. >> reporter: brokers like keith or pinsky sold lant like this to developers at steep prices during housing boom. >> land in the 50s, 60s, 70s acre range four, five, six years ago. now prices are so depressed you're buying land for $10,000,s 15ds,000 per acre. >> this property was close to $100,000 an acre. >> reporter: $100,000? >> yes. >> reporter: when? >> five years ago. >> we bought this for $17,000. >> reporter: they may have been hurt in the financial meltdown but land for farming is in real demand. farmland prices here in illinois are up 23% in just the last year. >> some of the best in the world, right here. central illinois. >> reporter: dave klein sells farmland in rural illinois. who's calling you saying, hey, dave, i'm interested in investing in farmland? >> people calling from chicago, new york, california, and across the world. >> reporter: high commodity prices and low interest rates are feeding demand, but so is fear. >> there's not a lot of other things out in people really trust. they know if they buy a farm it's going to be there. >> reporter: but buyer beware. >