Just Received A Million Dollar Offer To Sell Mineral Rights. What would you do?

I recently learned that I, along with my siblings, collectively inherited some land rights from a long, lost uncle. It's smack dab on top of the Marcellus Shale region.

Each sibling stands to receive roughly $227,000.

I know very little about this stuff, but have done some reading. One school of thought is DO NOT EVER SELL- one expert I spoke with told me that if they're offering me upwards of $4,000 dollars per acre and drilling has not yet started, there must be some serious game under there and I could potentially cheat myself out of millions. She said the offer is unprecedented...so?

Or, they could drill and find squat and I'd receive nothing.

It's a mixed bag. I feel a little funny about it. For one thing, this world is on the way out methinks, so perhaps I could build a pimp bunker and enjoy it. OR I could potentially earn bank monthly via royalties and that would provide enormous security.

I don't need a lot of money, in fact too much of it can be a bummer. It can be a bit ostentatious. But then I could give back- I could help rebuild the local animal shelter. And I could ski every day if it ever snows in California again. I could live by my own means and that is attractive. I don't know.

What would you do?

I recently learned that I, along with my siblings, collectively inherited some land rights from a long, lost uncle. It's smack dab on top of the Marcellus Shale region.

Each sibling stands to receive roughly $227,000.

I know very little about this stuff, but have done some reading. One school of thought is DO NOT EVER SELL- one expert I spoke with told me that if they're offering me upwards of $4,000 dollars per acre and drilling has not yet started, there must be some serious game under there and I could potentially cheat myself out of millions. She said the offer is unprecedented...so?

Or, they could drill and find squat and I'd receive nothing.

It's a mixed bag. I feel a little funny about it. For one thing, this world is on the way out methinks, so perhaps I could build a pimp bunker and enjoy it. OR I could potentially earn bank monthly via royalties and that would provide enormous security.

I don't need a lot of money, in fact too much of it can be a bummer. It can be a bit ostentatious. But then I could give back- I could help rebuild the local animal shelter. And I could ski every day if it ever snows in California again. I could live by my own means and that is attractive. I don't know.

What would you do?

Maybe you should just preserve the land and hang onto it? I know its tempting but mother nature would thank you.

I recently learned that I, along with my siblings, collectively inherited some land rights from a long, lost uncle. It's smack dab on top of the Marcellus Shale region.

Each sibling stands to receive roughly $227,000.

I know very little about this stuff, but have done some reading. One school of thought is DO NOT EVER SELL- one expert I spoke with told me that if they're offering me upwards of $4,000 dollars per acre and drilling has not yet started, there must be some serious game under there and I could potentially cheat myself out of millions. She said the offer is unprecedented...so?

Or, they could drill and find squat and I'd receive nothing.

It's a mixed bag. I feel a little funny about it. For one thing, this world is on the way out methinks, so perhaps I could build a pimp bunker and enjoy it. OR I could potentially earn bank monthly via royalties and that would provide enormous security.

I don't need a lot of money, in fact too much of it can be a bummer. It can be a bit ostentatious. But then I could give back- I could help rebuild the local animal shelter. And I could ski every day if it ever snows in California again. I could live by my own means and that is attractive. I don't know.

What would you do?

Get a mineral rights appraisal

I recently learned that I, along with my siblings, collectively inherited some land rights from a long, lost uncle. It's smack dab on top of the Marcellus Shale region.

Each sibling stands to receive roughly $227,000.

I know very little about this stuff, but have done some reading. One school of thought is DO NOT EVER SELL- one expert I spoke with told me that if they're offering me upwards of $4,000 dollars per acre and drilling has not yet started, there must be some serious game under there and I could potentially cheat myself out of millions. She said the offer is unprecedented...so?

Or, they could drill and find squat and I'd receive nothing.

It's a mixed bag. I feel a little funny about it. For one thing, this world is on the way out methinks, so perhaps I could build a pimp bunker and enjoy it. OR I could potentially earn bank monthly via royalties and that would provide enormous security.

I don't need a lot of money, in fact too much of it can be a bummer. It can be a bit ostentatious. But then I could give back- I could help rebuild the local animal shelter. And I could ski every day if it ever snows in California again. I could live by my own means and that is attractive. I don't know.

What would you do?

Producers don't pay a $1M to wildcat, especially in the current market.

Have an independent reservoir appraisal company give an assessment.

Stop watching promised land.

Producers don't pay a $1M to wildcat, especially in the current market.

Have an independent reservoir appraisal company give an assessment.

Sounds expensive?

I recently learned that I, along with my siblings, collectively inherited some land rights from a long, lost uncle. It's smack dab on top of the Marcellus Shale region.

Each sibling stands to receive roughly $227,000.

I know very little about this stuff, but have done some reading. One school of thought is DO NOT EVER SELL- one expert I spoke with told me that if they're offering me upwards of $4,000 dollars per acre and drilling has not yet started, there must be some serious game under there and I could potentially cheat myself out of millions. She said the offer is unprecedented...so?

Or, they could drill and find squat and I'd receive nothing.

It's a mixed bag. I feel a little funny about it. For one thing, this world is on the way out methinks, so perhaps I could build a pimp bunker and enjoy it. OR I could potentially earn bank monthly via royalties and that would provide enormous security.

I don't need a lot of money, in fact too much of it can be a bummer. It can be a bit ostentatious. But then I could give back- I could help rebuild the local animal shelter. And I could ski every day if it ever snows in California again. I could live by my own means and that is attractive. I don't know.

What would you do?

I would find a company and do a lease. You would get royalties. Selling I would never do. In Florida you don't have to sell. Oil would be drawn out from under your land and you own what is under. This is for regular drilling shale I know not. I had my land under a lease and got paid for 10 years then the lease was dropped.

Do Not Sell.

I would agree with the rest of the posters here, the letters that companies typically send out are usually lowball offers. I've bought minerals before in the Marcellus, I can take a look at it for you and let you know if you're getting a fair deal if you decide that you want to sell.

I recently learned that I, along with my siblings, collectively inherited some land rights from a long, lost uncle. It's smack dab on top of the Marcellus Shale region.

Each sibling stands to receive roughly $227,000.

I know very little about this stuff, but have done some reading. One school of thought is DO NOT EVER SELL- one expert I spoke with told me that if they're offering me upwards of $4,000 dollars per acre and drilling has not yet started, there must be some serious game under there and I could potentially cheat myself out of millions. She said the offer is unprecedented...so?

Or, they could drill and find squat and I'd receive nothing.

It's a mixed bag. I feel a little funny about it. For one thing, this world is on the way out methinks, so perhaps I could build a pimp bunker and enjoy it. OR I could potentially earn bank monthly via royalties and that would provide enormous security.

I don't need a lot of money, in fact too much of it can be a bummer. It can be a bit ostentatious. But then I could give back- I could help rebuild the local animal shelter. And I could ski every day if it ever snows in California again. I could live by my own means and that is attractive. I don't know.

What would you do?

Don't sell. Lease.

Right?

I've actually got $80 bucks in my account. I'm on CA Disability and they take their time paying. I can barely pay my bills!

That right there is the clincher. Some of us could hold out and play the game. You NEED to sell. Just get the best deal you can and sell.

Don't spend all your money right away, "pimped out bunker" or otherwise. See if the company will pay you half of your share in the form of buying you an annuity that pays out over ten years or so, this way you spread out the tax liability, and guarantee some income.

I think that there are some very good parts of the Marcellus and that Antero is a very good company. Without knowing exactly where it is, I can't really tell you whether it is a good deal or not.

One option that people sometimes pursue when they're in your position is to sell half. This way you take some money off the table to live comfortably, but retain some upside in the event your acreage is in a good area.