The Premier Conference on Florida Land

Lay of the Land® Conference Logo

About the Conference

The Lay of the Land® Conference is Florida’s leading forum for landowners, investors, and industry professionals, offering unmatched insight into land values, market trends, and development opportunities.

That insight continues with the Lay of the Land® Market Report, an exclusive source of data and intelligence guiding informed land investment decisions.

DATE
February 25-26, 2026

LOCATION
RP Funding Center
701 W Lime St, Lakeland, FL 33815
Register for Expert Perspectives on Florida Land

Event Accommodations

Conference Schedule

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 • 12:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Florida’s Economic Outlook 
Dr. Jerry Parrish will discuss the current economic outlook for the state, including signals about the path of both fiscal and monetary policy. He will also discuss the current threats to the economy and how those threats may affect property markets.

Commercial Property Investing 101
This panel offers a practical overview of how commercial real estate can complement existing land ownership and long-term planning goals. Panelists will discuss how proceeds from land sales or conservation easements can be reinvested into income-producing commercial properties, creating steady cash flow with professional leasing and management in place. The conversation will highlight core investment concepts, common property types, and how commercial assets can provide reliable, passive income.

Unlocking Land Value Through Mining
This session gives landowners and investors the tools to assess mining potential and make decisions that maximize long-term value. Learn which materials matter in Florida, what drives profitability, and how to navigate permitting and market challenges.

Tax Reform & Estate Planning - Opportunities & Strategies 
As conversations around federal tax reform continue to unfold, this panel explores the latest changes shaping estate planning, property sales, and business investments. Topics include updates to estate tax exemptions, new tools like farm sale tax deferrals, expanded rural opportunity zones, and the return of full bonus depreciation. With so many moving parts in today’s tax landscape, this session offers practical insight every landowner should hear. 


THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 • 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Legislative Update
Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, District 27

Data Centers and the Land They Demand
While data centers provide major benefits through cloud computing and AI, they also face significant challenges related to energy use, costs, infrastructure, and regulation. This session examines current constraints, development implications, and emerging solutions shaping future data center development.

Lay of the Land® Market Report 
The Lay of the Land Market Report remains a trusted benchmark for annual land sales and statewide market trends. This panel builds on that foundation, with Saunders Land advisors offering current insights from the field across key asset classes. Backed by the most current land sales data collected by the Saunders Research team, this session provides timely perspectives and practical guidance for the 2026 Florida real estate market.

21
ANNUAL LAY OF THE LAND® Conference
700+
Landowners, Investors & Industry Leaders
35
ExpertS Shaping the Conversation

2026 Strategic Partners

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The Lay of the Land® conferences are organized and sponsored exclusively by Saunders Real Estate and are offered to our clients, landowners, and related interests. This is our primary audience, and space is limited, we respectfully ask that real estate brokers and licensed associates outside of our brokerage do not attend the event.