Texas small land sales top $1 billion for first time

​​​​​AUSTIN – In 2017, Texas small land sales volume topped $1 billion for the first time, according to the Texas Small Land Sales Report by the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR).

​​Texas small land sales volume grew 8.5 percent to 7,588 tracts sold in 2017. This is the fifth straight year Texas saw small land sales volume increase. 

During the same time frame, the average price per acre declined 2.2 percent year over year to $5,521 an acre. ​

"Statewide, the price per acre for small land sales decreased slightly from 2016 to 2017," said Center Research Economist Dr. Charles Gilliland. "This could be an indication that buyers are seeking out bargains in lower priced locations in popular regions. For example, the Hill Country saw less land sale activity in Travis County compared to Comanche County, where price per acre between the two differ."​​

The definition of a "small" land sale varies by region but is generally considered to be a land sale of 200 acres or less. In Far West Texas, 500 to 8,000 acres qualifies as a small land sale. 

The Real Estate Center has extensive ​data on rural land prices. The data can be narrowed down by region​​​ and land market areas. ​

​For information on statewide land regions, read "Magnificent Seven: Texas Land Market Regions" by Center Assistant Research Scientist Dr. Erin Kiella. ​