For the better part of a decade, Texas ranch land only seemed to go one direction. That run is cooling. The latest numbers from the Texas Real Estate Research Center show prices holding steady, buyers still active, and a market that rewards people who do their homework.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling this winter, here’s what the data says and what we’re seeing on the ground.
The numbers
Statewide, the average price of Texas rural land was $5,218 an acre in the second quarter of 2026. That’s essentially flat from the quarter before and up 3.27% from a year ago.
| Q2 2026, statewide | Change from a year ago |
|---|---|
| Average price per acre: $5,218 | up 3.27% |
| Number of sales | up 4.34% |
| Total acres sold | down 12.57% |
More sales on fewer acres means buyers are out there, but the average tract changing hands is getting smaller. The market also isn’t moving in lockstep. West Texas prices rose 12.9% over the year, driven mostly by energy and data-center demand, while other regions barely moved or slipped. Researchers expect small price gains in the near term, then flat to slightly lower statewide prices next year as the amount of land selling steadily improves.
If you’re buying
A flatter market gives you something the last few years didn’t: time to look closely. Sellers can’t count on prices climbing while a listing sits, so there’s more room to negotiate on terms, not just price.
That makes the homework matter more. Before you make an offer, know:
- Whether the minerals convey, and what’s already leased
- Whether the ag or wildlife valuation carries over, and what happens to your taxes if it doesn’t
- Where the easements and access run, and whether the survey is current
- What comparable tracts actually closed for in that county, not just what they listed for
Interest rates are still a factor, and the research notes buyers are being cautious. Lining up financing early, or knowing you’re paying cash, puts you in a stronger spot when the right place comes up.
If you’re selling
The days of listing high and waiting for the market to catch up are behind us for now. In a steady market, the first price is the one that matters. A ranch priced right from day one draws the serious buyers while it’s fresh.
Presentation counts more, too. Good drone footage, clean maps, a current survey and clear answers on minerals, water and access help a buyer say yes without a long list of contingencies. Sellers who do that work up front give buyers fewer reasons to wait.
Closer to home
Statewide averages only tell part of the story. Prices in one region can climb double digits while the next barely moves, so the numbers that matter are the ones for your county and your kind of property.
“Buyers haven’t gone anywhere. They’re just doing more homework before they write an offer. The places that sell are the ones priced right from the start, with clear answers on minerals, water and access. Around Jack and Young counties, I’m talking with a lot of folks who want a place they can hunt, run a few cows on and still get to from the Metroplex.”
— Boone Campbell, Broker, Campbell Farm & Ranch
That local read is what we bring to every listing and every buyer we represent.
Let’s talk about your land
Whether you’re weighing a sale or looking for the right place, a conversation costs you nothing. Call us at 940-549-7700 or reach out online.
Campbell Farm & Ranch: Building Texas Legacies One Ranch at a Time.
Source: Lynn D. Krebs, Ph.D., “Has the Texas Rural Land Market Hit a Plateau?”, Tierra Grande, Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, October 2026.