The 10 most extraordinary U.S. land listings in 2018

The land market has been strong for some time and has remained strong in 2018. Occasionally, gems hit the market that display unparalleled attributes, quality, and personality. No matter what characteristics your dream property has, there’s real estate throughout the U.S. that’s so incredible it’s simply beyond belief. Landscapes with scenery, features, and terrain that you instantly know belong on a postcard or a painting.

If you're shopping for your own extraordinary property, head over to our nationwide inventory of land for sale.

What is it that actually makes a property extraordinary? Even though this is what out a doubt a matter of perspective and implies an opinion, we’re certain that you’ll agree that these listings are remarkable. Land listing doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no structure on the property, just that the focus is on land. From Hawaiian Island swaths and Atlantic Ocean compounds to an entire Northeast private island and a $1 billion price tag, we’ve highlighted 10 of most the extraordinary land listings money can buy.

A lot of people dream of owning their own piece of paradise. Although this sounds wonderful, instead of owning only a piece, how about owning 35% of an entire Hawaiian Island? Molokai Ranch is approximately 55,575 acres on Molokaʻi, an island with a history of being a sanctuary for Hawaiian royalty. Listed by Scott Carvill and Vicki Yu of Carvill Sotheby’s International Realty, the new owner will instantly become one of the top 5 private landowners in the state. The offering consists of an impressive combination of hidden beaches, tropical rainforests, lush pastures, and soaring sea cliffs. In addition to the ranching operations, this extraordinary property includes over 20 miles of coastline, land zoned for agriculture, residential, and commercial purposes, nature preserves, an oceanfront resort hotel, a golf course, and upcountry lodge properties extending over 300 parcels. Looking for a Hawaiian paradise? Check out our land for sale in Hawaii.

It’s not hard to figure out why this monumental property made the list. Setting the record for Los Angeles most expensive listing ever, no one in the world is publicly known to have paid $1 billion for personal property. Nicknamed “The Mountain of Beverly Hills” and “The Crown Jewel of Beverly Hills”, this 157-acre piece of land rests on the highest peak in Beverly Hills, CA overlooking the city of Los Angeles. Although it’s atop a mountain, there are 32 contiguous flat acres of immaculate, buildable land. Listed by Aaron Kirman with Pacific Union International, this land listing is truly one-of-a-kind. That’s the positive side. The negative side is since the price tag is so large, there’s likely only around 2,800 people on earth that could buy the property, and only 100 that probably would. If you're looking to buy a Los Angeles property have a look at our Los Angeles land for sale.

T. Boone Pickens, an oil tycoon and businessman, purchased approximately 2,900 in 1971 along the south side of the Canadian River in the eastern Texas Panhandle. At the time, there was 1 structure on the property, a small metal livestock feed house Pickens used to stay warm while he was hunting. Over nearly 50 years, he spent millions purchasing adjoining land and adding improvements. Today, Mesa Vista Ranch is made up of over 100 square miles, or 64,809 deeded acres of prime Texas ranch land. On the back of Mesa Vista Ranch hats, it says “World’s best quail hunting” thanks to the 25 miles of water lines and lake systems Pickens put in, creating an oasis for the wildlife that lives there. Not only does this magnificent property include a 25,000 square foot lodge, a 2,300 square foot gatehouse, a 6,000 square foot family house, and a 400 square foot gun room, but it even has its own chapel located next to a flowing creek. The ranch is co-listed by Hall and Hall and Chas. S. Middleton & Son. Want your own Texas ranch? Check out our ranches for sale in Texas.

Owned by Alcoa, the world’s 6th largest aluminum producer, Sandow Lakes Ranch is a nationally recognized example of environmental stewardship. Listed by Bernard Uechtritz of Icon Global Group and Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Real Estate, this 31,361-acre listing features 14 deepwater lakes covering 1,960 surface acres. The offering consists of unparalleled water rights as 100% of all water rights convey along with all owned mineral rights. It’s estimated there are approximately 200 million tons of lignite coal that remain in the buffer acreage. Unlike most of the other listings on the list, there’s also an existing industrial complex with full utilities in place along with roads to navigate the property. If you've been searching for your own piece of The Lone Star State here's our inventory of land for sale in Texas.

Have you ever wished you could live in the "Wild West" and experience the American Frontier? Well, this is your chance. This 6919-acre property being sold by John Hendricks, founder of the broadcasting and film production company that owns the Discovery Channel, TLC, and Animal Planet, is nothing short of spectacular. The four parcels in the sale feature a bear and mountain lion habitat, scenic views of the La Sal Mountains in Utah, and the towering rock cliff walls of Unaweep Canyon. Not only does the 22,000 square foot residence include an elevator, but an astronomical observatory as well. In total, the residential structures are comprised of the main residence, a guest house, stables, and the Sky Mesa Cabin. Some of the land features are a trout stream, bison and equestrian pastures, and grass airstrip, hangar, and helipad. The listing agent is Kerry Endsley with Liv Sotheby’s International Realty. If you're interested in properties like this make sure to take a look at our Colorado ranches for sale.

It’s not easy for a waterfront property to stand out in the state of Florida, much less in the Palm Beaches. But this 15-acre family compound does just that. It’s not just one body of water that makes it waterfront, it’s 1,200 feet on the Atlantic and 1,300 feet on Lake Worth. As if that’s not enough, the property sits atop a dune with 360° views. Along with the 62,200 square foot main residence, the compound also includes 2 four-bedroom beachside cottages, the seven-bedroom Mango house, and a guest or staff house. If you’re wondering what there is to do for fun, the property not only has a tennis court, basketball court, and a spa but a PGA standard golf area as well. Listed by Cristina Condon and Todd Peter with Sotheby’s International Realty, owners and visitors can experience a piece of the Caribbean with the 1,500 tropical species botanical gardens they’ve nicknamed a “walk through the Caribbean.” Been shopping for beachfront property? We've got some great beachfront land for sale.

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own island? Well, this listing in Darien, CT is essentially that. The 63-acre colonial-style island compound comes with over 1 mile of Long Island Sound coastline. A nine-bedroom manor house, guest and staff houses, seaside cottage, beach houses, and a 19th-century farmhouse account for a total of more than 13,000 square feet of living space. Rocky bluffs and a white crescent beach make this property a unique and rare opportunity. The listing is presented by David Turner from Houlihan Lawrence. If you'd love to own your own island take a peek at our islands for sale.

Totaling 222,176 acres, Cross Mountain Ranch represents one of the largest and most diverse recreational properties you’re going to run across. The total acreage is broken down into 54,176 deeded acres and 168,000 leased acres on BLM, National Forests and state land. Listed by Ken Mirr with Mirr Ranch Group, the property is home to North America’s largest elk herd and 2 distinct ecosystems. The ranch’s agricultural operation capacity is 2,000 cows and 10,000 sheep. The land not only consists of a total of 20.5 miles of frontage on the Yampa, Little Snake, and Williams Fork rivers, but features lush meadows and numerous stocked reservoirs, lakes, ponds, and springs. As far as structures, Cross Mountain includes an 11,000 square foot main lodge in addition to staff housing, barns, shops, livestock facilities, and an L.L.Bean-designed hunting lodge. The ranch was a crossroads for major historical river expeditions by John Wesley Powell, Kit Carson, and John Frémont. If you're in the market, we've got a great selection of land for sale in Colorado.

Located just north of the city of Santa Barbara, this 1,800-acre ranch is a real piece of paradise on the Southern California coast. Talk about an oceanfront property, Las Veras has 2 miles of oceanfront with white sandy beaches and clear, blue water. In addition to the main Hacienda-style residence, the listing contains 6 other homes including a turn-of-the-century Victorian house. As far as the land goes, there are 160 acres of lemon and avocado orchards, 520 acres of immaculate gentle, rolling ranch land, and an 18-acre lake overlooking the entire property. The ranch is listed by Kerry Mormann with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and Anthony Punnett of Douglas Elliman Real Estate. For your own slice of the Golden State check out our land for sale in California.

The IX Ranch, located in central Montana, is comprised of 59,809 deeded acres and over 66,000 State grazing leased acres for a total of 126,000 acres. In the ranch’s 128-year history, there have only been 2 owners who have turned the property into an impressive ranching and agricultural operation, running a herd of around 4,300 cattle. This property is more than just a cattle ranch though. Mule deer, antelope, mountain lion, whitetail deer, and elk make this area rich in prime hunting opportunities. Listed by David Johnson with Hall and Hall, the IX is bordered by the Bear Paw Mountains to the north and Big Sandy Creek flows through it for over 15 miles, providing irrigation for the land. Owning your own piece of Montana doesn't have to be a dream. Head over to our land for sale in Montana.

All in, these 10 phenomenal properties total 508,875 acres for over $2.4 billion, or $4,725 an acre. Land in the United States is incredibly rich in unique landscapes, diverse ecosystems and wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, and a vibrant history just to name a few. If you're in the market to purchase land, check out our guide detailing how to buy land. There are plenty of other land listings throughout the country that could have easily made the list, these are just the listings we picked. What’s your pick for the most extraordinary land listing in America?