By Realtor
The COVID-19 pandemic years triggered a land frenzy as enterprising developers lured by historically low interest ratessnapped up vast tracts of land at a dizzying pace. The shift reshaped the market, sending raw land values surging faster than both semideveloped and build-ready lots.
According to a first-ever analysis of land listings by the Realtor.com®economic research team, overall land prices per acre surged roughly 77% between early 2019 and March 2026—a period during which inventory of for-sale parcels plunged 24%.
In the first quarter of this year, there were 426,986 land listings on Realtor.com with a median price per acre of $62,365.
However, as the inaugural study illustrates, not all land listings are created equal. They are broadly categorized into three distinct tiers: raw lots, which have no development on them at all; partly developed parcels, which may feature some clearing or utility installation; and build-ready lots, which are marketed for immediate residential construction.
