In this episode of the Dakota Research Interview Series, Chris LeRoy speaks with John Brenard, Founder and Managing Director of Southview Timberland Investments, about unlocking access to one of the most overlooked—and effective—real assets: timberland.

John shares how Southview bridges the gap between institutional timberland investing and public REITs by offering accredited investors direct access to high-quality, income-producing tracts in the Southeastern U.S. With no reliance on leverage and a “boots-on-the-ground” model rooted in deep regional relationships, Southview builds portfolios designed to deliver 12–15% total return—with 4–6% in annual cash flow from harvesting, leases, and opportunistic sales.

The discussion dives into how timber grows value biologically year-round, how macro policy tailwinds (like U.S. lumber tariffs) are strengthening demand, and why timberland serves as a powerful diversifier in modern portfolios.

Tired of fragmented data slowing you down? Book a demo of Dakota Research to centralize critical investment data and intelligence to simplify your decision-making process.