Within the last 2 weeks, we have taken a number of Central PA vacant commercial land transactions to settlement. The sales included retail land (16 acres), commercial land (14 acres) and industrial land (2 acres and 5 acres). Purchasers included users (retail and industrial) and speculative developers/investors (commercial). While we will absolutely not claim that the land market is back to 2005 – 2007 levels, closing activity is a strong indicator of the settling of values.

Land has always been an investment requiring a stout heart. Generally, successful land investors take a very long-term view of property appreciation. They understand that the real estate market will always cycle and expect that, over time, land values will always increase. Success in this long view requires strong equity positions.

Since 2nd quarter of 2008, Central PA commercial/industrial land sales have been few and far between. Developers, users and investors are now identifying unrecognized value in some of the land on the market (i.e. – properties that are priced right)…and jumping on it. This combination of value recognition and buying confidence is good news for Central PA.