Each Friday, Russ Anderson, the president and CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty and the president of Pacific Sotheby's International Realty writes about luxury, trends, business and more in the advertising pages of the Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal. Below is his letter of January 31, 2025.
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S P.O.V.
As places to escape — and protect your money — ranches are more popular than ever.
Buying and selling them, though, takes unique knowledge, access and instincts. And some pretty heroic logistics.
You may know that we have the finest real estate advisors in the entire ranch-and-land universe. These specialized teams and individuals represent everything from weekend getaways to working spreads, for clients who could be from anywhere — Texas to Tokyo.
What you may not know is what it takes to show one. A ranch can be thousands of acres of all kinds of terrain, and that takes planning, travel, even special vehicles.
Helicopters are sometimes used to show very large spreads or areas that are hard to get to. Most often, our experts use a UTV — a utility task vehicle, also called a side-by-side. These are open-air vehicles that are like beefed-up golf carts, capable of traversing those terrains. Our advisors will either have them waiting at the property or they’ll trailer them there on the showing day. Boats, too, if there are lakes to explore.
Tough, all-weather clothing for everyone is a must, and snake-proof boots. (Yes, especially in Texas.)
There’s one more thing. A picnic lunch. That’s the opportunity to slow down, enjoy the views and really get to know everyone.
And that’s the best. That’s what land can do. It’s not just an investment — it’s a reset.
Come get reoriented at briggsfreeman.com/ranch.
Russ Anderson
President and CEO, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
President, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty
Pictured at top of post: Quail Rise Ranch in Seymour, Texas, represented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty
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