Trophy ranch sales grow as buyers snag three Hall and Hall ranches

According to Forbes, the market for trophy ranches in the western United States is heating up, fueled by Hall and Hall's recent sales of the N Bar, G Hanging Dash and Oak Ridge ranches. In addition, Hall and Hall represented the buyer of another Montana ranch, the Saypo Cattle Company ranch.Forbes writer Monte Burke posted on his blog:Ranch insiders say the recent hot market for these trophy properties is driven by investors desire to find hard assets for their cash. These investors remain unsure about the direction of the stock market and the world economy. Large ranches represent an attractive alternative.Unlike previous ranch booms, these deals, insiders say, are not outrageous. Most of the negotiations have been hard fought, which has kept prices for recreation-focused ranches below 2005 prices.N Bar Ranch was listed at $45 million. Dan Wilks, CEO of Texas oil-drilling equipment-maker Frac Tech Services, bought the 62,000-ranch, which is located 100 miles north of Billings in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains.G Hanging Dash, a recreational Montana ranch with a cattle operation, was sold to Swift River Investments, owned by the James family in Massachusetts. The James family told the Montana Standard that the cattle operation would continue. The G Hanging Dash, which was listed at $32.5 million, encompasses 34,000 acres at the confluence of the Ruby, Big Hole, Beaverhead and Jefferson rivers, each renowned for its trout.Oak Ridge Ranch in Carmel Valley, California, was listed at $16.9 million. For the sale of this 6,400-acre ranch peppered with deer, turkey, bobcat and wild boar, Hall and Hall represented both the buyer and the seller.Hall and Hall is a ranch real estate company that emphasizes land stewardship. Hall and Hall brokers work as a team to provide clients from around the world with services such as real estate marketing, resource management, loan underwriting and real estate appraisals. For more information, visit http://hallhall.com/.