Saunders Real Estate
Saunders Real Estate is a privately held, founder-owned land and commercial real estate brokerage founded in 1996, operating across the Southeastern United States through four divisions — Land, Commercial, Auctions, and Valuations — serving landowners, investors, and commercial developers with over 100 advisors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLakeland, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Saunders Real Estate does
Saunders Real Estate is a privately held, founder-owned land and commercial real estate brokerage founded in 1996 by Dean Saunders and headquartered in Lakeland, Florida. The firm operates through four wholly-owned divisions — Saunders Land, Saunders Commercial, Saunders Auctions, and Saunders Valuations — and serves landowners, investors, and commercial developers across the Southeastern United States. With offices in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, and the Carolinas, the firm employs 100–125 advisors and is recognized by The Land Report as one of "America's Best Brokerages." Its land practice spans ranch and recreation, farms, timberland, conservation easements, hunting lease management, and development land, while its commercial practice covers retail, industrial, office, and investment properties plus leasing and property management.
Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based brokerage commissions on land and commercial deals, supplemented by recurring managed-services revenue from land management and commercial property management, and transaction fees from the Saunders Auctions division. The firm also monetizes its market position through the Lay of the Land Conference (700+ attendees), the Lay of the Land Market Report publication, and the In Our Expert Opinion podcast, which collectively function as content marketing, brand-building, and pipeline-generation assets.
The firm's principal technology asset is Atlas by Saunders Real Estate, a proprietary mapping and market-intelligence platform launched in September 2025. Atlas aggregates verified Southeast transaction data, historical land sales records, zoning and land-use overlays, and ownership insights into a collaborative platform used by advisors and clients. The platform powers the firm's annual Market Report and underpins its data-centric value proposition to institutional and high-net-worth land investors. Pricing is transaction-based and individually negotiated; commission rates are not publicly disclosed.
Saunders Real Estate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saunders Real Estate
- Legal name
- Saunders Real Estate, LLC
- Website
- https://saundersrealestate.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Saunders Real Estate is a privately held, founder-owned land and commercial real estate brokerage founded in 1996, operating across the Southeastern United States through four divisions — Land, Commercial, Auctions, and Valuations — serving landowners, investors, and commercial developers with over 100 advisors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saunders Real Estate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial and Land Real Estate Brokerage Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Real Estate Property Managers (53131)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales) (FSAEAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rural Residential & Acreage Homesites Brokerage (BPAJADAE), Real Estate Auction Services (FSAEAJAL), Tenant Representation & Corporate Services Brokerage (BPAJABAJ), Real Estate Advisory & Consulting (Strategy, Portfolio & Location) (FSAEAJAH)
Keywords
Where Saunders Real Estate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakeland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Saunders Real Estate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Land Brokerage Commissions: Traditional real estate brokerage commissions on land transactions, including ranch and recreation, farms, timberland, and conservation properties.
- Commercial Brokerage Commissions: Commercial real estate brokerage services including retail, commercial, industrial, and investment properties, as well as leasing and land development.
- Property Management Services: Property management services for commercial properties and land management services for landowners.
- Land Auction Services: Auction services for land properties through Saunders Auctions division.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Saunders Real Estate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saunders Real Estate is a full-service land and commercial real estate brokerage serving buyers, sellers, investors, and landowners across the Southeastern United States. The firm delivers brokerage, land management, property management, auction, valuation, and market research services through four divisions: Saunders Land, Saunders Commercial, Saunders Auctions, and Saunders Valuations. It supports clients with a proprietary Atlas mapping and market intelligence platform plus the annual Lay of the Land Conference and Market Report.
Product overview
Saunders Real Estate is a leading land and commercial real estate brokerage operating through multiple divisions: Saunders Land (land brokerage focusing on timberland, farms, recreational, and conservation properties), Saunders Commercial (commercial brokerage for retail, industrial, and investment properties), Saunders Auctions (auction services), and Saunders Valuations. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of services including land brokerage, commercial brokerage, land management, property management, market research, conservation easements, forestry, and hunting lease management. The company has developed proprietary technology (Atlas Platform) for market intelligence and publishes the Lay of the Land Market Report. The company hosts the annual Lay of the Land Conference for landowners and investors, with a national summit format beginning in 2027.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lay of the Land Conference: Annual premier conference for landowners, investors, and industry professionals providing comprehensive review of land market trends, data, and opportunities.
- Atlas
Products and services
- Land Brokerage Core brokerage service for land transactions including large-acreage sales of timberland, farms, recreational, conservation, and development land for buyers and sellers across the Southeast.
- Commercial Brokerage Commercial real estate sales and leasing services including buyer, seller, tenant, and landlord representation for commercial, industrial, retail, office, and investment properties.
- Land Management Agricultural land management services including Best Management Practices, water policy compliance, operational efficiency improvements, and long-term land use strategy.
- Property Management Commercial property management services helping investors maximize returns through long-term profitability and professional oversight of commercial properties.
- Land Auctions Auction-based land sales providing an alternative transaction method for landowners selling properties through competitive bidding via the Saunders Auctions division.
- Market Research Lay of the Land Market Reports providing verified land transaction data and market analysis across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, powered by the Atlas platform.
- Conservation Easements Conservation easement services helping landowners protect natural lands while potentially receiving tax benefits and retaining property ownership.
- Forestry Forestry management and consulting services for timberland properties including timber sales coordination and forest management planning.
- Hunting Lease Management Hunting lease management services helping landowners generate revenue from recreational use of their properties, including lease coordination and ongoing management.
- Atlas Platform Proprietary mapping and market intelligence software platform that collects, analyzes, and visualizes transaction data and Southeast market trends, combining transaction data with mapping technology, land use/zoning data, and ownership insights in a customizable, collaborative platform for advisors and clients.
- Lay of the Land Conference Annual premier conference bringing together over 700 landowners, investors, and industry professionals, featuring expert panels, verified sales data presentations, policy discussions, and networking across regional and (from 2027) national summit formats.
- Lay of the Land Market Report Definitive benchmark publication for land trends offering verified sales data and market analysis covering timberland, farms, cropland, ranches, pastureland, residential development, transitional land, and conservation transactions across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
- In Our Expert Opinion Podcast Industry podcast by SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler featuring rotating hosts from the firm discussing land and commercial real estate topics including tenant representation, agent resources, market analysis, and industry trends, available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- Verified transaction data across 48 Georgia counties totaling $229.1 million in farmland volume (2025)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Saunders Real Estate
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Saunders Real Estate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Saunders Real Estate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered strategic.
- First South Farm CreditstrategicAgricultural lender and strategic partner supporting the Lay of the Land Conference; participates in lender discussions on debt and capital tied to agricultural properties.
- Carden InsurancestrategicInsurance partner and sponsor of the Lay of the Land Conference.
- The Land ReportstrategicMedia partner and sponsor of the Lay of the Land Conference; recognized industry publication in land real estate.
- Merlin1031strategic1031 exchange specialist and sponsor of the Lay of the Land Conference.
- Dean MeadstrategicLaw firm providing expert panel discussions on policy and tax updates impacting Florida landowners at the Lay of the Land Conference.
- Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A.strategicCPA firm providing expert panel on policy and tax updates at the Lay of the Land Conference.
- Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.strategicLaw firm providing expertise on Florida water regulations, BMPs, and agricultural land management at the Lay of the Land Conference.
- Kimley-HornstrategicEngineering and consulting firm and strategic partner of the Lay of the Land Conference.
- Florida Power & Light (FPL)strategicUtility company and strategic partner discussing utility-scale solar development and energy transmission at the Lay of the Land Conference.
- NRP ForestersstrategicForestry and land management partner and strategic partner of the Lay of the Land Conference.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Saunders Real Estate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SVN International: Global commercial real estate franchise network under which Saunders operates as SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler; directly comparable as a peer brokerage in shared brand and CRE service offerings.
- Peoples Company: Integrated land services firm providing land brokerage, land management, appraisal, and investment services across the U.S. — closely comparable business model to Saunders Land's full-service platform.
- National Land Realty: National land and real estate brokerage specializing in recreational, timber, agricultural, and large-acreage tracts — directly comparable land brokerage competitor with similar geographic reach ambitions.
- Murray Wise Associates: National land and agricultural real estate auction and brokerage firm; directly comparable to Saunders Land and Saunders Auctions in farmland, ranch, and auction services.
Broad incumbents
- CBRE: World's largest commercial real estate services firm; competes with Saunders Commercial across capital markets, leasing, and investment sales in the Southeast.
- Cushman & Wakefield: Global commercial real estate services firm offering brokerage, valuation, and property management — competing directly with Saunders Commercial on retail, industrial, and investment property assignments.
- Colliers: Global commercial real estate services and investment firm; competes with Saunders Commercial across leasing, capital markets, and project management.
- JLL: Global real estate services and investment management firm competing with Saunders Commercial on brokerage, leasing, and property management mandates.
Emerging players
- AcreTrader: Online farmland investing platform enabling direct fractional land ownership — emerging alternative to traditional land brokerage, particularly for farmland and timberland investor clients.
- LandWatch: Leading online land marketplace connecting land buyers and sellers; adjacent platform competitor that may disintermediate portions of traditional land brokerage for smaller transactions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Saunders Real Estate social profiles
Digital presenceSaunders Real Estate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saunders Real Estate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Saunders Real Estate subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Saunders Real Estate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saunders Real Estate M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saunders Real Estate
What does Saunders Real Estate do?
Saunders Real Estate is a full-service land and commercial real estate brokerage serving buyers, sellers, investors, and landowners across the Southeastern United States. The firm delivers brokerage, land management, property management, auction, valuation, and market research services through four divisions: Saunders Land, Saunders Commercial, Saunders Auctions, and Saunders Valuations. It supports clients with a proprietary Atlas mapping and market intelligence platform plus the annual Lay of the Land Conference and Market Report.
Is Saunders Real Estate a public or private company?
Saunders Real Estate is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Saunders Real Estate founded?
Saunders Real Estate was founded in 1996. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Saunders Real Estate based?
Saunders Real Estate is headquartered in Lakeland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Saunders Real Estate make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Land Brokerage Commissions are the primary driver. The others are commercial Brokerage Commissions, property Management Services and land Auction Services.
Who are Saunders Real Estate's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SVN International, Peoples Company, National Land Realty and Murray Wise Associates. Broad incumbents are CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers and JLL. Emerging players are AcreTrader and LandWatch.
Does Saunders Real Estate have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saunders Real Estate.
What industry is Saunders Real Estate in?
Saunders Real Estate's product category is Commercial and Land Real Estate Brokerage Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAJAB, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage (Leasing & Sales), with a secondary code of BPAJADAE, Rural Residential & Acreage Homesites Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 53121 and its SIC code is 6531.