Crushing Land!

A seller’s asking price is not the real price.

In this episode, we walk through how we underwrite a 45-acre land deal from scratch to figure out what the land is actually worth to us as investors.

The seller had a seven-figure number in mind, and on the surface, the deal appeared to have a potential gross development value of more than $2.6 million. But gross value is not profit.

We break down how to work backward from the exit, analyze finished lot comps, estimate development costs, account for selling costs, model developer profit, add contingency, and stress-test the assumptions before making an offer.

This episode covers why access, utilities, nearby development, lot count, perc tests, infrastructure, county requirements, and buyer demand can completely change the value of a land deal.

This is not about lowballing sellers. It is about replacing hopes and guesses with real underwriting.

Want a guide to help you evaluate land deals before you buy?

Download our free Due Diligence Playbook here:
https://thelandmethod.com/wealth-playbook/

Interested in learning more about our live 5-week land investing training?

Schedule a call here to see if it is a fit:
https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/OdfBSNZw9w23X6Kab41H

Learn more from The Land Method:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheLandMethod

A lot of people want to invest in real estate, but they assume that means buying rentals.

In this episode, we compare raw land vs. rental properties and break down which strategy may fit better in 2026.

Rentals can absolutely build wealth, but they also come with tenants, repairs, maintenance, vacancy, property management, insurance, taxes, and ongoing operations.

Raw land has a very different cost structure. There are no tenants, no toilets, no roofs, no HVAC, no unit turns, and no traditional property management. But land is not risk-free. Investors still need to understand access, utilities, zoning, flood zones, wetlands, title, pricing, buyer demand, and exit strategy.

We cover how rentals and land create income differently, why owner financing can create monthly payments without tenants, and how to think through which real estate strategy fits your goals, capital, risk tolerance, and preferred workload.

Interested in more direct help with land investing in today’s market?

We are putting together a live 5-week training focused on what is actually working now, including market selection, deal evaluation, seller conversations, value creation, sales strategies, and current market realities.

Schedule a call here to learn more and see if it is a fit:
https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/OdfBSNZw9w23X6Kab41H

Want a guide to help you evaluate land deals before you buy?

Download our free Due Diligence Playbook here:
https://thelandmethod.com/wealth-playbook/

Learn more from The Land Method:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheLandMethod

A lot of rental properties look profitable on paper, but the real numbers often tell a different story.

In this episode, we break down why “rent minus mortgage” is not true cash flow and why many new rental investors underestimate the hidden costs that can quietly reduce or eliminate profit.

We cover vacancy, tenant turnover, repairs, maintenance, property management, taxes, insurance, capital expenses, exit costs, and the time involved in owning rental property.

This is not an anti-rental episode. Rentals can work, and many investors have built wealth with them. The issue is that the numbers need to be honest from the beginning.

We also compare the rental property model to vacant land investing and explain why land can be a cleaner real estate strategy for investors who want fewer moving parts, no tenants, no toilets, no repairs, and no traditional property management.

Want a guide to help you evaluate land deals before you buy?

Download our free Due Diligence Playbook here:

https://thelandmethod.com/wealth-playbook/

Interested in learning more about our live 5-week land investing training?

Schedule a call here to see if it is a fit:

https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/OdfBSNZw9w23X6Kab41H

Learn more from The Land Method:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheLandMethod

Rental properties can absolutely build wealth, but the real cash flow is often very different from what the beginner spreadsheet shows.

In this episode, we break down the hidden costs of rental properties that many investors underestimate, including vacancy, repairs, tenant turnover, property management fees, tax complexity, exit costs, and the time commitment that comes with owning rentals.

This is not an anti-rental episode. Rentals can work, and many investors have built wealth with them. The point is that investors need to understand the full cost structure before buying — not just the rent minus the mortgage.

We also compare rentals to land investing and explain why vacant land can be a cleaner real estate model for investors who want to avoid tenants, repairs, evictions, and ongoing property management.

Want a guide to help you evaluate land deals before you buy?

Download our free Due Diligence Playbook here:

https://thelandmethod.com/wealth-playbook/

Learn more about The Land Method:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheLandMethod

Most bad land deals start with bad pricing.

In this episode of Crushing Land, Jonathan breaks down how to value land like a real investor instead of guessing, relying on online estimates, or using a one-size-fits-all offer formula.

Land valuation is one of the most important skills in land investing because every decision depends on it. What should you offer? What is the property really worth? Is there enough spread? Who is the likely buyer? Can you sell it for cash? Can you sell it with owner financing? Should you buy it at all?

Jonathan explains why land cannot be valued the same way as houses, why active listings are not the same as sold comps, and why buyer demand and usability matter so much.

He also covers key valuation factors like access, utilities, zoning, topography, wetlands, flood zones, restrictions, and exit strategy.

The goal is not to guess what land is worth. The goal is to understand the market, the property, the buyer, and the exit strategy before putting money at risk.

Learn more about The Land Method:
https://www.thelandmethod.com

Learn more about Land Riches Blueprint:
https://www.landrichesblueprint.com

Watch the full video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/-1Q_7wRZIfw

We have completed over 1,500 land deals, but we did not start by doing everything perfectly.

In this episode of Crushing Land, Jonathan breaks down five of the biggest land investing mistakes we made early on — and the lessons that helped us build better systems, better due diligence, better pricing, and better deal flow.

These are not theory-based warnings. These are real mistakes that can cost land investors money, momentum, and confidence if they do not know what to watch for.

Jonathan covers why bad pricing can kill a deal before it starts, why targeting the wrong markets leads to wasted marketing, why access must be verified before you buy, how poor seller communication can cost you good deals, and why tax, title, and ownership issues cannot be ignored.

The key point is simple: land investing can be an incredible business, but only if you treat it like a real business.

The goal is not to buy every property. The goal is to buy the right properties, in the right markets, at the right price, with a clear exit strategy.

If you are new to land investing or trying to get your first few deals under contract, this episode will help you understand the mistakes to avoid before they cost you money.

Learn more about The Land Method:
https://www.thelandmethod.com

Learn more about Land Riches Blueprint:
https://www.landrichesblueprint.com

Watch the full video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/-el3qI2z-lI

A lot of new land investors get stuck before their first deal because they think they need to understand everything before they take action.

The perfect market.
The perfect list.
The perfect mailer.
The perfect software.
The perfect funding plan.
The perfect exit strategy.

That is where paralysis by analysis kicks in.

In this episode of Crushing Land, Jonathan breaks down the first three steps to getting your first land deal under contract:

1. Pick the right market

2. Reach the right sellers

3. Evaluate the deal and make the right offer

This episode is designed to simplify the beginning of the land investing process so you can stop overthinking and start taking practical steps.

Jonathan covers why cheap land is not automatically a good deal, why mailing random counties is not a strategy, how to think about buyer demand, why seller outreach is where the business really starts, and what you need to review before making an offer.

He also explains why your offer should be based on the property, the market, the seller situation, and your exit strategy — not just a random percentage or a one-size-fits-all formula.

If you are interested in land investing but feel stuck on what to do first, this episode will help you understand the basic sequence that matters before you start worrying about advanced strategies.

Learn more about The Land Method:
https://www.thelandmethod.com

Learn more about Land Riches Blueprint:
https://www.landrichesblueprint.com

Watch the full video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/jY-QnpKvyvI

Can small land deals really create meaningful profits?

In this episode of Crushing Land, Jonathan Haveles breaks down three recent real land deals from our own business and shows how different acquisition prices, buyer types, property issues, and exit strategies can create very different outcomes.

These are not theory-based examples. These are actual deals showing how land investing works when you understand the property before you buy it, know the likely buyer, solve the right problems, and choose the right exit strategy.

In this episode, Jonathan covers:

• A $12,000 cash purchase that sold for $40,000
• A $590 self-closed property that sold for $9,000
• A $530 property with an access issue that turned into over $15,000 in profit through owner financing
• Why cheap land is not automatically a good deal
• Why small deals can teach you the business
• How buyer demand affects value
• Why due diligence matters before you buy
• How owner financing can create a much stronger return
• Why land investing is not one single strategy

The key lesson is simple: land investing is not just about buying cheap dirt.

You make money when you understand the deal, buy correctly, know your buyer, solve problems, and choose the right exit strategy.

Start with our free land investing course:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcmzQMrlIUahIfOCh1weN7LkUR4GD6nd

Learn more about Land Riches Blueprint:
https://www.landrichesblueprint.com

Join The Land Method Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelandmethod

Visit The Land Method:
https://www.thelandmethod.com

Are rental properties really passive income?

In this episode of Crushing Land, Jonathan Haveles breaks down why he moved away from rentals and house flips and shifted more heavily into vacant land investing.

Rentals and flips can absolutely make money, but they often come with tenants, repairs, contractor issues, holding costs, vacancies, insurance problems, and unexpected stress. Jonathan shares real examples from his own experience, including flips that made money but created far more hassle than expected, and a larger rehab project that became a major reminder of why he wanted a simpler real estate model.

This episode is not about saying rentals are bad or that land investing is magic. It is about comparing the real operational differences between houses and land.

With land, there are no tenants, no toilets, no termites, no rehabs, no structures falling apart, and far fewer moving parts. When you understand how to find, evaluate, buy, and sell vacant land correctly, it can become a cleaner, simpler, and more scalable real estate strategy.

In this episode, Jonathan covers:

• Why rental property investing is not always as passive as people claim
• The hidden work behind tenants, repairs, contractors, and rehabs
• Real examples from Jonathan’s rental and house-flipping experience
• Why vacant land removes many common real estate headaches
• How land investing can offer speed, scalability, and lower operational drag
• Why due diligence still matters before buying land
• How land can create cash flow without tenants
• Where to start if you are new to land investing

Start with our free land investing course:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcmzQMrlIUahIfOCh1weN7LkUR4GD6nd

Learn more about Land Riches Blueprint:
https://www.landrichesblueprint.com

Join The Land Method Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelandmethod

Visit The Land Method:
https://www.thelandmethod.com

Crushing Land is back — and we’re shifting the focus.

In this episode, Jonathan breaks down why many investors are dropping out of land investing and why some of that comes from holding onto the wrong mindset from the COVID-era market, when deals moved faster, money was cheaper, buyers were easier to find, and many strategies seemed easier than they really were.

That market has changed.

Land investing still works, but investors need to think differently, analyze markets more carefully, and stop relying on broad, generic advice.

This episode uses the Orlando real estate market as a practical example. Jonathan compares traditional rentals, short-term rentals, and vacant land opportunities in Central Florida, showing why vacant land in growth corridors may be one of the more overlooked investment plays in the market.

You’ll hear about:

• Why many investors are struggling in today’s land market

• How the post-COVID real estate mindset needs to change

• Orlando rentals vs. short-term rentals vs. vacant land

• Why growth corridors matter for land investors

• How vacant land can offer opportunity without landlord headaches

• The due diligence issues that matter in Central Florida, including flood zones, wetlands, sinkholes, zoning, utilities, insurance, and title concerns

• How to evaluate a market instead of blindly following generic investing advice

Even if Orlando is not a market you are interested in, this episode shows the type of specific, practical breakdowns Crushing Land will focus on going forward: real markets, niche topics, specific risks, and actual investor strategy.

Land is still a viable investing avenue — and in many ways, as the market shifts, it may be even more viable for investors who are willing to analyze better, think differently, and avoid crowded strategies.

For more land investing training and resources, visit TheLandMethod.com.

To connect with us directly, schedule a 15-minute consultation at calendly.com/thelandmethod/15min.