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Top 10 Places to Buy Land for Sale in Florida

Published: 10-30-23 Category: Buying

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A beach plot of land for sale in Florida.

Boasting a $1 trillion+ economy and a strong agricultural, manufacturing, and distribution base, Florida is one of the largest economies in the nation sought after by many commercial investors. The state's land market, in particular, tends to draw investor money through its plentiful appreciation and rental income opportunities.

Here, we'll cover the top 10 places for commercial real estate investors to buy land for sale in Florida. We chose these places based on local economic growth, land development opportunities, and location desirability.

Let's get started.

#1 – Melbourne

Top 10 Places to Buy Land for Sale in Florida

Located southwest of Orlando and on the coast, Melbourne is a regional center for tech and aerospace. Melbourne is also the home of Florida's famous “space coast,” where onlookers watch rocket launches from Cape Canaveral.

Land for sale in Melbourne varies significantly in price. Raw, undeveloped plots can run as low as $4,000 per acre, but most plots fall between $10,000 and $20,000 per acre. Melbourne also offers property tax exemptions and other business incentives.

#2 – Palm Beach

If you want to make passive income by leasing agricultural land, buying land for sale in Palm Beach County is your best bet.

Palm Beach County produces over $900 million in agricultural products each year, including corn, peppers, and sugarcane. Palm Beach also has some of the highest cropland cash rents, at a whopping $421 per acre.

#3 – Orlando

Known for being the home of Disneyworld and Universal Studios, Orlando has major economic activity in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and more.

Orlando is a top-ranked city for commercial real estate thanks to its high population growth and strong industrial market.

The majority of those living in Orlando (62% of households) rent instead of buy, so developing rental property on your Orlando land may be a profitable venture, whether for long-term renters or short-term vacationers.

#4 – Duval

Florida's forestry sector generates more than $25 billion annually, and Duval County has the highest direct forestry output in the state at $1.37 billion, with Miami-Dade County a close second.

Duval County also houses the city of Jacksonville, the largest in the state. Jacksonville is seeing a major industrial boom thanks to the city's logistics and distribution industry, so demand for commercial land is rising as a result.

#5 – Sarasota

Located on the east side of the state south of Tampa, Sarasota's economy favors land investments thanks to its economic base and land prices.

Land for sale in Sarasota is cheap, with the lowest rural plots at $2,000 to $3,000 per acre. The city is home to over 450 manufacturers and is a major air and sea transportation hub.

#6 – Madison County

Madison County is one of the cheaper places to live in Florida, and land for sale in Madison County can run as low as $1,000 per acre.

Looking for a place to buy land and homestead? Check out Madison.

#7 – Okeechobee

Another area that welcomes agriculture investors, Okeechobee is situated on Lake Okeechobee and is a major regional dairy and beef producer.

Rural land for sale in Okeechobee is affordable, with the cheapest plots coming in at around $4,000 an acre. Okeechobee also has some of the highest cash rents for pasture land at nearly $25 per acre.

#8 – Lehigh Acres

Located in Lee County, land for sale in Lehigh Acres is highly affordable, with rural plots reaching as low as $2,000 per acre.

Lee County and Lehigh Acres are currently experiencing rapid population and economic growth after a period of sustained decline, so now is an ideal time to buy land for housing or commercial development.

#9 – Polk

Land for sale in Polk County is among some of the cheapest in the state and has plots available for as low as $1,000 per acre.

According to the Central Florida Development Council, Polk County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the state and has an economic base with strong activity in manufacturing, distribution, and agriculture.

#10 – Jackson

Located Northwest of Tallahassee, Jackson County is a great place to buy rural land thanks to its local forestry, fishing, and hunting activity.

Jackson is in the Florida panhandle, which has some of the best whitetail deer hunting in the state, so buying land in Jackson County to lease for hunting is just one possibility for rental income.

What Is the Average Cost Per Acre of Land for Sale in Florida?

According to the USDA's 2023 Land Values Summary, the average cost for an acre of farmland in Florida is $6,900 per acre.

Overall, Florida is among the most expensive states in the South and Southeastern US to buy land.

Where Is the Cheapest Place to Buy Land in Florida?

Based on our research, the cheapest place to buy undeveloped land in Florida is Calhoun County, where land can reach as low as $1,000 per acre.

Where's the Best Place to Buy Land in Florida?

Like many commercial real estate investments, it depends on your needs. Florida has a big and diverse economy, so there are plenty of ways you can put your land to work.

Florida has a massive agriculture base, so plenty of opportunities exist for investors to purchase land for sale in Florida and lease it to agribusinesses, farmers, and hunters.

Similarly, Florida's industrial real estate sector has seen record growth in the past decade, and some of the best places for industrial growth include Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami.

Regardless of where you want to buy land in Florida, you shouldn't overlook having a land broker on your investment team. Land brokers are commercial real estate brokers who specialize in land acquisitions.

Land brokers can:

Research land financials;
Explore financing options (e.g., land loans);
Negotiate land sales;
Assist with property management;
Find environmental reports; and
Find commercial tenants.

Buying land isn't the same as buying regular commercial property, and a land broker can help you avoid common mistakes of buying raw or developed land.

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