LAKELAND, FL, September 8, 2022 As the appetite for ranches and timberland continues to grow in the US, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler brokered the sale of a nearly 12,100-acre ranch in Central Florida for nearly $36 million. Located in Levy County near Gainesville and Ocala metropolitan areas, Bronson Cattle and Timber features improved pastures, natural hardwood bottoms and mature pine plantations, all linked by a private road network. SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler’s Dean Saunders, Founder, Tony Wallace, Senior Advisor, Gregg Driskell, Advisor, and Dusty Calderon, Senior Advisor represented the seller in the transaction. The buyer was represented by Jimmy Hancock, Senior Advisor, Bryant Peace, ALC, Senior Advisor, and John T. “Jay” Vogel II, Associate Advisor, also with SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler.
“With most of the acreage currently used for cattle and timber, this transaction reflects the growing demand for income-producing assets like land since the cattle pasture and timber are ready to work for the buyer,” Saunders said. “Located on the Waccasassa River and the Little Waccasassa River, this property offers endless recreational opportunities such as hunting and fishing.”
Bronson Cattle and Timber features almost 3,200 acres of pasture and over 1,800 acres of mature planted pine timber. Over 900 acres are ready for reforestation or conversion to pasture. There are also many trails on the property that are suitable for hiking, ATV exploring and equestrian riding. The property is under an hour from the World Equestrian Center, which opened in late 2020 and is the largest equestrian complex in the United States.
As Florida’s economy experienced a rapid recovery from the pandemic, the demand for ranch and timberland has grown steadily. Wealthy Americans are increasingly viewing Florida ranches and timberland as an alternative investment to the fluctuating stock market. Experts expect the appetite for investment-grade timberland tracts to continue as investors have committed $2 billion to $3 billion for this asset class and those funds need to be placed, as reported by the firm’s Lay of the Land 2021 Market Report issued early this year.
Founded as a land brokerage in 1996 by Dean Saunders, Lakeland-based SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate has grown into a nationally-recognized, full-service real estate brokerage firm focusing on land and commercial real estate transactions in Florida and Georgia. With $4 billion in transactions, the Lakeland-based company represents buyers, sellers, investors, institutions, and landowners. In addition to traditional land sales, the firm is considered a national leader in conservation easements and assisting agricultural owners in selling their land to the State of Florida for conservation purposes. The brokerage firm has been involved in some of Florida’s largest land deals over the last decade.
About SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler
SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate is a full-service land and commercial real estate brokerage representing buyers, sellers, investors, institutions, and landowners since 1996. The firm is nationally recognized as an authority on all types of land and commercial real estate, including agriculture, ranch, recreation, timber, and development, as well as office, retail, industrial, and multifamily properties. Services include brokerage and advisory, land consulting and entitlement, land management, commercial property management, leasing and tenant representation, site selection, property valuation, data-driven market reports, and conservation easement negotiation. With an extensive team of real estate advisors located throughout the Southeast and offices in Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas, SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler Real Estate has the knowledge and resources available to help clients realize their real estate investment goals.