Does selling X-mas trees make it commercial?

[Ross (CO)]

Mark, .......As you mentioned, this is one of many similar properties in the state. I know NH very well as I lived there from '86 though '97 (in Tilton, exit 20 off I-93) ) and about 80%+ of the state IS forested. It is very common for ol' Yankee farmers to reap some sort of seasonal bounty from their land, and in this case it was Christmas trees, which has that unique one-month selling season from day after Thanksgiving till Dec. 24th. Other folks cut hay from fields in summer, or sell their fruit from the orchard lands or vegetables from the large gardens along the roadside. Good old free enterprise economics at work. The fact that money exchanges hands does not thrust that property, in my opinion, into a commercial stratosphere. I see no reason for you to feel that a CG can explain any better what the situation is for that property. Use comps with high acreage, forested in like kind perhaps, and explain that another assessment of the full and long-term harvest value of the trees might be considered and done by someone experienced in forest evaluations. Selling prices of similar properties (with harvestable trees) will reflect their long-term economic value and guide you in your conclusion.

 

[Jim McGrath]

Mark, .......As you mentioned, this is one of many similar properties in the state. I know NH very well as I lived there from '86 though '97 (in Tilton, exit 20 off I-93) ) and about 80%+ of the state IS forested. It is very common for ol' Yankee farmers to reap some sort of seasonal bounty from their land, and in this case it was Christmas trees, which has that unique one-month selling season from day after Thanksgiving till Dec. 24th. Other folks cut hay from fields in summer, or sell their fruit from the orchard lands or vegetables from the large gardens along the roadside. Good old free enterprise economics at work. The fact that money exchanges hands does not thrust that property, in my opinion, into a commercial stratosphere. I see no reason for you to feel that a CG can explain any better what the situation is for that property. Use comps with high acreage, forested in like kind perhaps, and explain that another assessment of the full and long-term harvest value of the trees might be considered and done by someone experienced in forest evaluations. Selling prices of similar properties (with harvestable trees) will reflect their long-term economic value and guide you in your conclusion.

It's like down here in Florida, every other senior citizen, has a garage sale every weekend. They buy it at someone elses garage sale and sell it at their own. Does that make it commercial property?

Jim