Is Buying Land a Good Investment? Texas Data
Aerial view of Brazos Point Ranch acreage near Glen Rose, an example of the Texas land buyers weigh when asking if buying land is a good investment

Is Buying Land a Good Investment? What Texas Land Actually Returned

Texas rural land more than doubled in price from 2015 to 2026. Here is what it actually returned, how that compares with stocks and houses, and what it costs to hold.

Buying land is a good investment when you hold it for years, keep carrying costs low, and buy at a price that leaves room for appreciation. According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas rural land rose from $2,460 per acre in the second quarter of 2015 to $5,218 in the second quarter of 2026, a gain of 112 percent, or about 7 percent per year compounded.

The sections below show what Texas land actually returned, how that compares with stocks and houses, what it costs to hold, the risks, how owner financing changes the math, and how a 1031 exchange works. La Tierra Realty is an Austin-based land company that sells surveyed, unrestricted 1 to 25 acre tracts in Central and North Texas with owner financing through Stonebridge Purchasing (NMLS #2349261).

What Has Texas Land Actually Returned?

Texas rural land returned about 7 percent per year in price appreciation from 2015 to 2026, based on the Texas Real Estate Research Center's statewide price series. Land pays no dividend, so appreciation is the whole return unless a tract is leased for grazing or hunting. The 5-year annualized rate through the second quarter of 2026 was 8.17 percent.

PeriodTexas statewide rural land, $/acreChangeSource
Q2 2015$2,460—TRERC, “Down to Earth” (December 2016)
2016 (annual)$2,554+5% for the yearTRERC data via Texas Farm Bureau (June 2017)
Q3 2025$5,158+5.9% YoYTRERC, Rural Land Winter 2026 (January 2026)
Q4 2025$5,214+6.56% YoY; 10.73% 5-yr annualizedTRERC, Q4 2025 report
Q2 2026$5,218+3.27% YoY; 8.17% 5-yr annualizedTRERC, Q2 2026 report
Q2 2015 to Q2 2026$2,460 to $5,218+112%, about 7.1% per yearCalculated from TRERC figures

The return was not evenly spread. Most of the gain came between 2020 and 2023, which is why the 5-year annualized rate of 10.73 percent in the TRERC Q4 2025 report is higher than the 11-year rate. Research economist Lynn Krebs of the Texas Real Estate Research Center summed up 2025 for Texas Farm Bureau in April 2026: “The Texas rural land market demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout 2025, ending the year on a significantly firmer footing than in 2024.”

Regions differ. The Austin-Waco-Hill Country region reached a record $8,040 per acre in Q2 2026, up 8.63 percent, while Northeast Texas fell 5.96 percent to $8,604, per the same TRERC report. See the cost of an acre in Central Texas for regional detail.

How Does Land Compare With Stocks and Houses?

Texas land beat Texas houses on price appreciation over the past decade and trailed the S&P 500. Texas rural land gained 112 percent from mid-2015 to mid-2026 per TRERC, the Texas median home price rose 67.5 percent from 2015 to 2025 per Texas REALTORS, and the S&P 500 returned 15.4 percent per year with dividends over the 10 years ending September 2026 per ChartRow.

AssetPeriodTotal changeAnnualizedSource
Texas rural land (statewide $/acre)Q2 2015 to Q2 2026+112%About 7.1%TRERC (2016, 2026)
Texas median home price2015 ($200,000) to 2025 ($335,000)+67.5%About 5.3%Texas REALTORS (February 2016, March 2026)
S&P 500, total return with dividendsSeptember 2016 to September 2026About +320%15.4%ChartRow (September 24, 2026)

Three differences matter. Stocks pay dividends, trade in seconds, and can fall 30 percent in a quarter; the S&P 500 figure reflects an unusually strong decade, against a 20-year rate of 11.16 percent per ChartRow. Houses produce rent or shelter but depreciate and need insurance and repairs. Land produces nothing, needs almost no maintenance, and can be bought with owner financing on terms banks do not offer for stocks.

Charles Gilliland, the Texas Real Estate Research Center economist who built the state's land price series, told Texas Farm Bureau in 2017: “Investing in Texas land can yield higher returns than traditional investment options.” The years since support that for buyers who held.

What Does It Cost to Hold Land in Texas?

Holding raw land in Texas costs roughly 1.5 to 2.5 percent of market value per year in property taxes at full appraisal, plus mowing or fence upkeep, and almost nothing else. Texas has no state income tax and no state property tax; the Tax Foundation's 2026 rankings put the effective property tax rate on Texas homes at 1.40 percent, and rural land rates run similar or higher.

Annual cost on a $183,000 tractFull market appraisalWith agricultural valuation
Property tax at about 1.8% combined rateAbout $3,300Often under $200, because taxable value drops to productivity value
Liability insurance (optional)$200–$500$200–$500
Mowing, fence repair, road grading$300–$1,500$300–$1,500 (or covered by a grazing lessee)
Owner-financing payments (if financed)Set per contract; ask about current termsSet per contract; ask about current terms

The agricultural valuation is the biggest lever. The Texas Comptroller's ag-timber guidance states that qualifying land is “appraised based on the land's capacity to produce agricultural products (productivity value) instead of at market value.” Qualifying takes 5 of the preceding 7 years of agricultural use, and the Comptroller's guidance notes that if use changes, “The rollback tax is due for each of the previous three years in which the land got the lower appraisal.” La Tierra's ag exemption guide for Texas land explains the application.

What Are the Risks of Land as an Investment?

The main risks of land as an investment are illiquidity, zero income, price stickiness, and interest rates. Land.com's September 2026 summary shows a median of 119 days on market for Bastrop County listings, and the Texas Real Estate Research Center's Q4 2025 report shows statewide sales volume still 29.37 percent below 2019, so selling takes months, not days.

  • Illiquidity: a tract cannot be sold in pieces on short notice, and each closing carries title and survey costs of a few thousand dollars.
  • No cash flow: taxes and any financing payments come out of pocket until the tract is sold or leased.
  • Price stickiness: Lynn Krebs of TRERC wrote in January 2026 that “prices are demonstrating long memory in the market,” meaning sellers anchor to the 2022 to 2023 peak and volume falls before prices do.
  • Near-term outlook: the TRERC Q2 2026 report forecasts “only small price increases in the near term followed by flat to slightly lower prices next year,” with volume recovery unlikely before late 2026 or 2027.
  • Tract-specific risk: floodplain, no legal access, missing utilities, or deed restrictions cut value regardless of the market; see raw land buying mistakes in Texas.
  • Taxes on sale: gains on land held more than one year are taxed at long-term capital gains rates of 0, 15, or 20 percent, per IRS Topic 409 for tax year 2025.

How Does Owner Financing Change the Math?

Owner financing changes the math by letting a buyer control a whole tract with a small down payment, so appreciation accrues on the full price rather than on the cash invested. Banks typically ask 35 to 50 percent down on raw land per Herring Bank's May 2026 guide; owner financing through Stonebridge Purchasing requires a low down payment set per contract.

A simple example shows the leverage. A buyer who purchases a 10.2-acre tract at Nolan Ranch in Rio Vista for $183,000 and holds it while land appreciates at the 11-year TRERC average of about 7 percent per year would see the tract valued near $257,000 after 5 years. The gain of roughly $74,000 accrues on the full $183,000, while the buyer's cash at closing was the down payment plus closing costs.

Leverage cuts both ways. Interest on the note reduces the net return, payments continue whether or not prices rise, and a flat market like the one TRERC forecasts for 2027 means the buyer carries the tract without a paper gain. The structure still beats a bank land loan on cash required; read how owner financing works on Texas land and ask about current terms before running your own numbers.

How Does a 1031 Exchange Work for Land?

A 1031 exchange lets an investor sell one investment property, buy another of like kind, and defer the capital gains tax. The IRS states that “Most real estate will be like-kind to other real estate,” so a rental house, a commercial building, or a farm can be exchanged for raw Texas land held for investment, as long as the IRS deadlines are met.

  1. Hold both properties for investment or business. IRS Fact Sheet FS-2008-18 states: “Both properties must be held for use in a trade or business or for investment.” A primary residence or vacation home does not qualify.
  2. Use a qualified intermediary to hold the sale proceeds between closings.
  3. Identify replacement property within 45 days of the sale, in writing, per the IRS.
  4. Close within 180 days. Per the IRS, the replacement property “must be received and the exchange completed no later than 180 days after the sale of the exchanged property.”
  5. Buy equal or greater value. Cash or debt relief taken out of the exchange is taxed as “boot.”

Owner-financed tracts fit an exchange when the buyer pays in full at closing from exchange funds; a tax advisor should confirm the structure. Investors who instead want to sell land quickly can read how to sell land for cash in Texas.

Is Buying Land a Good Investment for You?

Land is a good investment for buyers who can hold at least 5 years, cover taxes and payments without the tract producing income, and want an asset they can also use. The Texas record from 2015 to 2026 shows appreciation of about 7 percent per year with lower volatility than stocks, but with selling times measured in months.

  • Good fit: a future homesite bought before prices rise, a tract a family can use while it appreciates, or an exchange out of a rental.
  • Poor fit: money needed within 2 years, or a buyer who needs monthly income from the asset.
  • Best odds: surveyed tracts with legal access, electric, no restrictions, and a location inside the growth ring of Austin, San Antonio, or Fort Worth, such as Brazos Point Ranch near Glen Rose (2.8 to 6.9 acres from $79,500).

Compare current tracts on the available properties page.

Run the Numbers on a Real Tract

La Tierra Realty's surveyed, unrestricted tracts in Central and North Texas come with owner financing through Stonebridge Purchasing (NMLS #2349261) and county-level price context. Call (512) 980-1719 to ask about current terms and which tracts fit an investment hold. Atención en español.

Browse Texas Land Download the Free Buying Guide

Sources: Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M, “Down to Earth” (December 2016), Rural Land Winter 2026 (January 2026), Texas Rural Land Markets Q4 2025 and Q2 2026 (2026); Texas Farm Bureau, quoting Charles Gilliland (June 2017) and Lynn Krebs (April 2026); Texas REALTORS, annual housing reports (February 2016, March 2026); ChartRow, S&P 500 returns (September 2026); Tax Foundation, Texas (2026); Texas Comptroller, Agricultural Appraisal (2026); IRS, FS-2008-18 and Topic 409 (2025); Land.com, Bastrop County (September 2026); Herring Bank, Texas Land Loans (May 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is buying land better than buying a house as an investment?

Land and houses answer different needs. A house can be lived in or rented, so it produces value every month, but it depreciates physically and costs more to insure and maintain. Raw land produces no income and needs almost no upkeep. In Texas, rural land prices rose about 112 percent from 2015 to 2026 per TRERC, while the statewide median home price rose 67.5 percent from 2015 to 2025 per Texas REALTORS.

How long should I hold land before selling it?

Plan on at least five years. Land carries closing costs on both ends, and the Texas Real Estate Research Center's Q4 2025 report shows 5-year annualized appreciation of 10.73 percent but year-to-year swings that can be flat or negative. Holding more than one year also moves any gain from ordinary income rates to long-term capital gains rates of 0, 15, or 20 percent under IRS Topic 409.

Does land in Texas pay any income while I hold it?

Sometimes. A grazing or hay lease on 10 or more acres brings $10 to $30 per acre per year in Central Texas and can support an agricultural valuation, and hunting leases pay more on larger tracts. Small tracts of 2 to 10 acres rarely produce meaningful income, so most buyers count on appreciation, personal use, or a future homesite as the return.

Can I use a 1031 exchange to buy land with money from a rental house?

Yes, if both properties are held for investment or business use. IRS guidance states that most real estate is like-kind to other real estate, so a rental house can be exchanged for raw land. The 45-day identification and 180-day closing deadlines apply, a qualified intermediary must hold the sale proceeds, and a primary residence or vacation home does not qualify.

What happens to land values if interest rates fall?

Lower rates cut the cost of financing and usually bring buyers back. The Texas Real Estate Research Center's Q2 2026 report attributes the current buyer-seller standoff partly to elevated interest rates and expects sales volume to recover in late 2026 or 2027. Rate changes affect volume faster than price, because many Texas land sellers hold out for their asking price rather than cut it.

This article is general information for Texas land buyers and is not legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Past price changes do not guarantee future returns, and the figures above are statewide or regional averages that individual tracts will not match. Confirm tax treatment, including 1031 exchange eligibility, with a qualified tax advisor, and confirm tract prices and financing terms with La Tierra before you buy.

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