Ranch real estate activity in southeast Wyoming and surrounding areas was generally pretty slow in 2016, but there has been a surge in both listings and interest from buyers since the election, says James Rinehart, a partner in Laramie-based Western United Realty.

“Based on what has happened since the election, I anticipate that 2017 and 2018 are going to be extremely busy both in terms of seller listings and buyer interest,” Rinehart said in mid-December.

Western United already has several new listings, and interest in them has been strong.

Rinehart says that he believes the presidential election is playing into this renewed activity.

“Prior to the election, there was an overall uncertainty with businesses — including ranches and farms — and investments in general,” he notes. “Since the election, people are much more exuberant and confident in their business lives; this is holding true for both people wanting to sell ranches and wanting to buy.”

He is finding that potential sellers are much more hopeful about the overall economy, including agriculture, and thus are interested in “moving to the next chapter of their lives.”

At the same time, potential ranch buyers also have “renewed confidence, and they are much more excited about moving forward with their businesses and investments, including real estate, and I see ranches being a strong part of this mix.”

Rinehart adds,: “Now that the political uncertainty is behind us, now that the political storm is over, there is some excitement back in the air about doing business. People are feeling comfortable about the business climate in general.”

Making dreams happen
With help from family and some financing, a young couple purchased the 610-acre Kaisler Ranch west of Laramie. Included were 420 acres of private-lease.

The listing price was $1.2 million, or $1,967 per deeded acre. The selling price was not disclosed, though it brought close to the asking price, Rinehart says.

The buyers have a ranching background, and have been working other jobs to save enough money to help purchase their own place, with the help of family members who wanted to invest in a ranch. He works on an Albany County, Wyo., ranch, while she’s a banker in nearby Fort Collins, Colo.

“They will continue leasing the ranch until they can build a home on it and start running their own cattle,” Rinehart says.

The ranch is rated at 130 animal units. It came with outstanding water rights, and hay production can be exceptional.

Though the ranch offers fishing in smaller creeks and sloughs, it does not offer outstanding recreation amenities, which made the place a little harder to sell.

The seller is a widow who did not want to continue running the ranch by herself. Though the woman found it difficult to leave the place behind, Rinehart says, “She decided it was time to move on.”

Waggener writes from Laramie, Wyo.