Expansion doesn't come cheap - someone has to stump up the money to get things started. This generally falls to Noble, Aristocratic and Wealthy houses - who can afford to take a generational approach to their financial return. OK, it might take 35 years (or more) to get the original investment back - but then they own that piece of land forever …

• Clan Herling - A surface based, Dwarven Clan, with a history of farming. They have small agricultural investments spread right across The Strongholds. While no one in their family will ever be incredibly wealthy - they can probably survive just about anything, so long as they all stick together. Their main Westland investment has been in Greenscar and The White Company.
• Sir Peston Mexton - Sir Peston has been investing large parts of his salary and bonuses ever since he has been here. When he retires, he intends to have somewhere (local) to retire to, and a legacy to leave his children. Most of his investments are town property in Westhaven, although he also owns land in Stagmoor. Lord Rignal encourages him.
• House Mexton - Sir Peston's broader family have made one or two small investments, but aren't major investors.
• Lord Rignal - The Lords Rignal have been investing in Westhaven for years. Some investments are clearly owned as part of the Royal estate, others are via various development companies, that aren't immediately traceable to the Royal Family.