[wlphoenix]

Owning land that has gone through 3 or 4 generations in the same family, while technically an "investment asset", usually isn't treated the same way from a planning perspective as, say, apartments you purchase with the intention to liquidate upon retirement. There may be a lot fewer ways to generate revenue from it, so in all reality you may barely be breaking even on upkeep. You're then forced to decide between giving your children an excellent education which will set the up well in life vs keeping the land which you have a strong emotional attachment to and wish to share with future generations.