Others are talking about direct deals in raw materials (broker who trades wood products, oil trader who also brokers shipping contracts, etc).As to your RE investing.

It may not be included in the initial phase but simply additional land.Have fun searching the oil royalties down there for title!

It didn't stop my wife from objecting, but it made her a lot more comfortable.I explained to my wife that when we were dating I was riding bulls, riding race horses in races, working in an oil derrick 140 feet in the air, etc. 

Some people hate bankers, oil companies, insurance companies, logging, mining, etc.

They might charge more money thus reducing your profit, but are often more well oiled machines and have processes on getting bids out/work done etc.

The city is likely to approve the lot adjustment.I think the obvious terms should be they are purchasing 1000SF for of their property for $X along with mineral, water, and air rights.

@Sue HoughSo, no matter how great the diamond is, with it still rough and me not being a diamond miner, it will be impossible to find someone to cut the diamond and sell off the pieces?

Working in the oilfield patch, doing title and mineral search, i can find my way around the courthouse and have not had a problem rooting out problems.  

So they either struck oil on the property, or someone has been eating some of the Colorado Brownies, either way, it is definitely NOT a comp. 

But she changes the oil.