The CBC National Land Group: Ushering in a New Era of Land Expertise

Earlier this month, Coldwell Banker Commercial® (CBC) hosted its first National Land Group meeting, marking a significant step forward in strengthening land expertise across the network. We were honored to welcome Aubrie Kobernus, Chief Executive Officer of the REALTORS® Land Institute (RLI), as our guest speaker. Aubrie shared invaluable insights into the land real estate sector and highlighted the benefits of RLI membership for CBC professionals. 

Why RLI Matters 

RLI equips agents with the tools, education, and connections needed to thrive in the complex land market. Membership offers: 

• Education & Training: Access to LANDU courses, webinars, and industry publications. 
• Networking: A nationwide community of land professionals. 
• Marketing Tools: Property listing platforms and resources through the Member Advantage Program. 
• Prestigious Designation: The Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) credential—the only land-specific designation recognized by NAR.  
• ALCs average $24.9M in annual transaction volume, more than double that of non-ALC members. 
• Earning the designation requires six courses, an exam, and a qualifying portfolio. 

Land transactions are often complex, and RLI provides the confidence and expertise to navigate them successfully. Learn more at rliland.com or contact info@rliland.com / 800-441-LAND (5263). 

Market Insights from CBC 

Jane ThornLeeson, CBC’s Director of Broker Services, shared trends based on broker conversations and research requests across our network: 

• Residential Land: Strong demand as developers build single-family homes for sale and rent, along with medium-density duplexes and high-rise projects targeting the upper-middle class. 
• Industrial Land: Rising interest in markets where data centers and logistics firms are expanding. Developers seek parcels exceeding 1 million sq. ft., with major players like Amazon driving competitive bidding. 
• Owner-User Development: Medical groups and hotels are acquiring land to construct their own facilities. 
• Land Banking: Increasingly common among homebuilders, data center operators, retail developers, and private equity investors—acquiring hundreds of acres to hold for 2–5 years before development. 

Despite tariffs and limited availability of large parcels, demand remains strong. This momentum is expected to continue well into 2026. 

Coldwell Banker Commercial’s National Land Group is committed to empowering brokers with the knowledge and resources to succeed in this dynamic sector. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to lead the way in land expertise.