We do not buy every Permian Basin tract. The land in Ector County and neighboring counties moves on different rules than East Texas timberland. Mineral rights matter more. Surface lease income matters more. Oilfield worker housing demand can spike rents and land prices fast. This is how we evaluate Permian Basin land.
In West Texas the mineral estate is often separate from the surface. That means you can buy the surface, graze it, or lease it for worker housing, while someone else owns the oil and gas below. We always separate those two values before we underwrite a deal. The surface-only parcel can still make money. It can also create conflict if the mineral owner wants to drill without your permission.
When rig activity is strong, oilfield service companies need space for equipment, crews, and portable camps. A ten to twenty-acre tract near well pads or access roads can generate surface lease income. We have seen monthly rates that make a raw land purchase look like income-producing property almost overnight. We also run the downside. When rig counts drop, lease rates drop with them.
Townhomes, manufactured home pads, and RV hookups in Ector and Midland counties have staying power when the workforce is large enough. We look for land that already has utilities or is close to utility corridors. Land without water or electric access in the Permian has less value than people assume.
Permian Basin development supports local schools, emergency services, and small businesses. We see our land deals there as part of that ecosystem rather than separate from it. When we sell to a builder or a camp operator, we want the buyer to understand the regulations and the neighbors.
For quick underwriting on raw land deals, see shotgunwholesaling.com. For Texas land deal flow, see texaslandkings.com.