Land investment

[NicMM]

By searching the author Curtis Seltzer I found the website of his column: http://www.landthink.com/

NicMM

[NicMM]

In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[quote=CA renter][quote=NicMM]In that seminar, many success stories were provided. One of them is a big land in Temecula bought in 70s for $400k and lastly offered about $20 million. This land is hold by the speaker.

By the way, Palmdale will be a transportation center as there is an airport nearby, several high speed railroad in construction will go through there. There is a special tax zone called FoxField industrial zone in Lancaster. Google backed eSolar put their solar farm there. and BYD (Buffet invested Chinese green car company) also set manufacture facilities there.

-NicMM

[quote=jpinpb]My take on the land. Depends how long you plan to keep it. How old are you? Can you just sit on it for the next 20-30 years? Plan on leaving it to kids?

I can think back to 30 years ago when there was a big nothing in Temecula. I even remember a lawsuit involving some land in Temecula. Big dispute. I kept thinking who the hell would live in the middle of nowhere between Riverside and San Diego.

I remember when we first moved to California my dad was telling me about some guy who bought quite a bit of land way back in the day in the middle of nowhere. He ended up making quite a bit of money. He was talking about Palm Springs.

Also, the expression, “They stopped making land.” Really applies to land, not houses.

I don’t think I’m being bullish, but I wouldn’t be shocked if in 30 years they end up building up there in Palmdale/Lancaster.

But I also agree, whoever is selling it, already subdivided and they’re making money off the subdivision of the parcels. Nevertheless, developers like to build and when they overbuild, they continue to push out to the exburbs and deserts.[/quote][/quote]

For every supposed “success story” about raw land, there are thousands who’ve lost their tails on land investments.

I know someone who invested in the desert area back in the 1950s, and pretty much couldn’t break even on a sale until the bubble of the 2000s. The Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, and surrounding areas have a long history of emptying the wallets of wannabe land speculators. If anything, it’s less promising today than it was 20 years ago. Crime has shot up there since the late 80s, and it’s a cluster of low-income neighborhoods that can easily get worse in just a few short years.

IMHO, what the others say is true. If a company needs to hold seminars to sucker people into buying their lots, it’s a losing bet. If there were any money to be made, they’d develop the lots themselves. Try asking them why they’re not doing it.[/quote]

[NicMM]

In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[quote=CA renter][quote=NicMM]In that seminar, many success stories were provided. One of them is a big land in Temecula bought in 70s for $400k and lastly offered about $20 million. This land is hold by the speaker.

By the way, Palmdale will be a transportation center as there is an airport nearby, several high speed railroad in construction will go through there. There is a special tax zone called FoxField industrial zone in Lancaster. Google backed eSolar put their solar farm there. and BYD (Buffet invested Chinese green car company) also set manufacture facilities there.

-NicMM

[quote=jpinpb]My take on the land. Depends how long you plan to keep it. How old are you? Can you just sit on it for the next 20-30 years? Plan on leaving it to kids?

I can think back to 30 years ago when there was a big nothing in Temecula. I even remember a lawsuit involving some land in Temecula. Big dispute. I kept thinking who the hell would live in the middle of nowhere between Riverside and San Diego.

I remember when we first moved to California my dad was telling me about some guy who bought quite a bit of land way back in the day in the middle of nowhere. He ended up making quite a bit of money. He was talking about Palm Springs.

Also, the expression, “They stopped making land.” Really applies to land, not houses.

I don’t think I’m being bullish, but I wouldn’t be shocked if in 30 years they end up building up there in Palmdale/Lancaster.

But I also agree, whoever is selling it, already subdivided and they’re making money off the subdivision of the parcels. Nevertheless, developers like to build and when they overbuild, they continue to push out to the exburbs and deserts.[/quote][/quote]

For every supposed “success story” about raw land, there are thousands who’ve lost their tails on land investments.

I know someone who invested in the desert area back in the 1950s, and pretty much couldn’t break even on a sale until the bubble of the 2000s. The Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, and surrounding areas have a long history of emptying the wallets of wannabe land speculators. If anything, it’s less promising today than it was 20 years ago. Crime has shot up there since the late 80s, and it’s a cluster of low-income neighborhoods that can easily get worse in just a few short years.

IMHO, what the others say is true. If a company needs to hold seminars to sucker people into buying their lots, it’s a losing bet. If there were any money to be made, they’d develop the lots themselves. Try asking them why they’re not doing it.[/quote]

[NicMM]

In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[quote=CA renter][quote=NicMM]In that seminar, many success stories were provided. One of them is a big land in Temecula bought in 70s for $400k and lastly offered about $20 million. This land is hold by the speaker.

By the way, Palmdale will be a transportation center as there is an airport nearby, several high speed railroad in construction will go through there. There is a special tax zone called FoxField industrial zone in Lancaster. Google backed eSolar put their solar farm there. and BYD (Buffet invested Chinese green car company) also set manufacture facilities there.

-NicMM

[quote=jpinpb]My take on the land. Depends how long you plan to keep it. How old are you? Can you just sit on it for the next 20-30 years? Plan on leaving it to kids?

I can think back to 30 years ago when there was a big nothing in Temecula. I even remember a lawsuit involving some land in Temecula. Big dispute. I kept thinking who the hell would live in the middle of nowhere between Riverside and San Diego.

I remember when we first moved to California my dad was telling me about some guy who bought quite a bit of land way back in the day in the middle of nowhere. He ended up making quite a bit of money. He was talking about Palm Springs.

Also, the expression, “They stopped making land.” Really applies to land, not houses.

I don’t think I’m being bullish, but I wouldn’t be shocked if in 30 years they end up building up there in Palmdale/Lancaster.

But I also agree, whoever is selling it, already subdivided and they’re making money off the subdivision of the parcels. Nevertheless, developers like to build and when they overbuild, they continue to push out to the exburbs and deserts.[/quote][/quote]

For every supposed “success story” about raw land, there are thousands who’ve lost their tails on land investments.

I know someone who invested in the desert area back in the 1950s, and pretty much couldn’t break even on a sale until the bubble of the 2000s. The Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, and surrounding areas have a long history of emptying the wallets of wannabe land speculators. If anything, it’s less promising today than it was 20 years ago. Crime has shot up there since the late 80s, and it’s a cluster of low-income neighborhoods that can easily get worse in just a few short years.

IMHO, what the others say is true. If a company needs to hold seminars to sucker people into buying their lots, it’s a losing bet. If there were any money to be made, they’d develop the lots themselves. Try asking them why they’re not doing it.[/quote]

[NicMM]

In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[quote=CA renter][quote=NicMM]In that seminar, many success stories were provided. One of them is a big land in Temecula bought in 70s for $400k and lastly offered about $20 million. This land is hold by the speaker.

By the way, Palmdale will be a transportation center as there is an airport nearby, several high speed railroad in construction will go through there. There is a special tax zone called FoxField industrial zone in Lancaster. Google backed eSolar put their solar farm there. and BYD (Buffet invested Chinese green car company) also set manufacture facilities there.

-NicMM

[quote=jpinpb]My take on the land. Depends how long you plan to keep it. How old are you? Can you just sit on it for the next 20-30 years? Plan on leaving it to kids?

I can think back to 30 years ago when there was a big nothing in Temecula. I even remember a lawsuit involving some land in Temecula. Big dispute. I kept thinking who the hell would live in the middle of nowhere between Riverside and San Diego.

I remember when we first moved to California my dad was telling me about some guy who bought quite a bit of land way back in the day in the middle of nowhere. He ended up making quite a bit of money. He was talking about Palm Springs.

Also, the expression, “They stopped making land.” Really applies to land, not houses.

I don’t think I’m being bullish, but I wouldn’t be shocked if in 30 years they end up building up there in Palmdale/Lancaster.

But I also agree, whoever is selling it, already subdivided and they’re making money off the subdivision of the parcels. Nevertheless, developers like to build and when they overbuild, they continue to push out to the exburbs and deserts.[/quote][/quote]

For every supposed “success story” about raw land, there are thousands who’ve lost their tails on land investments.

I know someone who invested in the desert area back in the 1950s, and pretty much couldn’t break even on a sale until the bubble of the 2000s. The Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, and surrounding areas have a long history of emptying the wallets of wannabe land speculators. If anything, it’s less promising today than it was 20 years ago. Crime has shot up there since the late 80s, and it’s a cluster of low-income neighborhoods that can easily get worse in just a few short years.

IMHO, what the others say is true. If a company needs to hold seminars to sucker people into buying their lots, it’s a losing bet. If there were any money to be made, they’d develop the lots themselves. Try asking them why they’re not doing it.[/quote]

[NicMM]

In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[quote=CA renter][quote=NicMM]In that seminar, many success stories were provided. One of them is a big land in Temecula bought in 70s for $400k and lastly offered about $20 million. This land is hold by the speaker.

By the way, Palmdale will be a transportation center as there is an airport nearby, several high speed railroad in construction will go through there. There is a special tax zone called FoxField industrial zone in Lancaster. Google backed eSolar put their solar farm there. and BYD (Buffet invested Chinese green car company) also set manufacture facilities there.

-NicMM

[quote=jpinpb]My take on the land. Depends how long you plan to keep it. How old are you? Can you just sit on it for the next 20-30 years? Plan on leaving it to kids?

I can think back to 30 years ago when there was a big nothing in Temecula. I even remember a lawsuit involving some land in Temecula. Big dispute. I kept thinking who the hell would live in the middle of nowhere between Riverside and San Diego.

I remember when we first moved to California my dad was telling me about some guy who bought quite a bit of land way back in the day in the middle of nowhere. He ended up making quite a bit of money. He was talking about Palm Springs.

Also, the expression, “They stopped making land.” Really applies to land, not houses.

I don’t think I’m being bullish, but I wouldn’t be shocked if in 30 years they end up building up there in Palmdale/Lancaster.

But I also agree, whoever is selling it, already subdivided and they’re making money off the subdivision of the parcels. Nevertheless, developers like to build and when they overbuild, they continue to push out to the exburbs and deserts.[/quote][/quote]

For every supposed “success story” about raw land, there are thousands who’ve lost their tails on land investments.

I know someone who invested in the desert area back in the 1950s, and pretty much couldn’t break even on a sale until the bubble of the 2000s. The Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert, and surrounding areas have a long history of emptying the wallets of wannabe land speculators. If anything, it’s less promising today than it was 20 years ago. Crime has shot up there since the late 80s, and it’s a cluster of low-income neighborhoods that can easily get worse in just a few short years.

IMHO, what the others say is true. If a company needs to hold seminars to sucker people into buying their lots, it’s a losing bet. If there were any money to be made, they’d develop the lots themselves. Try asking them why they’re not doing it.[/quote]

[NotCranky]

Nic It sounds like you should study land development.Buy a few books. It is not very complicated but it is hard to do. It sounds to me like you’re thinking about buying a lot from a subdivision with its maximum potential tied to current zoning, which could in fact render it practically useless. Do you know what that zoning is? Ask the planing department what they have coming down the line in the region . Have you checked the permissible uses? How much does it cost to exploit them? Do you know if it won’t be under eminent domain before you make your killing off of it. Also, what someone did with 400 acres in Temecula, or anywhere else, isn’t relevant in the slightest.

[NotCranky]

Nic It sounds like you should study land development.Buy a few books. It is not very complicated but it is hard to do. It sounds to me like you’re thinking about buying a lot from a subdivision with its maximum potential tied to current zoning, which could in fact render it practically useless. Do you know what that zoning is? Ask the planing department what they have coming down the line in the region . Have you checked the permissible uses? How much does it cost to exploit them? Do you know if it won’t be under eminent domain before you make your killing off of it. Also, what someone did with 400 acres in Temecula, or anywhere else, isn’t relevant in the slightest.

[NotCranky]

Nic It sounds like you should study land development.Buy a few books. It is not very complicated but it is hard to do. It sounds to me like you’re thinking about buying a lot from a subdivision with its maximum potential tied to current zoning, which could in fact render it practically useless. Do you know what that zoning is? Ask the planing department what they have coming down the line in the region . Have you checked the permissible uses? How much does it cost to exploit them? Do you know if it won’t be under eminent domain before you make your killing off of it. Also, what someone did with 400 acres in Temecula, or anywhere else, isn’t relevant in the slightest.

[NotCranky]

Nic It sounds like you should study land development.Buy a few books. It is not very complicated but it is hard to do. It sounds to me like you’re thinking about buying a lot from a subdivision with its maximum potential tied to current zoning, which could in fact render it practically useless. Do you know what that zoning is? Ask the planing department what they have coming down the line in the region . Have you checked the permissible uses? How much does it cost to exploit them? Do you know if it won’t be under eminent domain before you make your killing off of it. Also, what someone did with 400 acres in Temecula, or anywhere else, isn’t relevant in the slightest.

[NotCranky]

Nic It sounds like you should study land development.Buy a few books. It is not very complicated but it is hard to do. It sounds to me like you’re thinking about buying a lot from a subdivision with its maximum potential tied to current zoning, which could in fact render it practically useless. Do you know what that zoning is? Ask the planing department what they have coming down the line in the region . Have you checked the permissible uses? How much does it cost to exploit them? Do you know if it won’t be under eminent domain before you make your killing off of it. Also, what someone did with 400 acres in Temecula, or anywhere else, isn’t relevant in the slightest.

[CA renter]

[quote=NicMM]In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[/quote]

It’s a schizophrenic market.
Whoever gets this (inflation/deflation/asset class/currency thing) right will be rich; but I have a feeling the vast majority of us will get it wrong. Nobody knows what will happen, and that’s exactly how they (the Fed/govt) want it, IMHO.

I’m not trying to rain on your parade, and you should do what you feel is right for your particular situation. It’s just that land speculation is probably one of the riskiest types of speculation, especially when you’re talking about desert land bought from some “investment seminar” company. They always seem like snake oil salesmen to me.

[CA renter]

[quote=NicMM]In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[/quote]

It’s a schizophrenic market.
Whoever gets this (inflation/deflation/asset class/currency thing) right will be rich; but I have a feeling the vast majority of us will get it wrong. Nobody knows what will happen, and that’s exactly how they (the Fed/govt) want it, IMHO.

I’m not trying to rain on your parade, and you should do what you feel is right for your particular situation. It’s just that land speculation is probably one of the riskiest types of speculation, especially when you’re talking about desert land bought from some “investment seminar” company. They always seem like snake oil salesmen to me.

[CA renter]

[quote=NicMM]In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[/quote]

It’s a schizophrenic market.
Whoever gets this (inflation/deflation/asset class/currency thing) right will be rich; but I have a feeling the vast majority of us will get it wrong. Nobody knows what will happen, and that’s exactly how they (the Fed/govt) want it, IMHO.

I’m not trying to rain on your parade, and you should do what you feel is right for your particular situation. It’s just that land speculation is probably one of the riskiest types of speculation, especially when you’re talking about desert land bought from some “investment seminar” company. They always seem like snake oil salesmen to me.

[CA renter]

[quote=NicMM]In today’s environment maybe the best way to grow wealth is saving? Stock, bonds, 401K, house, nothing seems safe. Precious metals look rosy but have great risks too at today’s new high prices.

-NicMM

[/quote]

It’s a schizophrenic market.
Whoever gets this (inflation/deflation/asset class/currency thing) right will be rich; but I have a feeling the vast majority of us will get it wrong. Nobody knows what will happen, and that’s exactly how they (the Fed/govt) want it, IMHO.

I’m not trying to rain on your parade, and you should do what you feel is right for your particular situation. It’s just that land speculation is probably one of the riskiest types of speculation, especially when you’re talking about desert land bought from some “investment seminar” company. They always seem like snake oil salesmen to me.

[Author]

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