Episodes

  • #132 - Two Bankruptcies, Delinquent Taxes, and an $85K Ask: Inside a Land Deal Gone Sideways with Jeff Fern
    Jul 10 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Jeff Fern.

    We discuss:

    • Jeff currently has eight buildable lots in progress, including three five-acre lots near Stockholm/Pepin.
    • Neil corrects a seller who thought $30,000 beat a $10,000-an-acre comp — hers was 3 acres, or $90,000 total.
    • A Polk County seller who bought land at $4,500 an acre stands to profit roughly $100,000 subdividing it into lots.
    • Jeff fights for driveway access on a state highway listing, where Wisconsin DOT requires a 500-foot gap.
    • Neil recounts a landowner asking to borrow $85,000 — then discovers two bankruptcies and delinquent taxes.
    • Neil declines to lend the money but offers to buy the land outright, giving the seller until May 15th.
    • Jeff describes a $25,000 code violation on a 15-by-15 deck that surfaced during a home inspection.
    • Neil and Jeff explain why sellers must disclose known defects even when selling a property "as is."
    • Jeff estimates statewide land listings are down as much as 25%, even as listed properties keep selling.
    • Neil spends two hours consulting a couple weighing a city's offer to buy only part of their land.


    And So Much More!


    Connect:-https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties-https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook-https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube-https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    54 mins
  • #131 - How My First Land Investment Turned Into a $60,000 Profit
    Jun 26 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with another monologue.

    We discuss:

    • Neil shares the story behind his very first land investment.
    • Why most people never buy their first property.
    • The conversation with Dan Perez that changed Neil's mindset.
    • How improving land creates equity.
    • Why cleanup alone can dramatically increase value.
    • The power of subdividing larger parcels.
    • Why emotion can hurt investment decisions.
    • How Neil marketed the property for maximum value.
    • The first investment produced a $60,000 profit.
    • Why buying, managing and selling land became his long-term strategy.

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    48 mins
  • #130 - He Sold His Truck To Buy Hunting Land: How Jeff Fern Upgraded From 30 To 114 Acres
    Jun 12 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Jeff Fern.

    We discuss:

    • Jeff sold personal assets to raise his first land down payment.
    • Recreational land ownership starts with discipline, not wealth.
    • Small acreage properties can create strong demand from buyers.
    • Strategic pricing can create multiple-offer situations.
    • Documenting improvements adds value when it's time to sell.
    • 1031 exchanges can help owners scale into larger properties.
    • "Ugly" properties often hold hidden potential.
    • Side hustles can accelerate land ownership goals.
    • Good neighboring landowners can be invaluable resources.
    • Land ownership provides both financial and lifestyle returns.

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    59 mins
  • #129 - Using Rentals, HELOCs, and Sweat Equity to Buy Land: The Financial Strategy Behind Buying and Selling Recreational Land with Jeremy Lopez
    May 29 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Jeremy Lopez.

    We discuss:

    • Jeremy bought his first house around age 21 or 22.
    • Military service helped shape his discipline and goals.
    • VA loans became a major financial tool for him.
    • Rental properties helped create cash flow.
    • He used a HELOC to help buy duplexes.
    • His first hunting property was 40 acres in northern Wisconsin.
    • He focused on affordable areas with better margins.
    • He improved trails, food plots, blinds, water, and access.
    • Strong video marketing helped sell the property fast.
    • He expects a check around $57,000–$58,000 before taxes.

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • #128 - Finding Big Deer In Overlooked Markets: Kansas Genetics At Oklahoma Prices with Steve Purviance
    May 15 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Steve Purviance.

    We discuss:

    • Oklahoma still offers affordable trophy hunting land
    • Western deer are easier to locate and pattern
    • Kansas prices continue pushing buyers south
    • Drainages and cover matter more than county lines
    • The right land agent changes everything
    • Deer visibility increases farther west
    • Big western bucks often travel huge distances
    • Cedars can dramatically increase hunting value
    • Habitat improvements raise resale value fast
    • Recreational land can build long-term wealth

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • #127 - The Landowner’s Guide to Hunting Longer: Buying Giant Buck Farms & Staying Healthy Enough to Hunt Them
    May 1 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Aaron Karo. We discuss:

    • Stewardship applies to land AND your body
    • Buffalo County terrain creates older age-class bucks
    • Great hunting farms are often found through relationships
    • Mature bucks avoid pressure differently than young deer
    • Recovery and sleep are critical for aging hunters
    • Health care should be proactive, not reactive
    • Peptides work best alongside good habits
    • Nutrition drives long-term performance and recovery
    • Terrain fitness matters for serious hunters
    • Longevity determines how long you can hunt hard

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • #126 - Entry-Level vs Legacy Hunting Farms: What Smart Buyers Need to Know
    Apr 17 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Brent Grosse. We discuss:

    • Iowa land still offers opportunity despite major price swings post-COVID
    • Entry-level farms can build massive equity through habitat improvements
    • The right neighbors matter more than the farm itself for long-term success
    • Habitat diversity (edges, CRP, timber) consistently outperforms monoculture
    • Smaller “starter farms” can lead to larger acquisitions over time
    • Most buyers enjoy improving land more than actually hunting it
    • Northeast Iowa offers strong hunting with less competition than southern zones
    • Water, terrain, and soil quality all drive long-term land value
    • Nonresident tag changes may increase future demand and pricing
    • Even overlooked counties can produce Boone & Crockett caliber deer

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • #125 - The Biggest Land Investment Opportunity Nobody’s Talking About with Rustin Hayes
    Apr 3 2026

    On today's episode of The American Land Man Podcast, we are back in the studio with Rustin Hayes. We discuss:

    • Oklahoma land offers Kansas-level genetics at significantly lower prices
    • Big deer country isn’t always where people expect it to be
    • Deer in big country can travel miles daily during the rut
    • 160 acres alone rarely controls trophy deer movement
    • River-bottom properties are often overhunted and overpriced
    • Overlooked cattle ground can become elite hunting property
    • Trail cam photos can dramatically increase resale value
    • Cattle can improve habitat when managed correctly
    • Land values are rising fast in emerging whitetail regions
    • The best deals are found before the market fully realizes value

    And So Much More!


    Connect:

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerWhitetailProperties

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerFacebook

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerYouTube

    -https://bit.ly/NeilHaugerInstagram

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    1 hr and 23 mins