Texas LAND Spring 2015

“There was a lot of history on that ranch, so it was fulfilling
to be involved in writing its next chapter,” he said.
While the land always has a story, the people do as well.
Trey said, “Of course I find the land interesting, but
it’s really about the people for me.” In his career he’s
represented high-profile clients including singers, actors,
professional athletes, owners of major vineyards, and
stables that house Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes
winners.
Ranch real estate involves both natural resources and
people, so there is a level of unpredictability that makes
the job unlike any other.
On one occasion, Trey was showing a ranch in far west
Texas when a mountain lion began to trail the group. The
lion seemingly had a meal on its mind and followed a bit
too closely for everyone’s comfort. Fortunately, Trey was
prepared with a sidearm and dispatched the mountain
lion before tragedy could occur.
“I sold the ranch, then had the mountain lion mounted as
a gift to the ranch’s new owner,” Trey said.
One of Kevin’s most memorable experiences occurred in
east Texas as he was showing a 5,500-acre timber tract
in San Jacinto County. Despite assurances from the land
manager that the property was not being actively hunted,
Kevin kept seeing signs of hunting activity, including
blinds, filled deer feeders, and human tracks throughout.
Taking the manager at his word, Kevin brought potential
clients to the land, relaying the information the land was
not being hunted. When the group started to tour one
of the property’s cabins, they came face to face with
hunters.
“Apparently, the manager had been claiming ownership
of the property and leasing it out to hunters unbeknownst
to the actual landowner,” Kevin said. “It was definitely
one of the most awkward and uncomfortable moments
in my career.”
As industry veterans, Trey and Kevin have witnessed
changes through the years. According to Trey, the biggest
changes are due to technological advancement.
“For years, we worked with spiral notebooks and number
two pencils,” Trey said. “Nothing is the same now.
Technology has changed the way we do everything from
mapping properties to marketing them. Wireless internet,
portability of our personal computers, social media and
numerous other developments have revolutionized the
industry.”
Kevin, on the other hand, noted changes in the reasons
clients are purchasing property.
“I’ve watched real estate for 20
years,” he said. “In the nineties, urban
Texans, particularly Houstonites, were
buying ranches for recreation, shifting
land use from agriculture to recreation.
In the past three years though, people
have been interested in properties with
cultivatable fields, irrigation, or productive
cattle country.”
He continued, “I think part of the change
comes from global unrest. People want to be
able to be more self-sufficient.”
Both men are bullish on the industry and its
prospects as 2015 unfolds. According to Kevin,
the market is strong.
“Last year, while our third quarter was successful,
the fourth quarter exceeded that success,” he said.
“This year already is following the fourth quarter
trend.”
Trey noted the benefit of being in Texas.
“I think Texas and what we’ve done in the past 10 years
as far as job creation and the economy compared to
other states is pretty much what has kept the country
going,” Trey said. “We have strong personal property
rights and people moving in for tax purposes. I might
be nervous if I were any place else, but I feel good about
being in Texas.”
Owning land anywhere in Texas makes good financial
sense.
Kevin said, “It’s a tangible asset, but it can’t be reproduced.
I personally invest in land. There’s no one in New York City
who is going to turn around tomorrow and tell me that
it’s only worth a dollar an acre. Unlike the stock market,
there is a real market where I can take land any day of the
week and get a fair market price.”
Trey added, “Land, especially in Texas, is always likely to
be an appreciable asset. Buy the right piece of land at the
right price and it will appreciate over time. Plus, there are
tax benefits and a potential of enterprises from livestock
to wildlife.”
Owning land in Texas also makes sense on an emotional
level. It gives people a place to put down roots.
“The biggest benefit of land ownership is the lifestyle that
comes with it—the ability to go outdoors and be on the
land, working it and eventually becoming part of it,” Trey
said. “It grounds people in everything that is important.”
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