Ben Alder

Principal and Founder
Broker of Record - Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina

Since 1997, the focus of Ben’s career has been in the natural resources field. During his studies at The George Washington University, he completed bachelors degrees in Environmental Science and Biology and completed course work for his Master of Arts in Environmental Resource Policy. During his time at GW, Ben lived and worked on Vancouver Island as part of a work-study program focused on natural resource management in the Pacific Northwest. Following this experience, he worked on Capitol Hill on a range of issues related to wetland conservation for Ducks Unlimited. Ben’s tenure with DU expanded to the field when DU’s Chesapeake Bay Initiative was started in 1998. For seven years Ben delivered water quality and wildlife conservation programs on private land throughout the 5-state Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Ben’s experience working with land use, agricultural management and wildlife conservation has provided a unique platform for his land brokerage practice today. In 2011, he started building what is today The Land Group. Ben is The Land Group’s Broker of Record in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. To date, Ben’s brokerage experience over the last 18 years has involved him in more than 100,000 acres of transactional land brokerage.

Ben’s background in land conservation has given him experience restoring wildlife habitat and implementing conservation easements throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Today, Ben and his family live on a historic farm along tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay in Somerset County, Maryland.

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Listings

Featured Property

3203 Betheden Church Road, Pocomoke City, MD 21851

Listing ID: 08-000743

Price: $1500000

Status: active

Acres: 284.91

Set in the quiet crossroads community of Klej Grange, this 284.91-acre farm presents a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial, contiguous tract of land in southern Worcester County—just minutes from Pocomoke City and the Pocomoke River. The property features a blend of tillable ground, managed woodlands, and natural cover, offering a diverse platform for production agriculture, recreational use, or long-term conservation strategies. With road frontage along Klej Grange Road and expansive acreage under unified ownership, the farm is well-positioned for both operational scale and land-based investment. Land Composition - Productive cropland ready for row crop or hay rotation - Mixed pine and hardwood timber stands with wildlife habitat value - Rolling topography with natural drainage and soils common to the Lower Eastern Shore Residential Improvement The property includes a custom-built residence constructed in 1989 with Atlantic white cedar siding and a metal roof (installed 2014). This approximately 3,256 square foot home features 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms. Interior highlights include an open-concept first floor with an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, and a sunroom with a built-in spa. The house includes a high-ceiling basement, 10KW Wisconsin engine home generator,  attached garage, hot water baseboard heat, and central air conditioning.  Quality craftsmanship is evident throughout, with custom trim and detailed woodwork. This well-appointed home offers flexibility as a primary residence, guesthouse, or land manager’s quarters and complements the property's agricultural and recreational character. Agricultural Conservation Easement This property is subject to a Rural Legacy conservation easement held by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The easement permanently preserves the farm for agricultural use and restricts subdivision and certain development rights in order to protect the rural character and natural resources of the property. Under the terms of the easement: The land must be maintained primarily for agricultural, forestry, and open space uses. Forestland management, including selective timber harvesting, is permitted in accordance with a state-approved Forest Stewardship Plan.  The construction of additional residential dwellings is prohibited, with the exception of pre-approved agricultural structures or existing improvements.The property may not be further subdivided.   A full copy of the easement is available upon request. Buyers are encouraged to consult with legal counsel and/or the easement holder to understand all permitted and restricted uses prior to purchase. Historical Context Today, the property is permanently preserved as agricultural land under a Rural Legacy Easement held by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This easement ensures the land’s continued use for farming, forestry, and habitat protection while offering potential eligibility for tax benefits and conservation incentives. Klej Grange isn’t just a dot on the map—it was part of a bold agrarian experiment in the late 1800s. In 1878, Joseph William Drexel, a New York financier and philanthropist, purchased land here and renamed the area after his four daughters—Katherine, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Josephine (K‑L‑E‑J)—adding “Grange” in homage to the national farming movement. Drexel aimed to build a self-sufficient rural community where farmland could be sold “at cost” to working-class families. Though the utopian effort faded after his death, the grid he laid out and the agricultural character he seeded remains embedded in this landscape today. This farm lies within that original footprint—a rare link between 19th-century agricultural reform and 21st-century land stewardship. Use Potential - Row crop farm with regional access to local grain markets - Private estate or equestrian compound with space for pasture, riding trails, and seclusion - Timberland investment with recreational appeal for hunting, habitat, and income generation - Conservation opportunity eligible for state and federal programs (buyer to verify eligibility) - Forestland management and timber harvesting are permitted under the Rural Legacy Easement, subject to a Forest Stewardship Plan approved by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Forest Service. These practices must follow sustainable forestry standards and require prior written approval. - The physical presence of this infrastructure is governed by two recorded documents: the Cell Tower Lease (Worcester County Land Records, SRB 6886, pp. 196–207) and the Cell Tower Agreement (SVH 3244, pp. 99–101). These records confirm ongoing easement rights and associated encumbrances. Location Highlights - ~3 miles northwest of Stockton, MD - 15 minutes to Pocomoke City and Snow Hill - ~30–40 minutes to Ocean City, Assateague, and Chincoteague - Surrounded by working farms, state wildlife lands, and rich Eastern Shore heritage  
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Featured Property

Route 13, Bridgeville, DE 19933

Listing ID: 131-10.00-89.03, 131-10.00-89.02

Price: $2000000

Status: active

Acres: 6

Two Parcels yielding approximately 6 Acres zoned Heavy Commercial.  Current land use is hay ground. Land is North of city limit of Bridgeville.  Land is framed by Route 13 on the East and Fawn Road to the North.  Natural gas line boarders the property along Fawn Road. Potential uses per the Sussex County code are as follows.  The C‑3 Heavy Commercial District in Sussex County is designed to support larger-scale, auto‑oriented retail and service businesses located along major arterial roads that serve both local/regional residents and through traffic. Large retail stores and service businesses Automobile, truck, RV, boat sales and rentals Major vehicle maintenance and repair facilities Restaurants, offices, gas/service stations, and similar commercial uses Accessory and Conditional Uses Certain accessory uses and conditional uses may be permitted, subject to site plan review or special exceptions as outlined in county code. Site Development Standards Larger minimum lot sizes appropriate for heavy commercial use Design requirements for setbacks, buffering, parking, and loading zones Sign restrictions and screening rules tailored to high-traffic commercial areas
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Featured Property

Temple Rd, Marydel, MD 21649

Listing ID: 01-006835, 01-017497, 01-017500, 01-004727, 01-000969

Price: $529000

Status: active

Acres: 53.01

This ±53-acre timber property offers a blend of residential potential and quality recreational opportunity. The land features a mix of hardwood and pine stands in various age classes, with a healthy understory, topography changes, and seasonal wetland bottoms—ideal conditions for managing whitetail deer and turkey habitat. The property consists of five separate parcels, four of which have recorded SRA's(2 sand mound, 2 in ground). Access is provided by a 30-foot-wide gravel road, with a network of additional ATV and foot trails throughout the tract. There are three box blinds and six ladder stands, which may be included in the sale through negotiation. Due to the prior subdivision of lots, a portion of the property is in Forest Conservation with Caroline County. Buyers are advised to perform their own due diligence regarding soil percolation testing and boundary verification.
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Featured Property

0 Baxter Rd, Sudlersville, MD 21668

Listing ID: 01-011871

Price: $525000

Status: active

Acres: 52

52+/- acre farm located on the corners of Baxter Rd and Bolton Woods Rd in Sudlersville, MD. The property consists of 34+/- acres of tillable ground and 18+/- acres of timber. Soils are primarily ingleside sandy loam.
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Featured Property

9431 Whaleyville Road, Whaleyville, MD 21872

Listing ID: 000

Price: $275000

Status: active

Acres: 16.1

This 16.1± acre parcel is located on the northwest side of Whaleyville Road. Conveniently located close to Ocean City, Salisbury, and the Delaware line.Three Approved Sewage Reserve Areas (SRAs) from 2007 offer flexibility in site planning. Great property to build your home in a private setting away from the main road with additional room for livestock, horses, and recreation around you. The property has recently undergone significant site improvements including stump removal, back filling stump holes, as well as a permitted culvert installed for convenient access off of Whaleyville Road. A subdivision plat and wetland delineation were completed in 2023 and recorded in 2024 and can be found in documents. Talkie Internet service and electric utility tap are available at the road frontage. All engineering documents will be provided by the Seller. The property is zoned A-1 (Agricultural), offering flexibility for various uses. Buyer to perform their own due diligence.
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Featured Property

2735 Lloyd Webb Rd, Crisfield, MD 21817

Listing ID: 12-009240

Price: $1499000

Status: active

Acres: 1119.42

Presenting, Lawson Marsh, Crisfield, Maryland – 1119.42+- acres. The habitat value of Lawson Marsh is significant both today as it was in the mid-1900s when the Ward Brothers were perfecting their decoy carving craft along Jenkins Creek and Lawson Marsh. This property includes a 7.43+- acre parcel on Lloyd Webb Rd featuring a 1,250 sq ft lodge. On the opposite side of the property along the shoreline, the various recreational activities are enhanced through the use of the cabin with pier to access the vast amount of acreage and to extend your stay on the marsh and water, as well as the offshore blind.     
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