Similarly, the farms that I know of that are "sitting" have weird boundary issues and/or potential neighbor issues. I can't think of a "good one" that has sat for any length of time...including some that I would see as "borderline". The higher interest rates certainly appear to be limiting the pool of buyers that are financing the ground. However, interest rates just don't matter to cash buyers.
I think the number one reason people sell farms in Southern Iowa (other places in the Midwest as well) are neighbor issues. When I buy a new farm, I try to look at the worst-case scenarios that I think are possible on adjoining properties. It's amazing how often worst-case scenarios actually happen. Also new buyers will investigate neighbors thru word-of-mouth and actual phone calls. If a property has neighbor issues already, potential buyers will find out before in most cases. Definitely could explain why some properties are not selling.
Common neighbor and other issues I have seen are:
1. Not like minded on the bucks they harvest
2. If you have a trailer or house next to a potential farm, plan on trespassing, constant dog barking, and that they will be shooting guns all the time.
3. Old abandoned county roads that run by/thru a potential farm could be re-opened.
4. Fields that border a county road will be used by poachers.
5. If a neighboring farm leases the hunting rights to someone, plan on that changing and brown its down hunters will lease, or worst yet outfitters.
6. Any easements that are not used currently will be used in the future.
7. Cattle on an adjacent farm will escape several times per year and eat your ag and food plots. The same property with cows will require you to rebuild and fix bordering fences soon after you buy.
8. The list goes on, but these are a few I have seen over the years.