FarmlandFinder online platform allows US farmers to sell their land, rent it back, get needed cash—and continue to farm the land, with the option to repurchase.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com
EasyKnock re-releases the FarmlandFinder online platform to help US farmers gain equity from sale-leasebacks.
EasyKnock acquired certain assets of FarmlandFinder Inc. in August of 2021—including the new online sale-leaseback program that can provide farmers with the opportunity to convert their land’s equity while maintaining operations. This will allow farmers to strengthen balance sheets, fund operations, eliminate debt, and buy more land.
“As a fifth-generation dairy farmer, I have seen firsthand the difficult situations created when farmers are unable to access their land’s equity. We are proud to launch this program that I know will be a welcome solution for many US farmers," said Steven Brockshus, founder of FarmlandFinder and current Vice President of EasyKnock.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 79 percent of a farmer's net worth is tied up in their land. The USDA expects US farm income to fall by 7.9 percent this year from 2021 levels. Farms are also expected to face the highest production costs in history with an estimated 5.1 percent increase in 2022, according to the USDA’s February Farm Income Forecast.
The FarmlandFinder product allows farmers to access the equity in their land by purchasing the land and renting it back to the farmer, allowing the farmer to enjoy uninterrupted operations.
According to EasyKnock, farmers have the option to repurchase their land at any time during the term of their lease, or to direct FarmlandFinder to sell it to a third-party.
“We are committed to serving U.S. farmers, the foundation upon which our whole country grows. Our goal is to help American farmers achieve financial freedom with our new program. We're on an important mission to help them access the resources they need in both good times and bad,” said Jarred Kessler, EasyKnock co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.
EasyKnock is the first technology-enabled residential sale-leaseback company in the US. It provides American homeowners with solutions to convert the equity in their home to cash by selling their property to EasyKnock while being able to stay in the home as a renter. Headquartered in New York City, EasyKnock currently provides its innovative financial products to homeowners across the US.
Originally launched in 2016, the Des Moines, Iowa-based FarmlandFinder program is the first online farmland sale-leaseback platform, providing liquidity to the agricultural real estate market.
To learn more about Easy Knock, see https://www.easyknock.com/. For more on FarmlandFinder, visit https://www.farmlandfinder.com/.