John Patten Leads Patten Properties into New Markets and Partnerships

After developing nearly 700 communities across 40 states, Patten Properties welcomes new CEO John Patten, marking both a generational transition and strategic shift for one of America’s most experienced land development firms.

Growing up in a three-generation family business taught John Patten lessons that couldn’t be learned in any business school. As he steps into the role of CEO at Patten Properties, taking the reins from his father, he brings with him not just an impressive track record of development success, but a deep appreciation for the company’s legacy of creating value through land.

“It’s been interesting. It’s been a lot of fun,” Patten reflects on his journey in the family business. “It’s enabled me to live in a lot of different places over the years, visit a lot of different small towns, taught me a lot of street smarts, things I couldn’t necessarily learn in business programs or in college.”

With roots spanning three generations, Patten Properties has established itself in land development, particularly in the acreage and recreational property sector. The company’s distinctive approach often involves examining over 100 potential properties before selecting one for development—a rigorous vetting process that has become fundamental to their success.

Their portfolio spans from expansive acreage properties to planned residential communities, each chosen to provide exceptional value in their respective markets. “We’re never the cheapest wherever we go, we’re never the most expensive wherever we go. We always try to be the best value in the marketplace,” Patten explains. “Price is what you pay at the end of the day, and value is what you get.”

The company specializes in identifying properties with unique advantages—whether proximity to natural amenities like state forests and lakes, or locations that balance accessibility with space and privacy. Their developments typically feature larger lots than competing properties, providing residents with more land at competitive price points.

Patten Properties combines technological innovation with industry expertise through their sophisticated sales and marketing operations. Their custom CRM system and comprehensive sales training program support an in-house marketing department that precisely targets each property’s unique audience.

The path hasn’t always been straightforward. “We had a lot of challenges in the 2008 through 2010 time frame, and it’s been a long time getting to where we sit right now,” Patten reflects. “But now we’re very financially sound, and the exciting part about moving forward is that we can choose to pick and develop communities that are to our liking. We don’t have to sit back and just pump out more and more inventory and developments to feed the machine.”

Patten offers insight into current market shifts, particularly regarding post-COVID trends. “Places like Florida, all of a sudden have the highest inventory levels compared to 2005 and 2006,” he notes. Meanwhile, traditionally overlooked regions, particularly in the Northeast, face severe inventory shortages across land, lots, and housing.

Recent projects highlight the company’s ability to identify distinctive opportunities. Their Texas Grand Ranch project, bordering a National Forest, showcases their early-mover advantage in the Texas market. At Pecan Plantation in Granbury, Texas, they’ve successfully entered the fly-in community market with concrete taxiways connecting private hangars to the airstrip.

The company now plans to expand its partnership division. “While we are really good historically at buying things, I think our real skill is in selling and marketing properties,” Patten explains.

For potential buyers, Patten emphasizes land’s unique investment qualities. “Land is something you can touch and you can enjoy it,” he says. “You can’t enjoy a share of stock or a bond, but a piece of land can bring you enjoyment memories. And the crazy thing about it is no two pieces of land are exactly the same.”

Under John Patten’s leadership, the company continues to build on its established expertise while pursuing new market opportunities and partnerships.