Toby Stay

Illinois Land Broker

Local Expertise Within Reach

Illinois Land Specialist | Top-Producing Broker & Trophy Property Expert

With over 17 years as a full-time Land Broker at LandGuys, Toby Stay has set the benchmark for excellence in rural real estate. Named a Top Illinois Agent by Land Agent Magazine in 2023 and recognized as LandGuys’ top broker for 17 consecutive years, Toby’s expertise and dedication have made him a trusted partner for landowners and buyers across Illinois.

Before his successful real estate career, Toby spent more than two decades as a professional hunting guide, helping others achieve the ultimate outdoor experience. An accomplished bowhunter with a lifetime of experience harvesting trophy whitetails, Toby brings unparalleled insight into what makes a prime hunting property. This deep connection to the land and its potential is reflected in his ability to assess, enhance, and market exceptional recreational properties.

Known for his honest, straightforward approach, Toby works tirelessly to ensure his clients’ satisfaction, whether they’re listing a property or investing in their dream land. His hands-on experience as a landowner and investor further strengthens his ability to guide clients through every step of the process.

Top Illinois Agent by Land Agent Magazine in 2023
LandGuys’ top broker for 17 consecutive years
Extensive experience in hunting, farmland, and recreational properties

Toby Stay combines a passion for the outdoors with unmatched expertise to help his clients achieve their landownership and outdoor goals. Contact Toby today to start your land journey with a trusted expert by your side.

-Member of the National Association of REALTORS®
Licensed in Illinois (475.136304): LandGuys, LLC of Illinois | Springfield, IL

Email Call Text

Mount Sterling, IL 62353

(217) 257-6096

License #475.136304

States licensed in

Listings by Toby Stay

Schuyler County, Illinois 14 Acres With Home For Sale

New Listing

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Schuyler County, Illinois 14 Acres With Home For Sale

Schuyler County, IL

Don’t miss out on this extremely rare and impressive property! This country home sits on the top of a hill at the end of a long driveway with views of the surrounding ridges and fields . This 4 bed 3 bath home is move in ready and features a sp...

14± Acres

$487,500

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Under Contract

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Fulton County, Illinois 43 Acres

Fulton County, IL

...

43± Acres

$270,900

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Brown County, Illinois 33 Acres of Land For Sale

Under Contract

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Brown County, Illinois 33 Acres of Land For Sale

Brown County, IL

Not only is this Brown co 33 acre parcel an outstanding hunting property but it also offers the opportunity to build your dream home in the country, and all conveniently located just 15 minutes from Mt Sterling IL. The 7 acres of alfalfa in the south...

33± Acres

$228,927

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Brown County, Illinois 40 Acres of Land For Sale

Under Contract

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Brown County, Illinois 40 Acres of Land For Sale

Brown County, IL

(SALE PENDING)-The land market is very busy right now. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own 40 acres of high-quality hunting property in Brown Co., IL. This parcel has it all! Top notch hunting, Fishing, multiple building sites, and convenie...

40± Acres

$270,000

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Schuyler County, Illinois 36 Acres of Land For Sale

Under Contract

1 / 1

Schuyler County, Illinois 36 Acres of Land For Sale

Schuyler County, IL

SALE PENDING...

36± Acres

Price Upon Request

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Schuyler County, Illinois 22 Acres of Land For Sale

Under Contract

1 / 1

Schuyler County, Illinois 22 Acres of Land For Sale

Schuyler County, IL

SALE PENDING...

22± Acres

Price Upon Request

View Property

Testimonials

Buyer

“We were very happy with the service we received from the Landguys. We would recommend others to use their services. Thanks“

David Ley

Buyer

“Toby was so good that there was never a question that went unanswered. It didn’t matter what time of day or night he was there for any concerns I had. He does an outstanding job.“

Penny Drake

Seller

“Toby and Don did a wonderful job of selling both parcels I had for sale one, in Fulton County, one in Putnam County. They were only on the market for a few days – great job guys. Thank you. Look forward to doing business in the future.“

LeRoy Poignant

Buyer

“Thank you for all you did for us! Toby went above and beyond what any real estate agent has ever done for us before, between looking for a new house and land to the negotiations process to the fine details of closing. I would use Toby again for sure.“

Chris Tozier

Buyer

“Toby Stay is extremely motivated and knowledgeable in all aspects of land“

Ben Rising

Buyer

“Toby is phenomenal. Very professional a pleasure to work with. I look forward to my purchase.“

Brenda Bloom

Buyer & Seller

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Toby Stay, and LandGuys, during five purchase/sale transactions, and all have gone incredibly smoothly. Toby knows the market well, knows property well, and has an abundance of hunting knowledge. He’s a true professional, and I couldn’t be happier with the service provided, and highly recommend Toby, and LandGuys both.“

Chris Sonetz

Buyer

“Toby Stay Is top notch and his accomplishments as a hunter allow him to understand the type of ground he is selling and provide a tremendous amount of value in helping with ideas on how to setup your dream hunting farm!“

Bobby Kendall

Buyer

“Toby is a notch above the rest! His knowledge of land/hunting is one of a kind. It’s not too often you can find a realtor that is so well rounded! He has a great understanding of land, values, the present market, and last but not least….. A WHITETAIL MASTERMIND!“

Alex Carr

Buyer

“Toby is great to deal with! Super professional, works in a timely manner and truly knows his stuff! Whether it comes to Hunting Properties, or Homes I’ll always call Toby first!“

Dylan Thomsen

Buying & Selling

“Toby Stay with Landguys has made my experience with buying and selling Illinois hunting property stress free. I look forward to Toby helping me with my next buying/selling investment.“

PJ

Buyer

“Excellent communication throughout the entire process. Toby and team are wonderful people and I highly recommend them for your real estate needs.“

Tjse C

Buyer

“Used Toby and land guys on two property purchases and sales was amazing. Great to work with“

Jamy Flory

Buyer

“Toby Stay was extremely helpful and quickly responded to any / all questions.“

Mike Bombardiere

Seller

“Toby sold me the farm and sold the farm for me. He has always been very professional and I consider him a good friend. Thank you.“

Jay West

Buyer

“So many people call themselves land specialist, only for you later realize they are not. Toby Stay is actually the best Land Specialist/Realtor I have ever met. In fact I trusted him enough that when he called me and said I have found exactly what you were looking for I bought the farm sight unseen! I was floored when I finally walked the property after closing and I couldn’t be happier!!! If you are looking for real estate in Illinois or Iowa I would only call Toby. I have been in and around the real estate industry via banking and insurance for the last 27 years an I assure you he won’t let you down!!!.“

Timothy Radcliff

Buyer

“If you are in the market for high quality hunting ground in IL, IA, or MO, I strongly recommend you call Toby Stay. He has a gift for finding incredible farms. My experience working with Toby was professional, seamless, and enjoyable.“

Zachary Womble

Buyer

“Toby did a great job. We had been looking for our first farm for several months. Toby shared one with us that wasn’t yet listed and was able to help facilitate a deal with the seller. I travel a lot for work so the flexibility Toby offered along with remote closing etc helped make it a very smooth process. He also got some info for us like buck history, tree plantings, past food plots, shed hunting, general deer movement etc to help us get a jump start learning the property.“

Jason McManus

Buyer

“Good service and responsive to all questions.Transactions went smoothly and super easy. I would definitely do business with Toby and LandGuys again.“

John Astrowski

Buyer

“If you’re looking for a farm Toby Stay is your guy. Very knowledgeable and easy to work with. And if whitetail hunting is your desire you hit the jackpot. Toby’s knowledge of whitetail habitat and hunting tactics is an added bonus.“

Bill Walden

Buyer

“I worked with Toby Stay at Land Guys Realty to buy a property in Illinois. It was a pleasure to work with Toby. He was extremely professional throughout the process and he knew what I was looking for in a farm. Toby came through for me and did a great job in making the process as easiest as possible. I’d highly recommend Toby to anyone looking to buy/sell land in Illinois.“

The Valdes Family

Buyer & Seller

“Very happy with everything. Very professional and it was an absolute pleasure working with everyone On a one to ten scale. Ten for sure. Thank you very much for making this as easy as possible.“

Ron & Collin Goode

Contact
Toby Stay

Recent Articles

Build Equity on Recreational Land with Simple Strategies

Written by: Toby Stay, Illinois Land Broker, LandGuys At LandGuys, we believe that our job doesn’t stop at the sale. Whether you’re buying your first recreational property or adding to a growing portfolio, we see every landowner as a long-term partner—and we’re in it with you for the long haul. That means helping you build value on your farm—not just talking numbers when it’s time to sell. We’ve walked enough farms and worked with enough landowners to know this: The best investments aren’t always the biggest. Sometimes, it’s just about doing the right things consistently and strategically. Take trail cameras, for example. We tell every landowner this—and very few actually do it. But the ones who do? They’re sitting on a goldmine of property equity without even realizing it. The Easiest Way to Build Value (That Almost No One Does) If you own a recreational farm and want to add real, resellable value to it, here’s one of the most powerful things you can do: Buy ten high-quality trail cameras that shoot in HD video. Place them on known scrapes. Equip them with 64GB cards. Let them run all year. And don’t touch them until December. That’s it. No gimmicks. No massive costs. Just strategic storytelling in the making. Because when it comes time to sell your property, nothing—not even aerial drone footage or glossy brochures—tells the story of your land like a year’s worth of trail cam video showing bucks, behavior, patterns, and potential. This is the kind of firepower that not only impresses buyers—it justifies your asking price. You’re not selling a piece of land. You’re selling a lifestyle that’s been proven, documented, and built over time. Beyond Cameras: Small Moves, Big Impact Trail cams are just one example. Here are a few more land decisions that can add major value when done right: Tweak your cash rent program. A better structure or renegotiated terms could bring more income—and more appeal to future buyers. Explore CRP options. Choosing a different Conservation Reserve Program can offer both short-term financial returns and long-term habitat benefits. Selective timber harvest. Done right, it can improve forest health and create better deer habitat while generating income. Representing the Land—Now and Later This is why we do what we do. As land brokers, our goal is to walk alongside you from first showing to final sale—and even after that. Because when you own land, you're not just holding acres. You're building a story. And when the time comes, we'll help you tell it in the way it deserves to be told. Follow Toby Stay on social media for more tips and updates.

Why Choose LandGuys to Sell?

Why Choose LandGuys to Sell Your Property? Written By: Toby Stay, IL LandGuys Broker. As someone who has spent decades working in the outdoors—first as a professional hunting guide, then as a land manager, and now as a full-time Land Broker—I know how important it is to trust the people you work with. Trust and confidence are even more critical when it comes to selling your property. As a landowner myself, with farms in three different states, I don’t just help others buy and sell land—I personally choose to invest in property because I understand the value and potential it holds. This means I’m not just here to help you buy or sell—I can relate to the challenges and rewards of land ownership on a personal level. At LandGuys, we don’t just facilitate transactions—we set the standard for how rural real estate is done. We Set the Market, Not Just Follow It One of the biggest advantages of working with LandGuys is that we move a high volume of properties, which means we’re always up to speed on the most recent market trends and prices. When you work with us, you don’t need to rely on private appraisers to verify your property’s value. Why? Because we’re the ones setting the comps that appraisers use. We sell so much land that by the time an appraisal is done, the comparable properties the appraiser uses are likely farms we’ve sold in the last two months. Think about that for a second—when professional appraisers are looking to determine market value, they’re using our data. That’s not just a statement about how much we sell; it’s a testament to the trust and expertise we bring to every transaction. As a seller, I can’t imagine anything more reassuring than knowing the values we establish are driving the market. A Seamless Process, From Start to Finish When you call me to list your property, I’m already familiar with the market value before I even step foot on your land. That level of knowledge and preparedness allows me to give you an honest and accurate assessment right from the start. My goal is always to provide upfront, no-nonsense advice that helps you make the best decision for your property, whether you’re selling farmland, recreational acreage, or a hunting property. At LandGuys, we’re not just brokers—we’re passionate about land, and we bring that passion into everything we do. Whether it’s creating trophy properties for hunting or helping sellers get top dollar for their investments, I’m proud to be part of a team that’s at the top of the field. If you’re considering selling, I’d love to talk to you about how we can make the process seamless and successful. Check out the video below for more on why LandGuys should be your first choice when selling your property. Let’s work together to achieve your goals. GET TO KNOW TOBY STAY Toby Stay has been a top-producing Land Broker with LandGuys for over 16 years, and when it comes to land in Illinois, he’s as trusted as it gets. Named one of Illinois' Top Producing Brokers in 2023, Toby has built a reputation for delivering results. Before stepping into real estate, Toby spent over 20 years as a professional hunting guide, where his passion for the outdoors and knowledge of whitetail deer shaped his career. An accomplished bowhunter, Toby has harvested numerous trophy whitetails himself, giving him an unmatched understanding of what makes a property truly exceptional. Toby’s not just a broker — he’s an investor. He owns farms in three different states and knows firsthand the challenges and rewards of buying, selling, and managing land. His experience runs deep, and he understands the lasting value land can bring, both financially and personally. Passionate about land, hunting, and passing down his knowledge, Toby is teaching his sons, one of whom is also a broker with LandGuys, the same principles of land stewardship and hard work. When you work with Toby, you're getting more than just a transaction — you're working with someone who’s been on both sides of the fence. Whether you’re buying or selling, Toby’s hands-on experience, passion for the outdoors, and honest approach ensure you’re making the right decision for the future. Stay Connected. Follow Toby on Facebook and Instagram.

Toby Stay