MARKET EQUILIBRIUM

Ranch real estate markets are sloughing off the last vestiges of COVID, according to John Merritt at Live Water Properties in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In his 2025 forecast, Merritt writes that the current market has become “more balanced and followed historic trends more closely than it had since the pandemic.” The key? Supply.

“Inventory across the nation has grown,” Merritt writes. “We’re seeing more sellers, including baby boomers, making meaningful legacy decisions, enter the market, and provide buyers with a greater range of opportunities.”

Increased inventory has an additional effect: Buyer and seller expectations are more closely aligned. “Although it’s too early to call it a buyer’s market, a more balanced market means that accurate pricing is essential for sellers. Gone are the days of posting a picture online and getting three above-asking-price offers by sundown,” Merritt writes.

— Eddie Lee Rider Jr.,
Publisher, The Land Report