The Yield

In this podcast episode, host Tyler Davis sits down with the team leading Saunders Real Estate’s growing presence in the Carolinas. Bill Frisbie, Regional Managing Director for North Carolina, and Kenneth Chesson, Senior Advisor, discuss their backgrounds in farmland investment and rural land sales, as well as their growth strategy for the firm. They’re joined by Brandon DuRant, the firm’s Agriculture Managing Director, who shares his expertise in land management and ag services from his base in South Carolina. 

Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges facing landowners in both states—from fragmented farm ownership and shifting commodity markets to rising interest in conservation, solar, and transitional land. The conversation also dives into how Saunders Real Estate is expanding its management and consulting platform to support landowners, REITs, and investors through boots-on-the-ground services that go far beyond brokerage. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

In this episode, Tyler Davis is joined by Kasey Mock, Owner and CEO of Mock Ranches in Texas. Their conversation shares valuable insights into the Texas land market, breaking down the state’s diverse regions and economy, evolving buyer profiles, and the fragmentation and development trends along the I-35 corridor. 

Together, Tyler and Kasey compare trends between Texas and Florida, touching on conservation easements, 1031 exchanges, water access challenges, and the realities of rural land ownership in a fast-growing market. They also dive into what defines a trusted and professional land advisor today and the importance of setting client expectations. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

This episode was recorded prior to the devastating floods that began on July 4 in Kerr County, Texas, and surrounding areas. Our deepest condolences and continued prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

Austin Fisher, Regional Managing Director in Georgia joins Tyler Davis, President of Saunders Real Estate in a conversation that explores the fast-moving Georgia land market and its implications for landowners. With deep experience in both development and land stewardship, Austin shares how our team is helping landowners navigate everything from timber and recreational tracts to transitional development opportunities. 

Together, they explore the factors shaping Georgia’s future—from forestry and infrastructure growth to the rising demand for private landownership—and how Saunders is building a trusted presence across the state with a team of specialists in every land asset class. The episode also spotlights the newly released Lay of the Land Georgia Market Report and offers a preview of the upcoming Georgia conference. 

The Lay of the Land Georgia Conference will be held on August 21 in Thomasville. Register today at: SaundersLand.com/Georgia-Conference. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com. 

Alexander Alford is the Director of Construction & Development at ROMAIR, a real estate development, design, and construction company based in Northwest Florida. ROMAIR is primarily known for crafting high-end communities and luxury homes along the state's 30A corridor. 

Hosted by David Hill, Regional Managing Director of Saunders Real Estate in Arkansas, the episode explores ROMAIR’s journey from custom homebuilding to large-scale master-planned real estate developments. David and Alexander discuss the complexities of resort-style construction, the importance of craftsmanship, and the unique challenges of development in the Florida Panhandle. Alexander also shares ROMAIR’s vision for future growth, offering insight into how they’re looking to expand their footprint across the Southeast.  

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and ROMAIR.com.

Ben Mills is the Vice President of Sales at Carden & Associates, one of the largest crop insurance agencies in the nation. With decades of experience working directly with farmers and ranchers across the Southeast, Ben brings a grounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities within agricultural risk management. 

Hosted by Trent Saunders, Senior Advisor at Saunders Land, this episode covers how crop insurance can apply to various operations, including citrus, tomatoes, peppers, row crops like corn, cotton, soybeans, and peanuts, and even livestock. Ben shares practical strategies for managing weather-related risks, explains how recent Farm Bill changes affect coverage, and clears up common misconceptions around eligibility, actual production history (APH), and the complexity of crop insurance policies. 

Carden & Associates is an event sponsor of the Lay of the Land Georgia Conference on August 21, 2025 in Thomasville. Register today at: SaundersLand.com/Georgia-Conference. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and CardenInsurance.com.

Zack Porter is the Vice President and co-owner of Boa Safra Ag Services, a tech–enabled service specializing in Legacy Nutrient Deductions (LNDs). These federal tax deductions allow agricultural landowners to write off the value of essential nutrients already present in the soil at the time of purchase or inheritance of their property.

Hosted by Tyler Davis, this podcast episode covers everything from IRS compliance and Section 180 deductions to forensic agronomy and the growing use of LNDs in deal structuring and long-term land investment strategies. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how LNDs work, who qualifies, and how this often-overlooked tax strategy can unlock meaningful savings and enhance returns on agricultural land investments.

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and BoaSafraAg.com.

This episode is intended for informational purposes only. Neither Saunders Real Estate nor its featured guests guarantee the sufficiency of the content in this episode or that it complies with current law. The content within this episode is not a substitute for legal advice or legal services or tax advice or tax services, and you should not rely on this information for any legal purpose without consulting a licensed lawyer or tax professional.

This episode features a casual conversation spotlighting the exciting momentum at Saunders Real Estate. Tyler Davis, President of our firm, and David Hill, Regional Managing Director in Arkansas, are “Talkin’ Shop,” sharing a behind-the-scenes discussion on what our team is seeing, building, and planning across the Southeast.

From standout recognition at the RLI National Land Conference to the upcoming Lay of the Land Market Reports and Conferences coming to Georgia and Arkansas, Tyler and David share company updates, market trends, and some personal stories along the way. They also discuss several of our new team members in Arkansas, the firm’s growing presence in North Carolina, and their expectations for the Global AgInvesting (GAI) conference in New York City, which took place on April 22-24, 2025.

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com

Andrew Diaz is a partner at Gaylord Merlin Ludovici & Diaz, one of Florida’s leading voices on eminent domain law. With decades of experience representing landowners, Andrew brings clarity to what can often be a complex and frustrating process.

Hosted by Tyler Davis, President of Saunders Real Estate, this episode explores the foundational rights of property owners, recent trends in eminent domain, and what landowners should know if they receive a notice of taking. Andrew also shares real-world case studies from his work, breaking down exactly how full compensation is determined and won for his clients.

Gaylord Merlin Ludovici & Diaz is a long-standing strategic partner of the Lay of the Land Florida Conference.

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and GaylordMerlin.com.

Kyle Porter is the founder of Normal Sport, a news media company that offers a blend of golf coverage, fresh perspectives, and heartfelt storytelling to over 15,000 newsletter subscribers. In this podcast episode, Kyle joins Tyler Davis and David Hill for a slightly different conversation that explores entrepreneurship, branding, and calculated risk-taking.

While their discussion is not heavily focused on real estate, it still delivers meaningful takeaways on dedication, resilience, and strategic decision-making that can apply to all aspects of business. Mixed in with some fun conversation on the upcoming Masters Tournament, the episode offers valuable insights into building a business, identifying market opportunities, and leveraging storytelling to engage an audience. 

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com and NormalSport.com.

In this special episode, we continue our coverage of the 2025 Lay of the Land Florida Conference, bringing you the final recorded breakout sessions from the event. Hosted by Saunders Real Estate on February 27-28 in Lakeland, Florida, this annual event brings together landowners, policymakers, and industry professionals to share the latest land market trends. 

Through these collected recordings, experts share an update on Florida’s diverse agricultural sectors, strategies for land value appreciation and rezoning, and innovative ways to monetize land encumbered by conservation easements. The episode also explores the evolving landscape of conservation funding, policy, and the long-term impact of initiatives like The Florida Wildlife Corridor. 

Learn more and request an invite for next year's conference at LayOfTheLandConference.com.

Chapters
(00:00:27) Perspectives on Florida's Agricultural Sectors
(00:58:15) Strategies to Increase Land Values
(01:49:12) Monetizing Encumbered Land
(02:48:08) Conservation Land Values, Funding & Policy