His First Land Deal Made 6 Figures

In this episode of The Real Estate Investing Podcast, Ron Apke interviews Mason McDonald, an experienced land investor who has gone from flipping individual properties to working on massive development projects spanning thousands of acres.

Mason shares how he left a successful career as a hospital CEO after making six figures on his very first land flip and realizing how much opportunity existed in the industry. After completing hundreds of flips, minor subdivisions, and brokerage deals, his business eventually led him to a family office that brought him on to manage land acquisitions and development. Mason explains how that transition gave him the opportunity to work on much larger projects, including rural developments where his team adds roads, utilities, wells, and other improvements before selling the finished parcels.

Throughout the episode, Ron and Mason dig into what it actually takes to move from basic land flips into subdivisions and larger development deals. Mason talks about the importance of understanding demand before subdividing, building relationships with landowners and brokers, and why investors shouldn't rush into bigger projects before they have the experience or capital to handle them. He also breaks down his company's unique one-day land sales, where large advertising campaigns bring buyers to a property at the same time and can generate millions of dollars in sales in a single day.

The conversation is a great look at the more advanced side of land investing, but Mason's biggest lessons apply at every level: know your market, stay patient, build real relationships, and don't force a deal just because you're eager to buy something.

Watch the full episode to hear Mason’s journey, his approach to subdivisions and development, and what he’s learned from scaling into much larger land deals.