South Dakota Land Prices
South Dakota land prices, like land prices in any state, can vary greatly. Real estate in the two major cities, Sioux Falls and Rapid City, can sell on a square footage basis for thousands of dollars per acre. Raw, unimproved rangeland “in the middle of nowhere” can sell for as little as $500 per acre.
It is interesting to note that prices for the cheaper land “in the middle of nowhere” can often be more stable and predictable than high priced commercial property in the cities. Take, for instance, the case of a proposed commercial development in downtown Sioux Falls. If the local economy slows down, if adequate zoning is not approved, and if financing is not secured—then the value of the land can plummet.
On the other hand, 160 acres of rangeland in remote rural areas generally will remain stable, regardless of South Dakota’s economy, or the nation’s economy. Why? Because cheap, raw acreage doesn’t rely on economic growth, new improvements, or future developments in order to increase in value. The only thing required for cheap, raw land to increase in value is inevitable inflation—and inflation has been with us since the nation was founded in 1776.
Astute investors who observe closely South Dakota land prices, as they pertain to cheap rangeland, can do extremely well in this real estate niche!