This special episode features recorded sessions from Day 2 of the 2026 Lay of the Land® Conference, focusing on the policy decisions, infrastructure investments, and land sales data influencing Florida’s real estate market. Florida Senate President Ben Albritton delivers a legislative update addressing property tax reform discussions, conservation funding priorities, and broader policy considerations impacting landowners and investors across the state.

James M. Driggers, P.E., District One Secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation, then outlines the state's Advanced Air Mobility strategy and the continued development of SunTrax as a testing and implementation hub for emerging transportation technologies. The program concludes with Saunders Real Estate advisors presenting the 2026 Lay of the Land® Market Report, offering expert analysis of verified transaction data across key asset classes and examining how land market activity shifted over the past year.

Learn more about our upcoming conferences at LayOfTheLandConference.com.

Chapters
(00:00:41) Legislative Update
(00:15:50) SunTrax and Florida's Air Taxi Network
(00:42:15) Lay of the Land® Market Report

Recorded live in Lakeland, this episode features panels from the 2026 Lay of the Land® Conference, including expert-led discussions on the economic, investment, and policy dynamics shaping the Florida land market. The program opens with an economic outlook delivered by Jerry D. Parrish, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, examining interest rates, capital flows, and broader market conditions influencing transaction activity.

From there, breakout sessions explore commercial property investing fundamentals, utility-scale solar energy development in Florida, the feasibility considerations behind unlocking land value through mining, and a focused discussion on tax reform and estate planning strategies. Together, these conversations provide timely insight for landowners, investors, and advisors navigating a market adjusting to new capital conditions.

Learn more about our upcoming events at LayOfTheLandConference.com.

Chapters
(00:01:42) Florida's Economic Outlook
(00:52:19) Commercial Property Investing 101
(01:43:48) Solar Energy Development in Florida
(02:44:19) Unlocking Land Value Through Mining
(03:14:32) Tax Reform & Estate Planning

Tyler Davis sits down with land advisor and career forester Mike Matre to discuss a complex Georgia land transaction he brokered earlier this year. The conversation centers on the California Woods property in Stewart County, 1,443 acres of rugged, remote terrain featuring dramatic vistas, strong hunting opportunity, and landscapes influenced by past timber activity and long-term ownership. Mike walks listeners through the full arc of the sale, from the property’s unique topography and off-grid nature to how those characteristics required a very targeted approach to the market.

The episode explores how an early offer from a neighboring TIMO (Timberland Investment Management Organization) led to a strategic pivot, ultimately dividing the remaining acreage into four smaller parcels and significantly increasing demand. Mike shares lessons on on-the-ground due diligence, effective marketing for rural properties, pricing strategy, and navigating today’s Georgia timber market, including the impact of recent mill closures and continued demand for recreational land.

Learn more at SaundersRealEstate.com.