Texas small land sales post double-digit growth, strong price increases in 2014

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AUSTIN, Texas, June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Small land sales throughout Texas posted double-digit growth and average price per acre showed strong increases statewide last year, according to the 2015 Texas Small Land Sales Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors.

Scott Kesner, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, commented: "Land is a hot commodity in Texas. The demand for Texas real estate and the competitiveness of the market are as strong for small land sales as they are in the residential housing market. Land for weekend getaway homes, ranchettes, and hunting continues to grow in popularity across the state as the Texas economy continues to prosper, particularly in areas surrounding Texas' major metros."

According to the report, 5,282 small land tracts were sold in Texas in 2014, a 20.69 percent increase from 2013. This double-digit growth was consistent across all seven regions, with the exception of Region One (Panhandle and South Plains), which decreased 7.93 percent to 116 small land sales in 2014. For the second year, Region Seven (Austin / Waco / Hill Country) showed the most small land sales of any region, with sales increasing 19.16 percent to 1,722 small land sales during the same time frame.

The average price per acre for Texas small land sales also showed strong gains in most regions in 2014, increasing 3.5 percent year-over-year to $5,018 per acre statewide. Regions Two (Far West Texas) and Five (Gulf Coast – Brazos Bottom) were the only regions to show decreases in price, falling 47.24 percent to $1,635 per acre and 0.31 percent to $9,167 per acre, respectively. Region Five also had the highest average price per acre of any region.

Median tract size, conversely, decreased slightly across the state as strong demand for Texas real estate continues. While the statewide median tract size remained constant at 20 acres, most regions showed decreases in median tract sizes between 3 and 10 percent in 2014. The exception was Region Two, in which the median tract size grew 54.16 percent to 120 acres during the same time frame.

Charles Gilliland, economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, added, "Historically, the Texas land market has been closely linked to the performance of the oil and gas and agricultural markets, but right now that's not the case. Oil, cotton and corn prices are significantly down, but small land sales in Texas remain robust and in high demand." 

Due to the significant physical variations among the seven regions, the definition of a small land tract varies from approximately 30 to 160 acres in each region. The exception is Region Two, in which 500 to 8,000 acres qualifies as a small land sale.

About the Texas Small Land Sales Report
The Texas Small Land Sales Report analyzes small land sales data and trends across seven regions of Texas with data provided by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The Texas Association of Realtors distributes insights about the Texas housing market each month, including quarterly market statistics, trends among homebuyers and sellers, luxury home sales, international trends and more. To view the Texas Small Land Sales Report in its entirety, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

About the Texas Association of Realtors
With more than 95,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas Realtors and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.

CONTACT: Stacy Armijo, Pierpont Communications, 512-448-4950, [email protected]

SOURCE Texas Association of Realtors