A t M4 Ranch Group, clients receive personalized and dedicated expertise that extends beyond the property closing.
No matter what type of ranch you are looking for, our team can help find the property best suited for you.
Our team brings knowledge, perspective, and creative solutions to critical aspects of land ownership needed to maximize investment in ranch property, including water rights, conservation easements, landowner preference, and habitat restoration.
Accredited Land Consultants (ALCs) are land professionals who are the most accomplished, most experienced, highest-performing land experts. Becoming an ALC requires successful completion of a rigorous education program, a proven track record of transaction performance, and a commitment to professional growth.
The ALC requires a total of 104 course hours through the REALTORS® Land Institute’s LAND University (LANDU) program. All ALC designation applicants must successfully complete a comprehensive online exam that covers the core components of the Land University curriculum. Applicants must then submit a portfolio that substantiates specific levels of volume achieved in land sales, and include two letters of recommendation from fellow ALCs. The application is peer-reviewed by a member accreditation committee and the REALTORS® Land Institute Board of Directors.
When a land professional becomes an ALC, that individual gains access to a unique group of real estate specialists across the country who work together to build and share knowledge, develop trusted relationships, and expand business opportunities.
Working with a broker who holds the ALC designation gives clients confidence in their broker as the most qualified expert to help them with their land transaction.
CO-OWNER OF M4 RANCH GROUP
ALC - BROKER | LICENSED IN CO, NM & WY (970) 209-1514 | DAN@M4RANCHGROUP.COM
Dan Murphy, ALC (Accredited Land Consultant), Broker, Partner has called the mountain west home his entire adult life. Dan’s extensive and diverse business experience reveals a track record of success. His service on numerous organizational boards throughout the mountain region demonstrates a commitment to improving communities through an applied, big-picture perspective. He has served on the Colorado DOW’s Big Game Allocation Program (BGLAP), the Colorado Wildlife Federation Board of Directors, the Colorado Outfitters Association, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Advisory Board, and is a founder of Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation.
Dan has dedicated much time and effort building relationships within Realtor Land Institute, serving as Colorado President in 2021- 2022 (National Chapter of the Year), and currently sitting as National RLI Vice President in 2022-2023 to over 2,100 of the top land agents across the country. Dan will go on to then serve as National RLI President.
Dan shows enthusiasm and advocacy for life through experiencing the wonders of the great outdoors and consistently pursuing professional and recreational life experiences. His quest for adventure and commitment to integrity is apparent to those who know him. He has a lifetime of business experience starting with owning restaurants and a bakery at 16, then as time passed, a guest resort, as well as owning and operating a respected outfitting business in Colorado, Montana, Alaska, and Texas for over twenty years. Dan’s depth of experience and defined passions run far and wide. All of these life passions, dogged work ethic, and professional experiences have led to the vision, and development of his team’s current ownership of a Nationally Recognized real estate firm, M4 Ranch Group, specializing in ranches, hunting, and recreation properties.
CO-OWNER OF M4 RANCH GROUP
BROKER ASSOCIATE | LICENSED IN CO (970) 275-4838 | MICHELLE@M4RANCHGROUP.COM
M ichelle Murphy, Partner, is a lifetime resident of the mountain west. With a master’s degree in business and marketing, she brings a practical and dogged tenacity to the M4 Brand. Michelle has built her life through hard work and determination. A true hard-working Murphy, Michelle owned and operated a successful Guest Resort in Lake City for 18 years, and a hunting/fishing outfitting business taking clients into the backcountry of Colorado, Montana, Texas and Alaska for 20 years. She and Dan started Team Murphy Realty in 2004, then M4 Ranch Group in 2017.
Michelle brings a unique and outstanding talent to business - the accountant with an artistic touch. M4 Ranch Group’s incredible success is in part due to the incredible attention Michelle gives contracts, and the dynamic graphics and design seen in all aspects of the print and digital world that she generates. Michelle is passionate about her two incredible kids, rodeoing with her daughter or rafting with her son. She has served her community as an EMT for the 34 years and has been an instructor for NOLS for 25 years. Michelle’s passions and enthusiasm runs deep for whatever she is involved in.
SETH CRAFT
CO-OWNER OF M4 RANCH GROUP
ALC - BROKER ASSOCIATE | LICENSED IN CO, NM & WY (970) 787-0864 | SETH@M4RANCHGROUP.COM
S eth Craft, ALC (Accredited Land Consultant) grew up chasing elk and deer in the Cascades of Oregon. A hugely accomplished big game hunter, Seth has a passion for sheep, mule deer, and elk. A Colorado guide for Mossback Outfitters, he knows big deer and spends a lot of the fall searching for Monster Mule Deer.
In early 2000 he joined the Marine Corps at an early age of 17 and finished out the remainder of his time in a Close Quarter Battle team. Seth worked as a Lineman for thirteen years, part of that time was spent doing storm work along the west coast. He is no stranger to hard work and has shown that he is most comfortable outdoors. Chasing his passions, he found a great fit learning the ranch and real estate profession. Seth has become one of the top producers of premier properties in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Seth has been recognized multiple times by the REALTORS Land Institute (RLI), the leading association for the land industry. Seth’s recognitions include being among the top 5% in production for land REALTORS across the entire country with an average of 50 premier ranch sales a year for the last 4 years. Seth offers dedication and commitment to all that he is involved in. Married for 19 years, his wife and two children are his greatest gift. Living in Montrose, Colorado, he gets to share his passion for the outdoors and love for hunting with his family.
With years of ranch and hunting experience, Seth has been successful in building perfect ranches for his clientele and has the tenacity to push on and deliver every time. Seth knows the honey holes from Colorado to New Mexico to Wyoming and can undoubtedly assemble your dream ranch.
Butch Porter is an associate broker with M4 Ranch Group. Born and raised on a working cattle ranch in New Mexico he learned early the value and appreciation of the land around him, horsemanship and the operations necessary to make a cattle ranch successful. As a teen his passion for hunting and the outdoors began and initiated the the next 20 years in developing the experience to become a professional hunter.
Hunting all over the southwest has given him the opportunity to harvest many trophy big game animals in the best Elk and deer country God put on this earth. His vast hunting experience led Butch to become an Outfitter in New Mexico and Colorado which allowed him to work with other sportsman that share a passion for hunting big game in the southwest.
Combining his experience with ranch life, hunting and a true passion for the outdoors, He then put this his knowledge and experience to work in applying himself to Ranch Management, successfully building and managing some of the best big game hunting ranches in New Mexico. Butch’s life is immersed in the outdoors and as a Father and husband he has been able to share this passion and experience with his family thereby continuing the legacy with his belief that “We are to be good stewards of the land”. Through this leadership he has infused within his family the importance and value of life in the outdoors in addition to the necessity of hard work and perseverance.
Butch works to apply his experience, knowledge, passion and work ethic into every aspect of his life and career. As an associate ranch broker he truly enjoys the unique experience of building relationships and interacting with the people he works with and sharing with them the experience of being part of some of the most incredible country throughout the mountain west.
Butch has successfully applied his unique lifetime experience in ranching, outfitting and ranch management to his career as a dedicated ranch broker excelling in the representation of superb ranch properties. Through his dedication he has earned the respect and friendships of many clients and peers as well as being an award winning ranch broker. He continues to excel and strives to be one of the best in the industry.
Born and raised in the rugged landscapes of the Mountain West, Payton developed a passion for the outdoors at an early age. Growing up, he spent countless hours hunting various big game animals, which gave him the necessary skills to understand wildlife in their natural habitats. This deep connection to the land instilled in him a profound respect for nature and the traditions of hunting.
From a young age, Payton was immersed in ranch life, taking on various roles that shaped his work ethic and practical skills. Whether it was tending to livestock, maintaining equipment, or managing the daily operations of a ranch, these experiences taught him the value of hard work and resilience. He also gained hands-on experience in land management and excavation work, further enhancing his skill set and understanding of property management and development.
Payton’s journey continued when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17, serving four years as an infantryman in a CAAT platoon and as a shooting instructor. This chapter of his life challenged him both physically and mentally, further developing his leadership abilities and commitment to teamwork.
With Payton’s comprehensive background in ranch work, land management, and excavation, along with a strong understanding of the land, he is an expert in his field, making him the ideal candidate for working with a ranch broker. Payton’s unique blend of practical experience, industry knowledge, and deep appreciation for the rural lifestyle equips him to navigate the complexities of ranch transactions effectively. He possesses the insights and skills necessary to identify opportunities and maximize value for clients, ensuring a smooth and successful process.
Through his experiences, he has cultivated a strong work ethic, a deep appreciation for the outdoors, and an enduring sense of duty. He is committed to leveraging his expertise to help others achieve their ranching goals while preserving the traditions and values that define this way of life.
W
ith a third-generation legacy in real estate, Courtney brings a unique perspective to the field. Her grandfather, affectionately known as “The Land Man” in 1970s Florida, specialized in land development and investments. Her parents further instilled in her a deep understanding of property management. Now, Courtney carries this family heritage forward with a passion for assisting clients in achieving their land ownership goals.
Growing up in Florida, Courtney cultivated a lifelong love for the outdoors. This passion wasn’t just recreational; her love of beach volleyball led her to become a scholarship athlete for Tulane’s Beach Volleyball team. At Tulane University, she strategically combined her interests by majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Real Estate, laying a strong foundation for her future career.
From beach volleyball to fishing and scuba diving, Courtney thrived in nature. This passion continues today as she explores Blackwater National Forest and the Gulf of Mexico with her husband, Kasey, a real estate and land use attorney, and their two dogs, Peanut and Fosko.
Courtney began her career in New Orleans, specializing in historic properties and luxury condominiums. In 2021, she transitioned to the western recreational land market. Courtney joined the M4 Ranch Group family in 2023 and is thrilled to add to her family legacy the world of land and ranches. Her dedication to client success ensures smooth and successful transactions.
LAUREN LONG RESEARCH ANALYST
(970) 944-4444 | LAUREN@M4RANCHGROUP.COM
L auren is originally from San Antonio, Texas and moved with her family to Lake City, Colorado in 2007. She and her family lived and worked at Camp Redcloud, a Christian summer camp, where a majority of Lauren’s days were spent with the counselors and kids. She loved helping in the camp kitchen and at the barn working with the wranglers and 70± horses. Growing up in the most remote county in the lower 48 states gave her a lot of time to spend immersed in nature, where she learned to love the land, the wildlife, the slower lifestyle, and the sense of responsibility that comes with it, all of which has created her outstanding work ethic and drive.
Lauren has worked in the hospitality and service industry throughout Lake City and Gunnison, giving her a great perspective and knowledge of customer relationships and quick problem-solving. Lauren loves Colorado and is avid about getting outside to explore the world around her with her friends and family. Having known the Murphy’s most of her life, Lauren was thrilled at the opportunity to start a career here at M4 and once again be integrated into their lives. She believes there is nothing quite like immersing in her work which helps M4 protect it for future generations to enjoy. Lauren acts as M4’s research analyst, she has taken on many roles including researching land records, finding that perfect fit property, analyzing data to identify trends and opportunities, examine and validate the accuracy of the data to ensure that it produces meaningful information.
ALEAH MAZUREK
MULTIMEDIA
(970) 944-4444 | ALEAH@M4RANCHGROUP.COM
Aleah grew up in the Unaweep Canyon near Gateway, Colorado, just outside Grand Junction. Her childhood was filled with hunting, skiing, hiking, rodeo, ranching, volleyball, and soccer. As a natural creative, she also had a niche for the arts. Eventually, she focused solely on rodeo, competing in the Colorado State High School Rodeo Association from 7th grade through graduation in Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, and Goat Tying. She attended the small Gateway School (30–45 students K-12) before earning a concurrent enrollment scholarship her junior year to Colorado Mesa University (CMU).
Initially pursuing a degree in Petroleum Geology at CMU, Aleah’s interests shifted in 2020 toward hospitality and marketing while working at the Gateway Canyons Resort. That same year, she discovered her passion for graphic design through a class that inspired her to change majors. During her time at CMU, Aleah competed on the CMU Rodeo Team in Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping, regularly placing in the top ten but narrowly missing nationals each year.
In the summer of 2022, she was offered an internship with M4 Ranch Group as their in-house graphic designer through a relationship she had formed in high school and college rodeo with the Murphy’s and took the amazing opportunity to work for them. To enhance her understanding of the company and personal skill sets that would aid her in the real estate industry, she took classes to become a certified drone pilot and an avid photographer. After 4.5 years, three degree changes, and successfully balancing sports, work, and full-time studies, Aleah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Business with an emphasis on Marketing.
Today, Aleah works remotely as M4 Ranch Group’s full-time graphic designer. She creates videos, brochures, and advertisements for the group’s stunning ranch properties, seamlessly blending her artistic and technical skills with her passion for the outdoors, rural living, hunting, and rodeo. She values M4 Ranch Group’s strong ethics and appreciates the opportunity to contribute to showcasing their extraordinary properties.
WRITTEN BY LORIE A. WOODWARD OF LAND MAGAZINE
Dan Murphy of M4 Ranch Group based in Lake City, Colorado, is leaving his mark—well, actually his family brand—on Mountain West ranch real estate.
“The Rocking M4 brand is way more than just a logo—it’s our family ranch brand,” Dan said. “It says a lot about who we are and what we do.” It is a Murphy family tradition that when the children turn 18, they receive a belt buckle emblazoned with the Rocking M4 brand. “When my dad handed my son Jake his family belt buckle on his 18th birthday, it was one of the proudest moments of my life,” Dan said. “It was a symbolic statement of the honor and pride associated with our western history—and the responsibility to honor and uphold it as the next generation.”
An expectation of excellence that results from hard work is part of the family inheritance—and it’s not lost on the next generation. Jake, in a recent paper for a class at Western State University, where he, as a student athlete, is pursuing a double major in Business and Marketing degree while earning his real estate license, quoted his grandfather, “Work half a day—do whatever you want with the other 12 hours.”
“I got a kick out of the paper because it proves the family brand goes far beyond an identifying mark,” Dan said. “It is a statement of trust and excellence.”
In hindsight, the family brand seems obvious as the choice for the ranch division’s logo, but it was selected after extensive research and an outside evaluation of the team’s strengths and identity.
“After all of the time, money and research, the most descriptive and meaningful name for the Dedicated Ranch Brokerage had been right in front of us,” Dan said.
Because it carries so much meaning, applying the brand to their business is not a responsibility the M4 Ranch Brokerage take lightly.
“Our name and our history is on this company, so we strive to be the best we can be in every aspect of this business. We never forget that M4 Ranch Group directly reflects on our family’s legacy.”
The ancestors have reason to be proud. M4 Ranch Group has been a driving force in recreational real estate for decades. The M4 Ranch Group division has, risen to the top of Colorado land brokerages, selling 100’s of 1,000’s of acres in mountain ranches in 2017.
T
he family, who has put down deep roots in Colorado over the past 44 years, can trace their ancestry back to the settling of the western frontier.
The Murphy’s are direct descendants of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second President of the Republic of Texas, best known for trading off the western Colorado Rockies in 1850 to help retire the thenrepublic’s debt.
Dan built his first career on his passion for the outdoors; few things in life meant more than being in the field where his respect for nature and the role of man’s stewardship grew.
“I spent at least a hundred nights a year sleeping in a sleeping bag, for more than 20 years,” he said.
As he was preparing to depart for Africa to finish school, he met Michelle DePinto, a ballerina who lived in Denver. After a long distance relationship, she traded in her pointe shoes and urban existence for a life off the beaten path as the “best partner a man could find.”
Under the banner of MMLO Outfitting, they owned and operated an outfitting business that took clients in pursuit of the West’s top big game in the back country of Colorado, Alaska and Montana. To succeed as an outfitter, he not only had to master the art of hospitality and client relations, but
also the natural history and behavior of big game, federal and state regulations, habitat management and the principles of business.
Dan recognized that the outfitting business kept him away from Michelle and their young children too much for his taste. After 20 years in the outfitting business, Dan and Michelle decided to fold the tents at the peak of that career.
Believing that the Mountain West real estate industry would provide an ideal environment for their work ethic, knowledge of the outdoors, and vast network, Dan and Michelle launched M4 Ranch Group. We like to call Michelle the ‘Closer,’” Dan said, pointing out that she gives the team a focal point of concentration and, with a Master’s degree in Business and Marketing, has the ability to bring the “high-flying, big-picture goals “into a grounded, get-the-details-done perspective.”
M4 Ranch Group has grown into a very dynamic group of land professionals, with expertise ranging from habitat enhancement, river restoration, conservation easements, ranch appraisals to market trends. The Brand and its goals are supported by a group of true passionate professionals from data analysis, photography, film editing to web design and the constant of SEO web
placement. Covering the mountain west keeps our sales team on the road throughout what we feel is the best parts of the western lifestyle.
“Ranch real estate gives us a chance to experience incredibly spectacular land just as I did as an outfitter,” Dan said. Annually, our trucks, rangers, snowcats, and snowmobiles travel 100’s of 1,000’s of miles filming and showing ranches—and the odometer is still turning.
“Our goal from the outset was to be the best informed brokers in Colorado,New Mexico and Wyoming” Dan said. “We work hard to acquire personal, first-hand knowledge of all of the ranches in the marketplace.”
Lake City, which serves as the hub of M4 Ranch Group, has 400 residents and is the only town in Hinsdale County, the nation’s most remote county. The town is situated in a valley deep in the San Juan Mountains at the base of five 14,000-foot peaks. Lake City also has more Fortune 500 CEOs per capita than any other town in the country.
“They call this place home because this area is not about what you have, but more about what elk you harvest or the fly used to land the latest trout,” Dan said laughing.
Once, Dan was helping a neighbor—a hellbent-for-leather old-timer—drive cattle. They were joined by one of these CEOs, whose company refines about two-thirds of the oil in the U.S. He had parked his Gulfstream III at the airport and driven his 1979 Ford pickup to the cattle drive.
According to Dan, the CEO’s cowboying skills favorably impressed the veteran cowhand, who said to the CEO, “You need some cash? You could probably make some decent money with day work around here.”
The CEO responded, “I’m doing ok on cash.”
The story resonates with Dan not only because it is par for the course, but it reinforces their parents’ teachings to treat every “book” respectfully regardless of its “cover.” The Golden Rule is one of the family’s core values that is also at the heart of the company.
M4 attributes a great deal of their success to an aggressive marketing strategy. They utilize the most cutting-edge technology and a variety of deep integrated digital marketing tactics, in addition to proven and established print media, including two in-house magazines featuring the full scope of their listings, and national impact print marketing. They also regularly attend gatherings of a wide variety of organizations such as the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association because they “want to know everyone connected with land through livestock and wildlife.”
M4 Ranch Group takes great pleasure in really getting to know people outside of their offices. Relationships thrive and understanding grows when people get away from the constant pinging of cell phones and out of the relentless reach of email.
To that end, they employ—and enjoy—their “handshake” marketing initiative. The M4 Ranch Group Team puts current and prospective clients in the field for local events: floating the Rio Grande River during the famous salmon fly hatch during M4’s Wild Trout Week or riding the Rockies horseback on the 100-mile annual Roundup Ride. They also sponsor and guide hunts for one of their favorite charities, the Colors of Heroes hunts celebrating the sacrifices of our veterans. Rodeo is a huge part of our lifestyle and this company. Dan’s daughter is currently rodeoing her way through college and represented the state of Colorado as High School Rodeo Queen. Dan stated “Rodeo to me is true America, a group of athletes that have pride in our flag, fight hard for what they believe in and love true competition.
“Our goal is not just selling the ranches we are blessed to work on, but building something bigger and longer lasting than a closing,” Dan said.
M4 Ranch Groups Team love of people and wildlife has inspired him to be heavily involved in protecting the western lifestyle.
“Generally, most land is managed better privately than publicly due to the landowners’ passion, finances and ability to make and carry out a decision,” Dan said. “The private, long-term commitment to manage for the most diversity is
far beyond most government agency’s desires or capabilities.”
Dan characterizes his philosophy as “cowboy conservatism” noting that his first line of defense for the western lifestyle is first-hand knowledge gained through leadership at the local and state levels.
Dan is currently serving on the Upper Gunnison Water Advisory Group, is vice chair of Hinsdale County Planning Commission, and has served on the Sportsman’s Round Table and its advisory committee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department. He previously served on the Big Game License Application, Big Game Allocation Program, and the Colorado Wildlife Federation. In 2021-22 Dan was President of the Colorado Chapter of Realtors Land Instutite and currently holds the postion of VP of National Realtors Land Institute.
“One of the team’s most important duties is “match making.” The team excels at identifying the right property for the right buyers—and helping the new owners see what the property can become with good stewardship.
“Our job is to understand a property,” Dan said. M4 Ranch Group relies on cutting-edge technology in all aspects of the business, including their own 3D virtual camera, drone filming and editing department to showcase the height, depth, breadth and nuances of each property.
M4 Ranch Groups goal is to give potential buyers a true sense of a ranch before they ever tour it. Once boots are on the ground, Dan uses his experience and expansive network of restoration and preservation professionals to help the potential owners see what the land can be rather than simply what it is. For instance, if a ranch has a degraded stream, Dan would help the client understand what it will take to restore it to a healthy, productive fishery.
“We’re the concierges of conservation,” noting they introduce landowners to some of the best conservation practitioners in their respective fields.
Dan has prompted the restoration of miles upon miles of streams and thousands of acres of habitat. This has helped greatly increase the value of numerous ranches while greatly increasing the volume of habitat Colorado’s wildlife depends on.
To keep space open in the west, the intrinsic value of undeveloped land has to be recognized, they believe.
“Habitat has value from an ecological and emotional standpoint as well as a financial one,” Dan said.
To be clear, conservation work is not an income stream for the business, but a passion.
“What makes us proud is sharing what we’ve helped conserve with generations to come,” Dan said. When we’ve helped build legacy ranches that families can convey to their children or when we see a kid reel in a big brown or a cut-throat on a fly while fishing an enhanced stream, the circle is complete. We’ve passed forward what’s important to us.”
“OUR TEAM UNDERSTANDS THAT WE’RE ON THIS EARTH FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME AND IT’S ABOUT LEAVING THIS PLACE BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT. FOR US, THAT MEANS CREATING A LEGACY THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS AND CONSERVATION.”
M4 Ranch Group utilizes analytics, pay-per-clicks, and banner ads on a multitude of websites. These tools help drive website and phone traffic, as well as maintaining top placement among other websites on searches.
Our website enables greater search engine optimization as well as allowing viewers to access the website in a mobile friendly environment. We work with a top rated search engine optimization company so that M4RanchGroup.com ranks first page with many searchable keywords related to Colorado, New Mexico, & Wyoming Ranches and land sales.
We are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube. Our social media showcases our new listings, sold listings, and the unique experiences that come with showing ranches and connecting with others in the outdoor community.
Our social media posts reach tens of thousands of people with a great deal of engagement, making sure your property reaches as many people as possible. We use strategy, analytics, and targeted campaigns to narrow in on the perfect buyer for your property.
We also specialize in filming and producing high quality property videos that showcase your real estate. The videos are then uploaded to YouTube, where they can be viewed by potential buyers.
Our properties are distributed on hundreds of different websites, including: - Landdx.com - LandWatch - Lands Of America - Land Report - Farm & Ranch - Land Broker Coop - Zillow - Wall Street Journal - Realtor.com
This means your Ranch gets the best exposure in the market.
Scan with your phone camera to be directed to our social media accounts
Over 80% of land searches begin online. M4 Ranch Group’s goal is to provide the largest footprint for success. Online brochures provide an additional venue to present your property, highlighting the key pieces that make your property one-of-akind.
• Ranch Name
• Location of Ranch
• Acreage
• Views
• Water Rights
• Water Resources
• Irrigation Systems
• Wells
• Propery Map
• Nearby Public Land
• Improvements
• Nearby Airports
• Climate
• Wildlife Management
• Animal Migration
• Hunting and Init(s)
• Fishing
• Surrounding Attributes
• Recreational Activities
• River Enhancements
Our Multiple Listing System (MLS) covers 129 counties and has 1450 western brokers from over 50 mountain towns. Being apart of this MLS system allows us to market your property to active brokers with buyers in the market.
M4 Ranch Group is apart of the CREN (Western Slope of Colorado) and the Aspen MLS and Telluride MLS
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M4 Ranch Group utilizes both web and direct email marketing strategies to ensure that sellers and buyers remain informed about the ever-evolving real estate landscape. To achieve this goal, we have implemented targeted email marketing initiatives aimed at keeping individuals who have expressed interest in M4 Properties informed. Our email campaigns reach a growing audience of over 8,000 specific subscribers, consisting of interested and qualified buyers, with this number increasing daily.
We work with property owners in Colorado , New Mexico & Wyoming to build personal relationships with clients, often through face-to-face interactions and personal connections. If you are thinking about selling your Ranch , Hunting /Fishing Property, Recreational Property, M4 Ranch Group would like to talk with you, especially over a cup of coffee.
M4 Ranch GroupM4 Ranch Group acknowledges the dynamic nature of the real estate market while also recognizing the enduring value of personalized printed materials.
As we endeavor to remain at the forefront of the digital landscape and expand our online presence, we are equally committed to nurturing a targeted list of current and potential property owners and buyers in the region.
Each year we construct several specific mailings we use to reach out to this list, which has grown into the thousands and reaches to all over the country.
Our History of Success Magazine is available online, with over 10,000 digital reads monthly during peak months. The History of Success is an archive of our sold ranches and informative articles about hunting, ranching, and buying and selling real estate.
We specialize in filming and producing high quality property videos that showcase your Ranch. We film and edit footage in-house, making sure the video provides the most astounding and intimate aspects of your property.
M4 Ranch Group runs commercials on varies platforms to help showcase properites.
Land id is an advanced, next-generation online mapping platform that is easy to use and allows buyers to evaluate the most suitable listings before taking a trip to see them.
This shareable interactive map allowing potential buyers to truly view a property to make sure they’re interested prior to scheduling a showing. Virtual tours are linked below each listing on our site.
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Matterport virtual tours are an increasingly popular way to showcase properties. Matterport is a company that offers 3D cameras and software that allows users to create interactive virtual tours of real-world spaces. The tours provide a realistic and immersive experience that allows potential buyers or renters to explore the property as if they were physically there. Matterport virtual tours can also save time and resources by allowing interested parties to view the property remotely. This is especially useful in situations where the property is located far away from the buyer or when a physical visit is not feasible.
M4 Ranch Group made the cover of Land Magazine in 2021, and will be on the cover once again in Spring of 2023 featuring M4 Ranch Group as the definition of todays Ranch Brokerage!
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• 35±
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The Land Broker Coop is a multiple listing service and magazine that distributes over 25,000 prints at the “compliments of” one of their prefered marketing partners which include: Holland & Holland, National Cutting Horse Association, Realtors Land Institute, Beretta Galleries, Liquidity Event Targets, Clint Orms, National Reined Cow Horse Association, and CQS management.
National Cutting Horse Association // Pin Oak Charity Horse Show // Safari Club International // Winter Equestrian Festival // Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event // Spring Gather Horse Show // Dallas Safari Club Convention & Sporting Expo // Houston Safari Club
Olympia - The London International Horse Show, UK // JAGD & HUND International Expo for Hunting and Fishing, Dortmund, Germany // CLA Game Fair, UK // French Game Fair, France // Dubai Cup, Dubai
M4 Ranch Group features properties on the Land Report’s website monthly. In addition, we are also featured in their magazines, monthly newsletters, and social media posts. The Land Report reaches the audience of the American Landowner. They provide their users with breaking news, investment opportunities, insights into the lives of dedicated landowners, legislative updates, innovative and informative ways to improve and conserve land, and convenient services and equipment available for landowners. Below is The Land Report’s vast area of distribution and opportunity for viewership.
M4 Ranch Group lists all of their properties with Farm and Ranch. We are frequently featured on their home page banner ad and our properties can be located on the first few pages of their website. Farm and Ranch annually distributes 280,000 copies and prints 35,000 copies four times a year, 10,000 of which are mailed with the Texas Monthly magazine and to a select group of Texas Monthly subscribers. Their mailing list includes a list of fortune 500 companies and executives. Office copies are sent to participating brokers and complimentary copies are mailed directly to their client lists.
Private airport FBO’s // Hotel and Conference Centers // National Cutting Horse Association Events // Safari Club events // Pine Oak Charity Horse-show events // Barnes & Nobles // Books-A-Million // Ralph’s Grocery // Fred Meyer // Safeway // Albertsons // HEB // Walmart
Four little words. One big, power-packed promise from the M4 Ranch Group.
At M4, we capitalize on opportunities regardless of the season, the weather, the terrain or any other obstacle," said Dan Murphy, broker/owner and one of the principals in M4 Ranch Group. "We bring a can-do attitude and get-it-done professionalism to every deal for every client, whether they're selling a legacy property or acquiring one."
M4 Ranch Group's results rank at the very top of the industry without sacrificing personal service or nimbleness. The group, made up of four sales agents and a strong, multi-talented support team, pride themselves on closing deals and producing results. In 2021, M4 Ranch Group's team fronted by four sales agents, representing both sellers and buyers in Colorado and New Mexico, will close on more than 110 ranches and recreational properties representing over $250 million in sales in 2021.
"Our strength is focus," Dan said. "We are based in the West—and know the West. We specialize in unique, premier properties and have a fantastic, loyal client base. We have been able to build success through hard work and determination."
Clients have noticed. M4 has experienced success on a variety of substantial ranches in the West, including Wolf Springs Ranch at 54,000± acres, Monument Butte Ranch at 21,000± acres, Citadel Ranch at 17,500± acres, Juniper Mountain Ranch at 6,900± acres and North Mountain Ranch at 3,382± acres, just to name a few.
The industry has noticed, too. M4 has been annually recognized by the national Land Report as a National “Best Brokerage” since 2017. National RLI (Realtor Land Institute) has named M4 as a National "Top Producer." In addition in 2020, two of M4 Ranch Group's brokers were designated “Colorado Land Realtor of the Year” by the Colorado RLI. Also in 2020, one M4 Ranch Group broker was selected as one of the nation's top 20 recreational brokers.
"With a shared 24/7 commitment, our team is in it to win it," he said.
Results like those amassed by M4 Ranch Group don't just happen. As the old saying, which is a Murphy family favorite, goes, "Good luck looks an awful lot like hard work.” Of course, hard work alone, while an undeniably powerful force, will only carry an organization so far. In today's sophisticated world, where every subtle nuance and minute detail matter, it also takes a solid framework of professionalism to ensure continued success.
"Professionalism has a broad definition, but in the ranch and mountain land industry it comes down to knowledge, experience, and a willingness to go above and beyond for your clients," Dan said. "Being a working cowboy, an avid fly fisherman, or a tested hunter alone isn't enough to navigate an industry that is a world of its own with diverse issues that reach far beyond those of a typical residential or commercial brokerage."
At M4, the team's professionalism manifests itself in many ways through the listing and closing process, but it's most apparent through their preparation, pride and participation.
To accommodate clients anywhere, anytime and any season takes preparation, which translates into investment and planning. M4 Ranch Group has made substantial investments in rolling stock that includes everything from four-wheel drive trucks and Rangers to Can-Ams, snowcats, drift boats and snowmobiles.
M4 Ranch Group's clients typically have very busy schedules. Those schedules don't always align with glorious fall days. To serve not only buyers but to fully represent sellers, M4 Ranch Group has invested in the professional equipment needed allowing M4 to explore and experience the land regardless of Mother Nature's challenges. And in the Mountain West, the ol' girl can be an unforgiving teacher.
Early in its history, the M4 team hosted a group of buyers who were looking to purchase a private ski
area. It was one of the team's first high-level back country winter showings. With more than eight feet of snow on the ground, the conditions were seemingly perfect for a winter tour.
Like clockwork, the clients' private plane landed. Dressed as if they were attending a board meeting, the clients immediately climbed into the waiting Suburban that delivered them to the rented snowcat. The tour went according to plan until the end when they reached the 11,500-foot peak to watch the sunset.
At the top, the snowcat drove over a pine tree buried in the snow, which ruptured the machine's hydraulic line and left it inoperable. With night falling, temperatures plummeting, no cell service and a client group dressed for a leveraged buyout not sub-zero camping, the M4 team did what they had to do.
A small contingent headed off the mountain, postholing in snowcat tracks toward the base. The party reached the trail head just as the regional search crew arrived by snowmobile. Those types of experiences coupled with a lifetime in the outdoor field have led to a very detailed set of equipment meeting the needs of touring ranches in the West.
"We've never made that mistake again," Dan said. "Prompted by that experience and a lifetime of working and playing in the outdoors, we have amassed a complete set of equipment that safely and comfortably meets all the demands of touring ranches in the West."
Today, when M4 conducts a remote showing, which is one of its specialties, the experience is approached like scuba diving where "you are always in sight of your partner." The M4 snowcat has two outrider 163"x3" powder snowmobiles as well as satellite phones and cell phones to back up the team. Exit contingencies are a must.
"As they say in the military, no matter how new, no matter the cost, mechanical things break," Dan said.
"Our goal is always having the right equipment, the right tools and the right telecommunications capacity combined with alternate Plan A, B and C."
The M4 logo is also the Murphy family brand. More than a mere identifying mark, the brand has long been a statement of trust and excellence in the West.
"M4 started primarily as a family concern, but our team and capabilities have grown immensely over the past four years," Dan said. "Today, while our company is 'bigger than blood,' we still embrace the core values that provided the foundation of our early success—and are all pushing to make the next chapter in our legacy even more impactful than the previous ones."
It's a tall order. The family legacy stretches back to the settling of the western frontier. The family, who has been deeply rooted in Colorado for the past 40 years, traces its lineage back to Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second President of the Republic of Texas. In 1845, Lamar swapped the western Colorado Rockies to help retire the thenRepublic's debt. The family jokes that they've been trading in the Mountain West for more than 170 years.
"As a company, we work to reflect the values of the traditional West," he said. "We value relationships. We stand by our handshakes. We believe in honesty, integrity."
When faced with a decision, the team opts to do what is right, not what is easy. And they never lose sight of the ultimate goal: establishing personal relationships that go far beyond the close of a deal.
He continued, "While we specialize in exceptional land, we're really in the relationship business. Job one is building a relationship of trust with clients, so we can understand their goals and match them with the right property. We do that through knowledge, experience and dedication."
“We bring a can-do attitude and get-it-done professionalism to every deal for every client, whether they're selling a legacy property or acquiring one.”
DAN MURPHY
The team members, whether they're on the front lines making deals or supporting the efforts with integrated marketing that includes in-house photography, videography, design and direct marketing, cutting-edge technology backed by digital professionals overseeing website design, SEO maximization, email marketing, and flawless research and document preparation, drive toward the same purpose: taking care of their clients.
"M4 has committed to having the right people in the right places with the passion to make us better," Dan said. "Everybody in this company is family, by blood or by choice, and we're proud to ride for the same brand—a brand we're all dedicated to making even more dynamic and forceful."
M4 operates from an appreciation mindset.
“We work in some of the finest country in the U.S. and we experience the outdoors as few get to," Dan said. "Our job, our gift actually, is not only to have the experiences, but to pass on some of that appreciation to future landowners."
From M4's perspective, knowing the land and the lifestyle is the most important aspect of being a land broker.
"Few careers provide an opportunity to not only fulfill your clients' goals but to build an understanding of what those lands, those ranches have to offer," he said. "With land,
people get to enjoy it as it is, but also have the opportunity to protect and enhance that land for generations to come.
Working in ranch real estate is a blessing. One we don't take for granted."
The landscape and the lifestyle that have long defined the West are changing. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, idly watching the changes play out and hoping for the best, M4 team members are serving on boards, councils and associations helping shape the future through political involvement.
"We cherish the western way of life and are doing everything in our power to protect the water, land and wildlife that form its natural foundation," Dan said. "In the process, we gather first-hand information and create a network that benefits our clients. When it comes to rules, regulations, trends and issues that impact land, we're not guessing."
While with NOLS in East Africa, Dan learned quickly that the effort to protect native wildlife depended on an understanding of "if it pays, it stays." For instance, if the locals realized more value from the rhinos' existence than from their death and the ensuing sale of their horns, people would work to protect the animals. In Dan's opinion, the same holds true for undeveloped land and natural resources.
"People have to understand and respect land's inherent value—all of its life-sustaining and spirit-lifting qualities—as well as its monetary value if our cherished lifestyle is going to be maintained," Dan said. "M4 exists to help determine and celebrate the true value of western lands. Those values can be found in new and exceptional ways."
To that end, the M4 team act as concierges of conservation and restoration. Using their boots-on-the-ground knowledge, they help landowners see what the land can be rather than what it is. In application, that can mean restoring degraded streams and fisheries or reinvigorating wildlife habitat. Eventually, it can also mean protecting the land in perpetuity with a conservation easement, a voluntary tool that can carry significant financial benefits.
Through their collective efforts, the M4 team has prompted the restoration of miles and miles of streams and thousands of acres of habitat. The result? The value of individual ranches has increased as has the volume of habitat that is essential for the region's wildlife.
"Stewardship is a long-term commitment that allows a family's legacy to be passed through time—and we're proud to be part of that," Dan said. "Our time on earth is limited, but we can leave it better than we found it. It's our responsibility and our privilege." °
M4 Ranch Group proudly celebrates Seth Craft, ALC, honored as the APEX 2023 Region 6 (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY) Broker of the Year in Recreational Land Sales and a 2023 Top 20 National Producer. Additionally, Dan Murphy, ALC, and Seth Craft, ALC, were jointly celebrated for achieving the ALC to ALC Networking Award. Seth's regional and national accolades, combined with Dan's collaborative success, exemplify our commitment to excellence in ranch, recreational land, and luxury estate sales.
Buying and selling land is a unique process.
Accredited Land Consultants (ALCs) are more than land professionals. They’re the most accomplished, the most experienced, and the highest performing land real estate experts across the country— whether they specialize in agricultural land, timberland, ranch and recreational properties, or vacant land for development.
The results of a membership survey indicated that the average Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) earned $373,925, which is approximately $100,000 more per year than the average earned by non-designee respondents. The largest ALC transactions to date include one that totaled $650 million.
by Seth Craft, ALC
Trust, confidence, and fiduciary are the qualities that come to mind when we think of an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC). Many people ask what an ALC is and why they should work with one. As a person who has bought and sold land since I was 21 and has done hundreds of deals as a realtor representing buyers and sellers, an ALC Realtor understands the confusion, and anxiety, when purchasing a ranch/land. This makes them the most reliable people you can team up with in ranch/land deals. They take their role seriously as fiduciaries for both buyers and sellers, with their top priority being each party’s best interests – not just wrapping up one deal but helping seek good outcomes for future ones too.
With years of experience in the Marine Corps and a strong commitment to the brotherhood and country, I eventually found a similar kind of companionship in the ranch/land business. This tight-knit, family-like network reinforces values difficult to find elsewhere. Here, people can rely on each other’s word rather than written contracts, and handshakes are still viable tokens of agreement. Members originate from the land, living off its resources and understanding its duties. It is an honor to be part of this group where courage, dedication, and respect are highly praised virtues.
Being an ALC member comes with the knowledge and understanding that the Land is one of our most precious resources. ALCs understand the value of not only the land itself but also how protecting it affects all living beings, including air and wildlife, now and for generations to come. The high level of integrity among members plays a crucial role in delivering accurate information about a property in order to facilitate one of the most important financial transactions a client can make. This elite group of ALC members is made up of individuals highly trained in communication and have committed to several years of education focused on speaking an in-depth language when it comes to land values and features such as bushels and carrying capacity. ALC members wear their conduct like a badge of honor which serves as a reminder that their clients are always in good hands when they choose an ALC-certified professional.
Becoming an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) is no mean feat - each of us here at M4 Ranch Group has had to go through a rigorous examination process to ensure that we provide the best quality assistance for our clients. This dedication we have to top-notch service is why there are currently only 600 ALCs in the entire country - out of over 3 million real estate agents, that’s a staggering .0002%! I am confident in the ability of these highly trained professionals and would suggest that you seek one out should you look into purchasing land. We value your time and promise excellent results with an ALC by your side.
DAN MURPHY, ALC
2021 COLORADO CHAPTER PRESIDENT
M4
RANCH
GROUP | 970 - 209 - 1514 DAN@M4RANCHGROUP.COM
In today’s ranch and land sales industry, one of the most beneficial aspects is understanding when to reach outside your comfort zone to be the source of the source. This is one of the strongest aspects and benefits of being an active member of the Colorado and National RLI.
As our market is continually assaulted by what I call the box-on-box marketing companies, the companies scraping MLS systems Nationwide, the companies that can formulate comp data from like properties in like neighborhoods in like communities, formulating a value, and propagate that data to outside buyers, without ever understanding the market, the region, or the client. These companies are a direct and real threat to the typical realtor selling homes in such communities in similar neighborhoods etc.
Ranch brokerage has been a somewhat protected type of brokerage from these scrape and propagates industry disrupters. We who serve the ranch and land brokerage work daily with such a diverse set of data points that no box-on-box comparable data will ever represent what ranch and land has to offer. The individuality of our profession is what protects our industry, and it is also what demands such a true level of professionalism. To protect and service this industry and these types of properties, the knowledge we put forth is crucial. Knowing and understanding just the basics in the ranch and land industry is typically enough to get you into real trouble. That is why knowing when you are out of your level of understanding is truly one of the biggest obstacles to being successful in the ranch and land sales industry. We are confronted by issues such as minerals, water rights, wetlands, zonings, weather patterns, moisture levels, historic water calls, migration routes, conservation easements, soil types, plant species, ingress and egress, accretion and evulsion, and today, new to our market, is the simplest of nightmares: septic inspections.
Both National and Colorado RLI truly drive pursuit of education and drive to raise the level of knowledge, understanding and concepts of land sales. These entities are part of the very few places as land professionals we can search out others in our industry who either have the knowledge or have the pathway to the person or entity that can help us better resolve a host of issues on every deal we do.
Basically, Colorado and National RLI are a direct pathway to a “rising tide raises all ships.” Each of us has a great deal to learn and knowing where to go for help is by far our strongest asset. To me it is simple, and I believe what makes RLI the strongest in the industry is a personal push from our members to be ethical, to work hard, to learn more, to drive to be better, and most of all, being willing to check your ego at the door and help when possible and ask for help when needed.
Sincerely,
Dan Murphy, ALC President Colorado RLI
Within the real estate industry, ranch brokerages are unique. The professionals who successfully help clients buy and sell rural properties must develop a different skill set than their colleagues who deal in residential or commercial real estate. We in the ranch industry must understand and navigate a wide variety of complex issues on the national, state, regional and local levels. It's not inconceivable for a ranch broker to contend with a large variety of issues such as, water rights, mineral rights, conservation easements, environmental studies, crop programs, grazing rights, wetland issues, ditch rights, access easements, undocumented historic uses, not to mention the ever-changing ramifications of the Endangered Species Act, or the waters of the USA, etc.
While the skills and knowledge base of a ranch broker obviously set our segment of the industry apart, I believe that the relationships are the foundation of ranch brokerages making us truly distinctive in the real estate business world. In fact, as I look back at my years in ranch real estate and the development of M4 Ranch Group, personally, it is clear that our successes, big or small, resulted from a relationship with a client, a fellow professional, and intimately knowing the land.
Whether it is dealing with clients or other ranch brokers, we are not in the business of "one and done." (It's no secret that repeat clients and referrals are our collective bread and butter.) To be successful in the long-term, our individual businesses must build a network—and the strongest wire in that network is trust.
Now this seems obvious to those of us with more than a few miles on our chassis, but it bears repeating for those of you who are new to this industry. The relationships that blossom from doing this business well—from truly knowing the land, the buyer and the seller—are life-changing. It's not unusual for former clients to become treasured friends.
When we're buried in a mountain of paperwork it may be tempting to see these transactions as business as usual, but we have to remember these deals—no matter the size—are high water marks in each and every client's life. With that in mind, it's easy to bring passion and enthusiasm to each and every transaction.
At RLI, our commitment is building a network of educated and dedicated ranch and land brokers that strive every day to assure each client receives personalized and dedicated expertise that extends beyond the property closing.
AARP brokers.” Young and old, there was a great deal of experience in that room. What a joy to see, the best in the land industry collaborating, learning, and relishing one another’s company.
Let me take a second to brag on the "nonAARP brokers." RLI, has some of the nation’s top young up and coming land agents. This group includes many highly educated ALC’s (Accredited Land Consultants) who grasp the historic nuances of conservation easements, western water rights, minerals, wind, ag, grazing, and recreation. These younger RLI (ALC) land brokers are also on the frontlines of defining tomorrow’s value in land that includes transitional grounds, solar, wind, battery storage, future tax implications of new energy uses, endangered species, future water demands and the technologies that better define success on any land use. The network of RLI has established the strongest land network in the world, building a “rising tide raises all ships” attitude.
As I mentioned earlier, our relationships aren't limited just to our clients. As it says on the RLI website, "RLI, the Voice of Land, works to elevate the level of professionalism in the land industry by offering all land professionals the credibility, confidence, and connections that are the foundation for becoming the best in the business." Recently, at the RLI National Land Conference, I witnessed those connections in action.
I enjoyed seeing an older generation of stand out land brokers with gray hair hiding under their cowboy hats laughing with a young group of ranch brokers who called themselves the “non-
DAN MURPHY, ALC
M4 Ranch Group, Broker/Owner
RLI Colorado Chapter President
As that list of emerging values and issues illustrates, the ranch/land real estate industry will constantly change to meet the demands of a changing world. With that said, I believe that the need for relationships is a constant now— and forever. If we as leaders in this industry have one responsibility, it is passing on the legacy of relationships.
To say we in this business are blessed by people and by land is a huge understatement. We are. Every day. I am proud to be an RLI broker, RLI officer and even more proud to wear the ALC designation. °
WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF A HANDSHAKE AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU.
