your parcel as a candidate for development.

7: Easements Across The Property:

Does a neighboring landowner have an easement across the property that would interfere with development?

8: FERC and Ameren UE Rules and Regulations:

Properties adjoining the Lake of the Ozarks have rules and regulations. It is advisable to anyone considering purchasing investment properties along the Lake of the Ozarks to contact Ameren UE and FERC pertaining to all federal and state regulation pertaining to seawalls, dock permits, and environmental issues.

When Considering Investing Choose Properties Close to Outdoor Recreation and Nature:

Homes abutting the ocean, rivers, lakes or parks will hold their value because of the location, providing they are not in the path of a possible natural hazard. People want to be near water or visually appealing settings.

Homes with a View . . .

Some homes sell quickly and for top dollar because they provide sweeping panoramic views of the city at night, but even a small glimpse of the ocean, lake or rivers out one window is enough to substantiate a good location. Other sought-after views include mountains, greenbelts or golf courses.

"You Don't Wait To Buy Land, You Buy Land and Wait."

At New Northshore, we make buying land simple. We offer you the opportunity to buy individual plots of land, which we consider to have future development potential. We pride ourselves on our commitment to ensuring that our customers are fully informed and supported throughout the process of buying their plot of land.

It’s no secret that investing in “LAND” is one of the most time-tested ways to increase your wealth. Stock market speculations and other equity building approaches have a certain degree of volatility. Real estate (land) is a safer, reliable investment. Property values appreciate considerably over time.

While there is certainly an ebb and flow in the real estate market, the demand for property is ubiquitous. Before you can take advantage of this lucrative approach to investing, you need to know how to go about purchasing investment properties.

Whether you are a developer/investor looking for new and exciting development areas in the path of growth or an enterprise company looking to expand your footprint, we look forward to helping you achieve your overall objectives one relationship at a time.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm . . .

The bottom line for the speculative investor is to make their purchase at a point in the land development cycle where growth is close enough in both time and proximity that a reasonable determination that it will be in the path residential and commercial development can be made but to purchase before prospective commercial users for the land have entered the market and caused to values to accelerate.

Land Investment Throughout History

Land for sale bought as an investment is the secret of the world’s richest investors including Donald Trump and Howard Hughes who have made billions. In fact, most of the world’s wealthiest investors have made money in land. Land has a better growth and lower downside risk than ANY other investment. Land for sale that is bought for investment purposes can show great returns and low risk. Land Investment has historically been the forte of large development companies, rich farmers or wealthy individuals. It can be a profitable business if proper development of land is undertaken. Land investment is referred to as a long-term investment and with land prices on the rise in many parts of the world, it is said to be the safest and smartest way of investing ones money.

Summary

There is much more that could be said about investing in speculative land. I hope this brief overview of real estate investing has been helpful and informative.

Investment in raw land can yield spectacular returns on equity. You can also lose a bundle. The consistent winners in speculative raw land investment are those who are comfortable with the time lines involved, do their homework and stick to the basics. Even the most experienced developers can get burned when they forget these aspects. For informed investors speculative land investments can be a useful, valuable and entertaining part of a diversified portfolio.