What if you could buy vacant land before an area experiences significant development? Land banking is a real estate investment strategy built around that idea. Investors purchase undeveloped land, hold it while surrounding communities grow, and potentially sell it to developers as demand increases. But how do you identify the right land, and is waiting years for a potential return worth it?
In this episode, Aviva Sonenreich and Brad Warren, a real estate professional and land banking investor specializing in Southern California, discuss how land banking works, how investors identify opportunities in high-growth areas, and what to consider before investing in undeveloped land.
Brad explains why land banking investors often plan for holding periods of seven to ten years, how population growth and infrastructure spending can influence land values, and why researching future development is essential when selecting properties. He shares how his team evaluates land, conducts due diligence, and identifies opportunities in areas positioned for residential, commercial, and industrial growth.
Aviva also brings a personal perspective from her family’s decades of experience investing in land and income-producing industrial properties. Together, they explore the differences between land banking and rental property investing, the importance of diversification, and how investors can evaluate potential returns, risks, and exit strategies before committing capital.
Key Topics Discussed
- What land banking is and how the investment strategy works
- How investors buy, hold, and potentially sell undeveloped land
- Why land banking investments often require long holding periods
- How to evaluate whether land banking fits your financial goals
- Land banking versus income-producing real estate investments
- The advantages and disadvantages of owning vacant land
- Why diversification matters when investing in real estate
- How to identify land in the path of future development
- Using population growth to evaluate potential land investments
- How infrastructure spending can signal future development activity
- Why city council meetings and municipal development plans matter
- How residential, warehouse, and commercial development influence land demand
- What investors should investigate before purchasing vacant land
- Why due diligence, risk management, and exit strategies are important in land banking
About the Guest
Brad Warren is a real estate professional and land banking investor specializing in pre-developed land opportunities in high-growth areas of Southern California. With more than 40 years of experience as a business coach, trainer, and seminar leader, Brad brings an educational approach to helping investors understand land banking as a long-term investment strategy. After entering the industry as an investor himself, he became a referral partner and later a licensed real estate professional. Today, he helps investors identify and acquire undeveloped land, explore investment options such as self-directed retirement accounts and 1031 exchanges, and understand the potential for future appreciation as developers acquire land for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects.
About the Host
Aviva Sonenreich is the Managing Broker and Owner of the Warehouse Hotline, a Denver commercial real estate brokerage specializing exclusively in industrial properties. She leads the firm’s brokerage operations, negotiates industrial sales and leasing transactions, advises clients on acquisition and disposition strategies, and oversees the company’s marketing and business development efforts. Through Commercial Real Estate Secrets, she interviews leading investors, brokers, developers, and industry experts to provide actionable insights on commercial real estate investing, brokerage, leasing, development, and market trends.
Exploring Industrial Real Estate Investment Opportunities in Denver?
Vacant land may offer long-term appreciation potential, but income-producing industrial properties can provide a different investment approach through rental income and property ownership.
The Warehouse Hotline specializes in industrial real estate throughout the Denver metro area, helping investors, buyers, and property owners evaluate opportunities, identify suitable properties, and navigate acquisitions, sales, and leasing transactions.
Whether you’re considering your first industrial property investment, expanding an existing portfolio, or evaluating your next acquisition, explore our services to see how our team can help.
