That's the problem BOW, is the "going rate" keeps going up and up. That part of the country is mostly ag./farm country. The price is already higher than what any farmer can pay and still make a living on. Hunting is the driving force of the prices back there right now. It's crazy. In the last 3 years I bought two pieces of ground, they are attached, and the average price I paid was $650. Luckfully for me, my brother farms it for me and I have some descent income from it. BUT this piece my buddy just bought, he paid $800/acre. It's great hunting ground, with CRP, over grown pasture and heavily wooded creek. The CRP is the only income the land has. It's crazy!
IMO, buying land is a great investment, probably even at the $800/acre price. BUT as farmers get bought/sell out more and more, I wonder what's to come in the future?