You're right about the limited experience, because what I said was based on people I actually know that have land. I know several that have very nice 5k+ acre ranches that made their own way and were able to buy these places. Some have multiple ranches and more than 10k acres all bought and paid for with money they earned during their working life. None of these are west TX ranches. All good south TX brush/improved pasture and some good hill country/improved pasture. But of all the ranch owners I know most were inherited.And yeah, I know about the inheritance tax, that's why a lot of places shrink over the years.....

You're right Ranch, I'll just disregard my 40 years of hunting and discussing hunting and land ownership with the thousands of persons I've come across in that time, cityslickers and country folk alike!

I think offspring/siblings wanting hard, cold cash is more of a factor in why places shrink rather than inheritance tax.

I agree, it's easier for them that way. That's how I got a good deal on my place, 6 siblings & they just wanted to dump it quick and collect whatever they could. We just happened to be looking when they decided to sell and priced it to sell quickly.

Nope, I think DQ hit he nail on the head.

inheritance tax is only applied today on an estate of over $11 million in value (5.5 million exemption per person). So most everyone will not face this tax on land passed down unless it is a really large place.

It is all relative - if you inherit a place from family then good for you - would anyone on this forum turn down a ranch passed down to them?

If you worked your butt off and did well and can afford to buy a nice ranch then also more power to you. If you are not in a position to buy a ranch then it is what it is - we are all a product of our own choices in life.

Either way nobody should be ashamed or be chastised for owning their own ranch.

No. You're both wrong. But I'm not going to waste any more effort trying to educate people who don't want to be educated. Suffice to say, I and many friends of mine are middle class and own thousands of acres (that we bought without inherited money). It's not easy to do. But it can be done and is being done by many many baby boomers.

"If you are not in a position to buy a ranch then it is what it is - we are all a product of our own choices in life."

TLK you said a mouthful there. A lot of wisdom in that statement.

This statement: "please don't try to tell me there are tons of middle and upper middle class guys buying sections in TX left/right because I can assure you that's actually not the case."

Is completely wrong.

Sorry. I don't invent the truth, I just know it.

That be true if you consider 2-3 million a year middle income.

upper middle 135-600k
Who would've thought 600K was upper middle class???

What source did that come from? You'd say I'm a bit skeptical of a chart that spells the word "hundred" "hunderd" (upper right).

My entire "income" last year was 1500.00 from a grazing lease. I had know idea I was "Underclass". Are there some forms I need to fill out?

I just googled "us middle class income"

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=us+middle+class+income

WIKI from the list

A lot of places with dense populations of people making good money (NY, LA, Chicago, even Houston), $600k isn't really going to do much for you. Obviously if you're making $600k and living in College Station, TX, you're upper class.

If you're making $600k and living in Manhattan, you're struggling to pay your bills and living in a 1000 sqft apartment. I'd put anything less than a million a year at "upper middle" because while that amount lets you live comfortably, you're not going to be living much differently than someone making 200-300.

Dang! I thought I was doing pretty good in life. I have some serious envy and a severely bruised ego now.

I don't think this thread has helped Rodney much.......

not only that but can't spell Uber right

I would venture a guess if you make $600k a year in the U.S your not going to be struggling to provide yourself with basic living expenses.

My wife and I were barely making over 100 grand combined in '96. We scrimped and saved a down payment and bought over a section of land. We've multuplied that many times since then. And we've never had a combined income anywhere close to 600,000.

The "I cant's" vs the "I cans".

Rodney was looking for a pity party. The last thing he needs is a pity party.

But go on and give it to him. Real stinkin constructive .

Easy up some, last warning!

So because I want to help Rodney get out of his funk, vs join him in the dumps, I'm getting a "last warning"?

The same irritation he's experiencing now is the exact motivation I used to become the "rancher pricing leases too high" that is the source of his angst.

I sure wish someone would have cared enough for me when I was young to not let me wallow in self pity. I would have started accumulating ranches at a lot earlier age.

But hey, do what you feel is right!

Last warning?

I sure wish I had "scrimped and saved" when I was younger instead of blowing all my money on huntin' and fishin'...............nah, just kidding.

Yeah. Probably should have spent more time hunting than saving and busting my hump. Probably could have hunted on more than the ~ 48,000 acres that have passed thru my hands since '96.

Nah, probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to enjoy all that hunting if I hadn't scrimped and saved and busted my hump and used my noggin.

FWIW, I'm sure having a ball now.