With the uncertainty in the land-buying market, this is not the best time to double down and stick your neck out. “Not buying” because of the market is also not a great strategy, but buying what you can afford and manage will keep you moving forward. Buying land should be a win-win for the buyer and the seller, and focusing on what you have, what you want, and what is possible will enable you to get value for your money. Don’t wait for the market to improve or crush. That will only curtail your progress. Buying a farm, seeing its potential, and watching it grow is the best feeling that you don’t want to miss. Learn how to narrow down your goals and buy something you will enjoy. Knowing what you’re looking for will help you make the right choices in your purchase and farm improvement, and this makes all the difference. 

In this episode, Jake visits Steve Hanson in Iowa. Steve is a returning guest and has a great story of how he bought his first farm in Iowa in his 20s, how he sold it, and his experience with different land transactions and management. Steve specializes in land, real estate, and land management and is the owner and operator of Straight Arrow, which was established in 1995. He began his career guiding hunters in Alaska for several years before moving to Southern Iowa and guiding for trophy whitetails. He now owns, lease, and have access to over 20 farms in 3 different counties totaling more than 6,000 acres. 

Now, let’s jump in!

Key Highlights from the Show

[00:01] Intro and a bit about our guest, Steve Hanson

[01:52] Meet Steve Hanson and learn more about what he does

[03:42] Real estate trends in Iowa for the last five (5) months 

[08:13] Land-buying strategies and what has changed 

[10:36] Steve’s advice on CRP sign-up and how it works 

[15:24] Access to the food plot and how Steve manages it

[16:40] Steve's favorite CRP practice 

[18:13] The process of converting cattle pasture into a deer habitat 

[21:50] Steve’s experience working on and seeing his farms grow. 

[23:55] What to look for if you want to buy your first farm 

[27:08] The lowest lift and biggest impact habitat projects 

[32:04] What do the best properties have in common? Find out 

[35:07] Mistakes that people make once they get their first farm  

[35:35] Steve's first farm and its sequence of sales 

[38:20] Timing the market and finding something that you enjoy 

[41:12] What excites Steve the most about recreational land 

[41:08] How to reach out and connect with Steve 

[42:33] Ending the show and calls to action

Notable Quotes