How to Sell Texas Land Held in a Trust in 2026

If you’re looking at Texas land held in a trust and thinking about selling, you’re not alone—and the timing matters. Rural land values and buyer demand shift by region and by quarter, and trust requirements add an extra layer of steps that can slow (or protect) the transaction if you handle them correctly.

Statewide trends still point to resilient pricing. Texas rural land prices rose 5.87% year-over-year to $5,158 per acre in Q3 2025, even as annualized sales volume slipped 1.99% year-over-year, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. In Q4 2024, statewide rural land prices were already up 1.88% year-over-year to $4,776 per acre, also reported by the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. On the agricultural side, the Texas average farm real estate value increased 6.1% to $2,970 per acre, per the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Local price performance can be even more dramatic. In Q3 2025, Region 4 (Northeast Texas) rural land prices increased 4.38% year-over-year to $9,313 per acre, and Region 7 (Austin–Waco–Hill Country) rose 3.4% to $7,704 per acre, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. Meanwhile, Region 1 (Panhandle–South Plains) posted an 8.19% year-over-year increase to $1,862 per acre in Q4 2024, per the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. And for smaller tracts, prices can run higher: Texas small rural land sales averaged $10,242 per acre statewide, up 6.42%, according to the Texas Alliance of Agricultural Districts (TAAD).

Understand the Trust Before You List the Land

Your trust document controls the sale. Before you talk to buyers or agents, confirm:

• Who has authority to sell (trustee vs. co-trustees, and whether you need beneficiary consent).
• Any sale restrictions (minimum price requirements, required appraisals, limitations on subdividing, or hold periods).
• Signature and notice requirements (who must sign the contract, deed, and closing documents).

When trustees follow the trust terms precisely, they reduce the risk of beneficiary disputes, delayed closings, or a buyer walking away due to legal uncertainty.

Get the “Green Light” Early (Beneficiaries, Co-Trustees, and Sometimes Court)

Some trusts let a trustee act independently. Others require approvals that can take time. Depending on your trust structure, you may need to:

• Provide formal notice to beneficiaries and obtain written consent.
• Coordinate decisions and signatures with co-trustees.
• Seek court guidance if the trust is unclear, contested, or restricts sale authority.

Handle these steps before you go under contract so you don’t lose leverage—or the buyer—while waiting on paperwork.

Price the Property Using Current Texas Land Data (Not Old Comps)

Texas land pricing is hyper-local, but statewide data helps you anchor expectations. In Q3 2025, the statewide rural land price reached $5,158 per acre (up 5.87% year-over-year), according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. That increase happened even though annualized sales volume declined 1.99% year-over-year, per the same Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University report—an important reminder that fewer sales can still coincide with rising prices.

Also pay attention to what buyers are purchasing. The statewide typical rural tract size fell 7.3% to 1,818 acres in Q3 2025, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. This shift can influence how you position your property: larger holdings may need a different marketing strategy, a different buyer pool, or a subdivision plan (if the trust and local rules allow it).

To dial in a realistic list price:

1. Order a land appraisal from a professional experienced with rural Texas properties.
2. Run recent comparable sales that match your land’s county, access, improvements, and use (grazing, timber, recreation, development potential).
3. Adjust by region using current benchmarks. For example, in Q3 2025 Region 4 (Northeast Texas) averaged $9,313 per acre (up 4.38% year-over-year) and Region 7 (Austin–Waco–Hill Country) averaged $7,704 per acre (up 3.4%), according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. In Q4 2024, Region 1 (Panhandle–South Plains) averaged $1,862 per acre (up 8.19% year-over-year), per the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University.
4. Separate “small-tract” demand from ranch-scale pricing. Texas small rural land sales averaged $10,242 per acre statewide (up 6.42%), according to the Texas Alliance of Agricultural Districts (TAAD).

Finally, keep land-use context in view. The Texas average farm real estate value climbed 6.1% to $2,970 per acre, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. That metric can support discussions with buyers evaluating agricultural utility, long-term value, and financing.

Prepare the Land (and the File) to Reduce Buyer Friction

Vacant land sells faster when buyers can understand it quickly and underwrite it confidently. Focus on high-impact preparation:

• Confirm boundaries with a current survey when possible.
• Resolve access questions (easements, road frontage, maintenance responsibilities).
• Organize documents: title work, prior surveys, tax records, leases, mineral information, well data, and any restrictions.
• Clean and present the property: remove debris, mark entrances, and highlight usable features (water, pasture, timber, views).
• Document improvements such as fencing, gates, roads, and utilities.

Market Trust-Owned Texas Land Where Buyers Actually Search

Land buyers behave differently than home buyers. Reach them with a multi-channel plan:

• Land-specific listing platforms and local MLS exposure (where applicable).
• Targeted social and search marketing tied to county, use-case, and tract size.
• Direct outreach to brokers and buyer networks that specialize in rural tracts.
• Modern media: drone photos, boundary maps, and short video walkthroughs that answer common due diligence questions.

Expect timelines to vary by tract size, location, and pricing accuracy. The recent decline in annualized sales volume (down 1.99% year-over-year in Q3 2025) reported by the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University is a reminder that marketing and buyer qualification matter—especially when trust approvals can extend the process.

Handle Trust and Legal Requirements During Due Diligence

Trust sales often trigger extra scrutiny from title companies and buyers. Reduce surprises by planning for:

• Seller authority documentation (trust certification, trustee powers, and any required consents).
• Required disclosures appropriate for Texas land transactions.
• Buyer investigations (survey review, access, utilities, floodplain, zoning/ETJ, restrictions, minerals, and leases).
• Professional support from a Texas real estate attorney familiar with trust-owned property transfers.

Negotiate and Close With the Trust’s Interests Front and Center

Once you have an offer, evaluate more than the headline price. Strong trust sales prioritize certainty and clean execution:

• Confirm the buyer’s ability to perform (proof of funds or lender track record for land).
• Balance price and terms (option period length, survey responsibility, title objections, and closing timeline).
• Protect beneficiaries by documenting decision-making and following the trust’s procedures.

At closing, the trustee signs the deed and related documents in the proper capacity, and the transaction must match the trust’s requirements precisely to avoid future challenges.

Common Challenges When Selling Texas Land From a Trust

1. Market movement during a longer timeline. Statewide pricing increased to $5,158 per acre in Q3 2025 (up 5.87% year-over-year), per the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, but conditions can change by region and buyer segment.
2. A narrower buyer pool for raw land, especially for larger tracts—even as typical tract size shifted down to 1,818 acres (down 7.3%) in Q3 2025, reported by the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University.
3. Approval and signature delays when multiple beneficiaries or co-trustees must agree.
4. Financing friction, since land loans often require more down payment and documentation than home mortgages.

Strategies That Help You Sell Faster (Without Discounting Unnecessarily)

1. Price with current data and adjust by region and tract size. Use statewide benchmarks like $5,158 per acre in Q3 2025 (up 5.87% year-over-year) from the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, plus local indicators such as Region 4 at $9,313 per acre and Region 7 at $7,704 per acre in Q3 2025 (both from the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University).
2. Match marketing to the buyer segment. Smaller tracts may justify different positioning given the $10,242 per acre statewide small-tract average (up 6.42%) reported by the Texas Alliance of Agricultural Districts (TAAD).
3. Offer deal flexibility where appropriate, such as longer feasibility windows for high-complexity properties or creative terms when the trust allows.
4. Showcase the land digitally with maps, drone footage, and clear boundary visuals that reduce back-and-forth questions.
5. Stay responsive during due diligence by keeping surveys, title information, and trust authority documents ready to share.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it usually take to sell Texas land held in a trust?

Timelines vary by location, tract size, and how quickly the trust can provide approvals and signatures. Recent market data shows annualized sales volume was down 1.99% year-over-year in Q3 2025, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, so strong marketing and buyer qualification can make a meaningful difference.

Do I need court approval to sell trust-owned land in Texas?

It depends on the trust type and what the document allows. Many revocable trusts permit trustee-led sales without court involvement, while some irrevocable trusts—or disputed situations—may require court guidance. A Texas real estate attorney can confirm the correct path before you list.

What taxes apply when a trust sells land in Texas?

Tax outcomes depend on the trust structure and who recognizes the gain. Land values have been trending upward—Texas average farm real estate value increased 6.1% to $2,970 per acre, per the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service—so it’s smart to involve a tax professional early to model capital gains and reporting responsibilities.

Can a trust sell only part of the property?

Often yes, but only if the trust allows it and local rules support it. Because typical tract sizes have shifted (down 7.3% to 1,818 acres in Q3 2025, per the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University), partial sales and subdivisions may align with buyer demand—but they require new surveys, potential re-platting, access planning, and careful compliance with trust terms.

What if beneficiaries disagree about selling?

The trust document determines how much authority the trustee holds and whether beneficiary consent is required. When conflict escalates, mediation or court involvement may become necessary. You can reduce disputes by communicating early, documenting decisions, and anchoring discussions in current market facts and credible regional pricing data.

Final Thoughts

Selling Texas land from a trust is absolutely doable, but it rewards preparation. Start with the trust document, secure approvals early, price the property with current regional and statewide benchmarks, and present the land with clear documentation and modern marketing.

Texas land markets continue to evolve—statewide rural land reached $5,158 per acre in Q3 2025 (up 5.87% year-over-year) while sales volume edged down 1.99%, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. If you align your trust process with buyer expectations and today’s data-driven diligence, you can protect the beneficiaries’ interests and close with confidence.