I own my land now, b/c I have had it happen to me as well. I didn't bitch, just envied the guy that had the cash to buy 15,000 acres.
I went in with three others and bought 470 acres. It's a HUGE sacrifice financially for me, but something worth paying for.
was he given the chance?
It would have never come to that with me, I would have tried to lock the property up years ago if is was worth it.