The Land Podcast - The Pursuit of Land Ownership and Investing

Jake Hofer
  • 4.8 (206)
  • Wilderness

The Land Podcast is a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land. If you're interested in the pursuit of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals, then you're in the right place! Join Illinois licensed real estate broker Jake Hofer on his land journey and learn from some of the best in the land business along the way.

  1. 1d ago

    #233 - How a $240 Taxi Ride Led To His First 100 Acre Iowa Farm with Leo Lospoto

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Leo Spoto. We discuss: How Leo went from a Bronx apartment to owning 245 acres of Iowa timber and creek bottom. Why buying 100 acres near Albia at $1,850 an acre felt like overpaying back in 2013. The expired driver's license that stranded Leo at the Des Moines airport before his first showing. Why Chase Bank wouldn't touch a land loan and a local Iowa banker wrote it anyway. How Leo closed on his first farm with $30,000 down when the bank wanted closer to $40,000. The 1031 exchange that rolled two small farms into one 214-acre piece he bought sight unseen. How walnut timber checks and an Iowa operating account carried a $2,600 monthly payment. Why Leo would now rather buy a landlocked 30 with an easement than a farm with road frontage. The roughly 250% return Leo has seen on Iowa ground since his first purchase in 2013. Why point creep and four kids finally pushed Leo to list the entire farm this year. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

  2. Aug 10

    #232 - How He Got Approved For Land Being Self Employed with Mike Cantrall

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Mike Cantrall. We discuss: Why two years of house-loan rejections came down to being newly self-employed and a DTI formula. How Mike found a lender who looks at the whole financial picture instead of a W-2. The Roth IRA withdrawal that covered his down payment when income alone wouldn't get him approved. Going self-employed with no college degree, no plan, and two deer dropped off at a friend's shop. Why the pressure of working for yourself is what finally forced him to figure out land ownership. How he got pre-approved first, and had a landowner call him about 40 acres the very next day. Buying, improving, and selling his first farm inside four months — and why he skipped the 1031. Why he walked away from a 500-acre lease that cost about what a farm payment does. What a permanent CREP easement restricts, plus the DNR visit that comes with owning one. Why two used car payments a month is roughly the cost of a small farm. And so much more! Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Starting a Taxidermy Business 04:19 Financing Land While Self-Employed 10:46 Mindset for Land Ownership 13:56 First Farm Purchase Strategy 17:40 Leasing Versus Owning Land 22:25 Rapid Farm Transactions 30:31 1031 Exchange Lessons 34:43 Reflections and Lessons Learned 41:26 Future Plans and CREP 50:37 The Home Building Challenge 53:05 Final Advice and Outro Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

  3. Aug 3

    #231 - How He Bought His First Farm With No Credit History with Joe Chambers

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Joe Chambers. We discuss: How Joe moved to Nebraska in 2007 after a divorce and built Chambers Custom into a high-end pistol shop. Why you're not a member of a Midwest community until you buy ground — ten years, zero wedding invites. How a farmer neighbor's phone call and a passed first-right-of-refusal got Joe his first 21 acres in 2015. Why seven years of living on cash left Joe with no credit score at all and nearly killed his first farm loan. The bank that wouldn't write a $6,000 car loan but offered a $20,000 unsecured credit card instead. How a 23-year-old small-town loan officer named Toby became Joe's fifteen-year lending partner. The county records website that exposed a neighbor's 99-year windmill lease days before an auction. Why Joe bought a 246-acre farm with no access that had been overgrazed and mined for sixty years. The first line of Don Higgins' plan that read "I'm 90% sure Joe will not follow this" — and what happened. How Joe went from 80 deer with 75 does to a 201 and 1/8 inch buck in three seasons. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

  4. Jul 27

    #230 - How T-Bone Went From Single-Wide Trailer to 110 Acres, One Deal at a Time

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Travis "T-Bone" Turner. We discuss: Travis bought his first 27 acres in Hogansville, GA in 1999 with a loan from his dad. He explains the "pride factor" of hunting deer on ground you personally dictated and built. Travis is now fighting a proposed data center planned right across the street from his farm. He shares his "planting seeds" strategy of quietly telling landowners he'd buy if they ever sold. Travis breaks down why Kansas and Oklahoma are his top picks for buying land today. He explains why land prices never really fall back — $3,000 an acre never returns once it hits $5,000. Travis recalls the two-handed, shaking-hands nerves of signing for his first property in 1999. He compares Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa's hunting rules, calling Illinois his personal "nemesis." Travis explains why he prefers buying rough, neglected land he can fix up himself. He'd rather keep the land he already owns than ever draw a bow again. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

  5. Jul 21

    #225 - The Farm Tax Deduction That Gave A Rancher A $2.5 Million Dollar Tax Deduction

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals.  On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Alec Bean. We discuss: Section 180 has existed since the late 1950s. Excess soil fertility can create significant tax deductions. Most farmland owners have never utilized the deduction. Recreational farms with tillable acres can qualify. Timberland generally does not qualify. Active participation creates larger tax advantages. Some buyers use soil tests before making offers. Midwest farms commonly show $500-$2,500/acre in value. One client generated over $2.5 million in deductions. Data center money is creating major farmland demand. And so much more! Connect with Alec: www.soiltaxguys.com Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! - Buck Land Funding: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -OnX:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Latitude Outdoors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Whitetail Master Academy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code '⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOFER' to save 10% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theprairiefarm.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Massive potential tax savings: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASMLABS.Net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  6. Jul 20

    #229 - Should You Buy Land In An EHD-Hit Area Right Now? with Tyler Tissue

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Tyler Tisue. We discuss: Tyler explains why land investors need a "base hit" mindset instead of always swinging for the fence. How EHD wiped out Iowa's mature bucks—and why Tyler predicts giant bucks return within two to three years. Tyler reveals 86% of Iowa farms are owned outright, with zero debt against them. A Twitter poll shows 44% of farmers expect a profit in 2026, only 25% expect to lose money. The wild story of an Amish family bidding war that pushed land to $250 per CSR point. Why most recreational land buyers 1031 exchange instead of holding a farm forever. Tyler previews his 86-acre Van Buren County, Iowa auction on August 5, split into two tracts. Jake previews his 40-acre Hancock County, Illinois auction, home to a booner buck shot last season. Tyler breaks down why today's roughly 6.5% interest rates are historically normal, not a red flag. Tyler's rule for every seller: never fall in love with a farm you're planning to sell. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

  7. Jul 13

    #228 - Trading a Nice House for a Rundown Trailer On Purpose with Devin Cole and Nate Hicks of Painted Arrow

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Nate Hicks and Devin Cole of Painted Arrow. We discuss: Michigan officially becomes a one-buck state in 2027, with a pilot earn-a-second-buck-tag program in select counties. Nate and Devin recap how advocate Josh Arbogast and "The Whitetail Project" helped push the one-buck rule through the NRC. Devin lists his starter home at a "crazy" price and gets three offers over ask within 24 hours. Devin and his pregnant wife move into a rundown double-wide with no AC to grow their hunting ground to 44 acres. Painted Arrow's first batch of MagPros gets built on a card table in that same double-wide's living room. The 40-acre farm Devin and his wife eventually buy drops $150,000 in asking price inside two weeks. Devin and Nate both shoot the best bucks of their lives within 90 minutes of their first sit on the new farm. Painted Arrow moves production out of Devin's yard after 11 cars a day start drawing questions from the township. Nate shares his craziest listing yet: a horse farm owner who wants the buyer to let him be buried on the land. Painted Arrow gear now sells in Bass Pro, Cabela's, Walmart, and soon Dunham's, with a secret new product in the works. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! -Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding -Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ -OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt -Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow -Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ -Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com -Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com -Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

  8. Jul 6

    #227 - He Bought Land With NO Legal Access... Here's How He Fixed It

    Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals. On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Thomas Damren. We discuss: How Tom went from Marine Corps officer to full-time tree farmer. The landlocked 273-acre Maine property that five other buyers walked away from. How he negotiated deeded access with a holdout neighbor before he even had financing. Why banks won't lend on raw land the way they lend on a house. The failed tree plantings that pushed him into starting his own nursery business. Building a primitive cabin in two days with his uncle's help. Why Maine's trespassing laws make absentee land ownership a constant fight. The low-maintenance trees and food plots that work best for hunting land. How mountainous terrain adds far more usable acreage than the map shows. Balancing a growing tree nursery business with habitat work on his own farm. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! -Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding -Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_ -OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt -Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow -Latitude Outdoors: https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/ -Whitetail Master Academy https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com -Use code 'HOFER' to save 10% off at www.theprairiefarm.com -Massive potential tax savings: ASMLABS.Net

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4.8
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About

The Land Podcast is a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land. If you're interested in the pursuit of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals, then you're in the right place! Join Illinois licensed real estate broker Jake Hofer on his land journey and learn from some of the best in the land business along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Jake Hofer
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    232
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Whitefield Holdings LLC

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