The Best Long Term Investment You Can Make (In Gilbert)

by Cole Repp

The Best Long Term Investment You Can Make (In Gilbert)

The Best Real Estate Investment in Gilbert, Arizona Right Now: Why One-Acre City Lots Are the Hidden Goldmine

When people talk about “the best real estate investments,” the conversation usually jumps straight to interest rates, rental yields, cash flow, or market timing. But in reality, some of the smartest investments you can make especially in fast growing markets like Gilbert, Arizona have nothing to do with trendy metrics or complicated formulas.

Sometimes, the best investment is simple: buy the one thing they’re not making any more of land.
More specifically? A one acre lot inside the City of Gilbert.

In this detailed breakdown, we’re diving into why one-acre city lots in Gilbert are an incredibly rare and massively undervalued investment opportunity. We’ll look at market supply, long term appreciation, city vs. county differences, and real examples that reveal how these properties quietly outperform typical homes over time.

If you're relocating from high-cost states, investing long term, or simply aiming for maximum appreciation without taking unnecessary risks, this guide is essential reading.

Why Acreage in Gilbert Is Becoming the Ultimate Investment

Let’s start with a foundational rule in real estate:

If you live in a home long enough, it almost always becomes a great investment.

Whether you stay six years or eight, appreciation has historically rewarded long-term ownership. But when we narrow the conversation to elite long term investments properties that don’t just appreciate, but dramatically outperform the rest of the market one category stands out:

One acre lots in the City of Gilbert.

Here’s why.

Land Is Shrinking and Gilbert Is Running Out of Room

Growth in Gilbert isn't slowing down. Population increases are a certainty. And with more people comes an inevitable issue: space.

Just look around:

New neighborhoods are being built on tiny lots.
Zero-lot-line homes are becoming standard.
Vertical building is becoming more common.
Every year, lot sizes get smaller.

Developers can create smaller, taller, denser homes but they cannot create more one-acre lots in premier city neighborhoods.

When you search the MLS:

Homes for sale in Gilbert: ~690
Homes with 1+ acre in Gilbert: just 28

That’s not a trend. That’s scarcity. And scarce assets win over the long run.

City Land vs. County Land: A Massive Difference in Long-Term Value

Here’s where most people get confused. They find a one-acre property in Gilbert and assume it's automatically a premium asset.

Not true.

There’s a world of difference between:

City acre

and

County acre (county island)

And if you’re buying for investment, appreciation, and future resale you want city. Every time.

Why County Acreage Can Be a Risky Bet

County island properties are basically the “Wild West” of zoning.

Owners can:

Park RVs
Store old vehicles
Keep horses
Place trailers
Build unusual structures
Store piles of junk
Run it like a rural property

And sure, if you love that lifestyle, it’s great. But if you’re buying a million to multi-million dollar home, the last thing you want is to share a property line with someone storing broken equipment and fifth-wheel trailers.

Your neighbor’s choices can hurt your home’s value and you have zero control.

Real example from the video:

A beautiful seven-figure home sits next to:

Junk vehicles
A mobile home
Large trailers
Random equipment
And a very inconsistent street aesthetic

This uncertainty is financially dangerous when you're buying luxury.

Why City Acreage Is a Fortress of Value

In the city:

Zoning is strict
Everything is regulated
No unpredictable neighbors
Neighborhood aesthetics are protected
No sudden RV lots or makeshift barns appearing
No “anything goes” lifestyle next door

City acreage means stability. Stability means higher long-term value.

Real Examples: The Neighborhood Difference

Example A: County Acre on a Main Road

Unpredictable neighbors
Trailers and RVs nearby
Inconsistent upkeep
Greater risk
Lower long-term appreciation
Harder resale

Example B: City Acre in Val Vista Place or Greenfield Acres

Clean, manicured neighborhoods
Mature trees
Well-maintained custom homes
HOA or city oversight
High-end buyers prefer it
Appreciation is significantly higher

Walking these neighborhoods, you instantly feel the difference. You go from “rural unpredictability” to:

custom homes
treelined streets
meticulously maintained yards
stable, wealthy neighborhoods

This stability is what drives value.

Why City Acreage Appreciates Faster: Real Numbers

Let’s compare two appreciation trajectories:

A home in a standard Gilbert HOA neighborhood

Bought in 2004 for: $354,000
Now worth: $974,000
Appreciation: good, but not life-changing

Now compare it with:

A custom home on one acre in Circle G Ranch

Bought in 2020 for: $1.8 million
Now listed around: $3.2 million
Appreciation: massive in a short time

And historically?

Circle G and similar neighborhoods show repeated patterns of:

strong demand
limited inventory
stable environments
luxury-level buyers
long-term value protection

One-acre city lots consistently track toward multi-million-dollar valuations. Even simple older ranch homes on acreage eventually become teardown opportunities for luxury new builds.