FIVE Lessons From the Best in Land Investing (We Didn’t Expect This)
Fresh off a high-level Land Operators Alliance conference in Savannah, Ron and Dan Apke return to The Real Estate Investing Podcast with some of their biggest insights to date. Surrounded by builders, entitlers, developers, mitigation experts, and major subdivision operators, they spent two full days immersed in conversations with people quietly doing tens of millions of dollars in land deals.
What stood out most? Nearly all of these high-level operators got their start in simple land flipping. That foundational skill; learning the asset, understanding due diligence, and mastering the basics, became the launchpad that allowed them to scale into massive projects like rezoning, large entitlements, wetlands mitigation, and multi-year subdivisions.
No two businesses in the room looked the same, yet all shared a deep level of niche expertise, obsessive learning, and total passion for their craft.
They also highlight traits that separated this elite group from the typical investor: intense focus, zero distraction, and complete presence. Not one attendee slipped out to take phone calls or buried themselves in their phones, because their businesses were built to run without them.
These operators weren’t chasing shiny objects or trying to do everything; they were world-class specialists who understood their numbers, their markets, and their roles. Perhaps the most surprising takeaway? The money isn’t in building homes, it’s in the dirt, the entitlement work, and the transformation of land long before a builder ever breaks ground.
Whether you're just getting started or already scaling, this episode reveals the mindset and strategies of the people operating at the highest levels in land investing, and it's an inspiring look at what's possible when you master your niche and commit to growth.
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