The Process for Buying Land with Cash in 11 Simple Steps
Discover the process of buying land with cash, from finding the right property and arranging your finances to securing a land survey and checking the title.
While everyone you know is talking about buying a house, the thing you’re eyeing isn’t a building. It’s a plot of land. You’re filled with all sorts of ideas every time you drive past it. It makes you wonder: what’s the process for buying land with cash? You hope to make an offer on this piece of prime real estate, but where do you even start?
We’ve interviewed top experts in their field and meticulously gathered the information to create this step-by-step guide for you. Here’s what you need to know.
Step one: Talk to a few buyer’s agents!
Tell us a little bit about your plans (where you’re looking to buy and when you want to make a purchase) and we’ll connect you with top-rated buyer’s agents in your area. It takes only a few minutes, and it’s free.
Step 1: Find the land for sale
You won’t always be lucky enough to drive past a plot of land that’s the perfect investment opportunity for you.
If you know for certain you want to buy land, but don’t have any specific property in mind yet, try doing an online search. LandWatch is a free online resource you can use to search for rural properties and land for sale. Listed properties on LandWatch include:
- Hunting land
- Timberland
- Farms for sale
- Ranches for sale
- Development sites
- Home sites
If you’d rather have help with sifting through all the possibilities for a match that fits your specific criteria, speak to a real estate agent. In particular, find professionals who specialize in land plots.
Step 2: Learn more about the land you’re eyeing
Don’t be too hurried to snatch up land without learning a bit about it first. This isn’t the Land Rush of 1889.
The first thing you should look into is the zoning laws for the county. What are zoning laws? They’re rules and regulations that local governments use to control how property is developed.
For example, if you want to sell off individual lots, you’ll need to know if you’re allowed to subdivide the land. You’ll be able to find this information in either the city or county government offices.
