Land Specialist

Chris Malinowski

Agent Mossy Oak Properties Field, Farm and Homes

Learn more at MossyOakProperties.com

Where do you live?

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Where do you work?

My primary focus is northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. In fact, that’s where I do about 90 percent of my transactions.

What drew you to ranch and recreational real estate?

From the time I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of North Texas, I’ve loved being outside. All I’ve ever wanted to do is hunt, fish or explore outdoors.

As I looked around for a career, a friend of mine, who was in commercial real estate, was involved with a transaction on a recreational property. When I thought about ranch and recreational real estate it seemed like the perfect job for me—and it has been.

What are the three most important tools in a ranch real estate professional’s tool kit?

The ability to understand the land and assess its potential as well as its value. Communication skills including responsiveness. A knowledge of transactions from start to finish that allows you to bring a deal to a successful close efficiently.

If you could call anywhere on the planet home, where would it be? Why?

Northwest Arkansas, where I live now. It’s gorgeous. We have a full four seasons. And I can do everything that I wanted to do when I was a kid almost every day. In less than an hour, I can be hunting in the mountains, fishing a clear stream, hiking in a forest or standing on farm ground.

If you had to choose only one outdoor activity, what would it be?

It’s a split decision between bowhunting and turkey hunting. I’ve got to go with turkey hunting, though, because it’s just so fun, especially in the mountains.

Listener or talker?

I’m a natural talker, but I prioritize listening.

Would you rather be without the Internet for a week or your phone?

Internet. Fortunately or unfortunately, I need my phone all day every day.

If you could give a one sentence piece of advice about how to live life, what would that be?

“You never know the answer unless you ask.” It applies to a lot of things.

What is your most memorable deal to date?

About four years ago, I sold a 40-acre farm for a man who was then-93. He had worked as a logger back in the days when they cleared the country with two-man saws. In the mid-1950s, he bought the land from a timber company and cleared 75 percent of the trees himself, leaving only mature white oaks, transforming it into beautiful pastureland. A buddy of mine purchased the property and gave the owner a life estate to come hunt, fish and be on the farm any time he wanted. For years, the original owner went out to the property every Sunday after church and is still part of my friend’s family.

What is the best part of being a ranch and recreational real estate professional?

Getting to spend my workdays in God’s creation alongside like-minded people while seeing all the glory land has to offer in many different regions.