Pivot Paper - Real Estate 2026

Issue No. 2, March 2026

The Real Estate Pivot Update: Land, Land, Land

When I wrote the first issue of The Real Estate Pivot four months ago (see below), I suspected something quiet was underway. A strategic shift in where wealth was looking for stability, legacy, and power. My instinct was that land would re-emerge as the next great asset class for people with significant capital. Gold. Land.

Several months later, if anything, the signal is clearer.

The consolidation of land at the top has continued. In January, Stan Kroenke became the largest private landowner in the United States after acquiring nearly a million acres in New Mexico, bringing his holdings to roughly 2.7 million acres. Deals like that are not tactical purchases. They are generational positioning.

Farmland values have also continued to show remarkable resilience despite high interest rates. In most other sectors, rising borrowing costs slow investment dramatically. Land has behaved differently. Values have stabilized or continued to rise in many regions, reinforcing its reputation as a long-term store of value rather than a speculative trade.

At the same time, governments have begun to treat farmland and large land purchases as matters of national security. The United States has moved toward restricting farmland purchases by certain foreign entities, a shift that signals something important. When policymakers start paying attention to who owns the land, it means the asset itself has taken on strategic significance.

There is also a growing pattern among technology wealth and private capital. Large tracts are being purchased not only for agriculture but for development platforms, conservation strategies, carbon markets, and entirely new communities. Land is no longer just property. It is infrastructure.

The implications of this shift extend far beyond individual acquisitions. What follows is a deeper examination of who is buying, why it matters, and what it signals for the next decade of real estate and private capital.

The full March 2026 Real Estate Pivot Paper includes:

Available to paid subscribers. For the full article, please subscribe to our Substack channel to access all Pivot Papers, working sessions, and much more, or email us at Collaborate@SlateSpark.net.

-Christine Merser

Christine Merser has been a leading marketing strategist for over thirty years, working with companies, politicians, and individuals to achieve groundbreaking success. Her innovative strategies and forward-thinking approaches have inspired others to redefine how they reach their marketing goals. Known for her curiosity, creativity, and ability to adapt to ever-changing landscapes, Christine continues to shape the future of marketing with fresh perspectives and actionable insights.