Selling your mineral rights - Gas and oil developers are interested in purchasing mineral rights (Gas, Oil and coal rights) all across the country.

West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania have abundant reserves of natural gas and coal underground. They are currently buying these mineral rights as quickly as possible.

The Eastern panhandle of WV has a very large supply (Romney, Fort Ashby..etc) and developers are trying to buy the mineral rights for as low as $40 per acre. We've heard some land owners are getting upward of $1,000 per acre.

So, it's important to check with neighbors and find out what the going rate is for gas , oil and coal rights before signing any contracts or leases.

Contract & Leases - If you are talking to someone about selling your mineral rights, keep in mind that you call the shots, in other words - you can make the contract exactly how you want it. You could make the contract for a certain time frame, and after that date, the mineral rights go back in your name.

You can (and should) specify exactly what you are leasing. If you know they are interested in natural gas, make sure the contract states that they can only remove gas, no other rights. No coal, no oil.

If you already own the "mineral rights" - that means you own the oil, gas, coal and any other mineral below the surface. Be sure to check that they mineral rights have not already been leased to a coal company or gas supplier.

Getting Rich - Some people are selling their mineral rights for millions of dollars. PA, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, LA and many other places have loads of natural gas and those property owners with large land tracts are selling the mineral rights for big money!

Anytime you are buying or selling a pice of property, you should find out if the rights come with the property. If your selling a property, be sure to keep the mineral rights in your name.