The Best Counties to Buy Land in Missouri

Spanning picturesque Ozark peaks overlooking hidden hollows in the southeast corner to fertile Missouri River basin farmland churning out essential crop yields feeding America and beyond, the diverse Show Me State geography offers prospective land buyers and investors plenty to consider across its nearly 70,000 square miles of mostly privately held space. From recreational forests facilitating vibrant hunting tourism through pasture birthing calves eventually grazing on the Great Plains to tracts destined for eventual exurban developments, land ownership here covers the full spectrum of utility potential. This guide explores attributes and opportunities tied to key Missouri land plays that savvy acquirers have on their target horizons entering 2023.

Current Market Conditions Driving Missouri Land Interest

Recent Federal land data confirms over 28 million total acres currently stand classified for agriculture, timber harvest or general open space conserved uses across Missouri as one of America’s most prolific farming states. And with land valuations growing over 15% across greater Kansas City counties last year and over 8% state wide, market conditions signal investors continue viewing Show Me state dirt as a smart long-term allocation play even after the blistering pace. Now let’s examine specific best positioned counties shaping up for near term land buying upside categorized across the three primary land type utility classifications drawing buyer demand presently.

Top Alternative Energy Sites 

With the Biden administration aggressively pushing states ramping wind, solar and other renewable energy sources with incentives and mandates, previously overlooked land suddenly offers enticing income generation potential leasing acreage to sustainable power developers needing open project sites. New transmission corridors even get budgeted opening access. Prime alternative energy sites feature:

– Initially Low Values Before Rezoning as Green Energy Hubs

– 100+ Acre Parcels Meeting Minimum Project Scales

– Adjacency to Existing Electrical Grid Infrastructure

– Limited Encroachments Impairing System Designs

– Low Population Density Reducing Public Opposition

Utility companies aggressively scout counties like Platte in the northwest corridor with open acreage still remaining low-cost but accessible pivotal clean power generation sites as national priorities boost alternative energy production. Get positioned in suitable Missouri locations early before values jump.

Top Recreational/Lifestyle Investment Land 

Buyers crave scenic rural settings facilitating enjoyable pursuits like hunting, horseback riding, stargazing and exploring nature. And properties abutting state/national parks or conservation lands command premiums thanks to accessibility advantages. Prime lifestyle land investment locations feature:

– Adjacency to State/Federal Recreational Lands

– Forestry Terrains Stocked with Hunting Game Animals

– Unique Natural Features Like River Frontage

– Enrollment Options in Preferential Tax for Managed Woodlands

Counties situated along Missouri’s bordering states like Oregon and Douglas counties deliver contiguous acreage seamlessly expanding public lands access - a characteristic lifetime land holders pay premiums securing and keeping in the family for generations.

Top Development Land Sites

Both local and institutional buyers scout land holdings awaiting nearby expanding suburbanization and target owners exiting prematurely rather than holding through density waves later maximizing property utility. Prime emerging development land locations feature:

– Positioning On Suburb Peripheries Eyeing Outward Expansion

– Parcels Falling Just Outside Commercial Rezoning Yet Still Annexable

– Tract Sizes Ranging 5-50 Acres for Phased Subdivisions or Commercial Sites

– Adjacency To Established Residential Areas with Retail/Employment Nearby

– Roads, Power and Basic Infrastructure Already Available or Easily Extended

While top examples surround growing metro regions like Springfield and Columbia, astute buyers notice aging rural towns like Kennett located in the agricultural boot heel may deserve reevaluation as infill properties if values remain low but renewed infrastructure signals revitalization efforts forthcoming.

Top Agricultural Land Sites 

In hunger to secure food supply stability and reduce risks of inflation disrupting operating margins, both existing Missouri based farmers and agriculture aggregators actively seek acquiring new crop producing land when valuations appear reasonably aligned. Prime agriculture land locations feature:

– Favorable Growing Conditions Like Adequate Rainfall and Longer Frost-Free Days

– History Confirming Multi-Year Crop Types Thriving on The Acreage

– Minimal Presence of Yield-Inhibiting Factors Like Complex Terrain, Poor Drainage or Steep Grades

– Adjacency To Other Working Farms Allows Consolidating Machinery Operations

From the loom soils of Ralls County bordering the Mississippi River through the open plains spanning Worth and Harrison counties superior facilitating row cropping, plentiful options exist securing additional agriculture acreage for buyers exploring farming previously or expanding existing operational footprints to drive economies of scale.

Consult Land Investment Experts Guiding Site Selections

This analysis only skims the surface overviewing key attributes weighing optimal land buying decisions across Missouri whether targeting cropland, recreational holdings or property speculation plays surrounding developing population zones. Local market conditions trace rapidly evolving based on crop futures influencing farming viability to remote work trends shifting housing demand across both urban and rural counties. While records convey static historical land values, multiple underlying factors require ongoing assessment determining when pricing merits conviction pulling the trigger securing Missouri land ownership — or confirming remaining patient for better positioned opportunities awaiting the market. Consult accredited land investment professionals like the Land Boss team to discuss latest Missouri land market perspectives guiding informed decisions tailored to your risk-managed objectives.

Final Thoughts

Missouri's landscape diversity spanning major metro outskirts through vast rural crop and grazing terrain explains why properties traversing the Show Me state attract such a wide swath of buyers targeting ownership for alternative utility ranging from leasing acreage funding solar projects and enjoying wooded hunting grounds to cash flowing farmland cultivation or lands speculating eventual development. This piece evaluated attributes and opportunities tied across key targeted Missouri land plays that savvy acquirers have on their investment crosshairs entering 2023 based on location-specific market conditions, value stability and income generation upside potential once securing the right sites their objectives align. Consult accredited professionals advising ongoing land deals across Missouri counties to discuss latest perspectives guiding informed buying decisions tailored to your managed risk preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Missouri counties show strongest land valuation growth recently that investors track?

Platte County northwest of Kansas City saw metro area farmland valuations jump over 20% last year given strong commercial and alternative energy demand. Central region livestock grazing land in Morgan County also shows double digit gains as operations consolidate.

Do land development restrictions exist across parts of rural Missouri limiting construction?

Yes, protections like mandatory agricultural and forestry zoning applications in some low density counties require approvals before allowing new housing beyond minimal structures supporting existing land utility.

Which Missouri counties contain the most land enrolled in preferential agricultural tax assessment programs?

Over 75% of acreage in southern counties like Dunklin, New Madrid and Pemiscot qualify for special-use tax valuation sustaining continued crop production rather than paying higher assessed rates.

What transaction costs should land buyers budget when acquiring Missouri property?

Typical closing fees for title insurance, recording, legal docs, tax certifications and depending on county - transfer tax hover between 4-6% of total deal value. Inspect carefully for other utility assessment districts prepaying future infrastructure builds too.

What characteristics do alternative energy companies prioritize when evaluating Missouri sites?

Level terrain, low density areas distant from flight paths, existing infrastructure adjacency and 300+ acre contiguous sites capable facilitating at least 50mW generation capacity prove baseline qualifications.

Which resources help research crop yield histories and production capability for Missouri farmland tracts?

University of Missouri provides a Land Sales database documenting acreage prices and crop yields. Also contact USDA Farm Service Agency county offices for reporting details clarifying if prime acreage locations.

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