Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the high volume of questions presented to us, we have compiled the following list of frequently asked questions. You will be happy to learn that we are very open about how everything works. If you have a question that you do not find here, please feel free to contact us.

Financing Questions
Property Questions
Deed Questions
County and Tax Questions
Company Questions

Financing Questions

Q: What is owner financing?
A: Owner financing is the easiest way to buy property; it’s extremely simple. Owner financing is when the owner of a property extends credit to the buyer by accepting monthly payments and holding the deed as collateral until the property is paid for in full. Owner financing is very similar in nature to an auto loan, where the car title is used as collateral.

Q: How do I qualify for owner financing?
A: By paying the down payment you are automatically approved for owner financing through us. We do not do a credit check, verify income, or check references. In fact, the only information we need is your name, address, and phone number; it's really that simple.

Q: How much down payment do you require?
A: Most of our properties require only a small down payment to get started investing in land.

Q: How does the finance process work?
A: Once we receive your down payment we will mark your property as "SALE PENDING" on our website and then mail you a land sale agreement to sign and mail back to us; it should arrive in the mail in about 3-5 business days. After you receive the paperwork, just sign it and mail it back in the enclosed self address stamped envelope and the property is all yours. Once we receive the signed sale agreement from you in the mail we will mark your property as "SOLD" on our website and we will mail you a welcome packet with all your account information, payment schedule, payment coupons, parcel map, satellite photos, pictures, certificate of ownership, and skip payment voucher.

Q: What interest rate do you charge?
A: Our interest rate is a fixed rate of only 9.9% for all of our properties. Many other companies charge much higher interest rates and include extra service charges and fees.

Q: How much are closing costs?
A: Zero. Our goal is to offer land for sale at prices that are affordable to all and one of the ways we accomplish this is by not charging you any closing costs (transfer tax, recording fees, commissions, document preparation costs, etc.). We apply 100% of your down payment toward the purchase price.

Q: Do you have a pre-payment penalty or balloon payment?
A: We do not have a pre-payment penalty or balloon payment and we never will, because we believe they are too confusing and tricky. We do all we can to keep the buying process very simple and straightforward and we don't have any fine print. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call anytime.

Q: Do you have a documentation fee?
A: We never charge any fees and we apply 100% of your down payment to the purchase price.

Q: Can I make payments online?
A: Yes. To easily make your payment online from our website.

Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept the following payment methods:

• PayPal
• Visa
• Mastercard
• Discover
• American Express
• eCheck
• Money Order
• Cashiers Check
• Personal Check
• Western Union
• MoneyGram
• Comcheck (Truck Drivers)

Q: Do you offer any guarantees on the land I purchase from you?
A: Yes, we offer the following guarantees with any of the land you purchase from us:

• LIFETIME FREE AND CLEAR TITLE GUARANTEE
  We guarantee that the title to the property we sell you will be free of liens, judgments, or any defects. We guarantee this by giving you a free and clear Warranty Deed when you pay off your land.
• 90-DAY LOW PRICE GUARANTEE
  If you find a similar property with comparable terms, we will beat their sales price by 5% and even write up new paperwork.
• 180-DAY EXCHANGE GUARANTEE
  If you visit the property within ninety days of purchase, and decide, for any reason, that you would rather have a different piece of land, simply choose another parcel of land from our available properties on our land for sale page and give us a call to complete the exchange. Limited to one exchange per property purchased for 90-days.

Property Questions

Q: Should I visit a property before buying?
A: Most people who purchase from us are buying for investment purposes and are not interested in ever visiting the property. If you are buying to live on the property or use it for recreation purposes, we recommend visiting the property prior to purchase.

Q: How do I visit a property for sale?
A: Driving directions to the property from the closest major city are provided in each listing. If you prefer, you can get detailed driving directions from where you live by clicking on the ‘street map’ link and then following the instructions. The best and most accurate method for finding a property is to use a GPS (global positioning system) and input the latitude and longitude as your destination. You will also want to be sure and print a copy of the ‘parcel map’ to take with you so you can find the exact parcel.

Q: Is someone available to help me locate the property?
A: We purchase property in bulk from many different sources. Unfortunately, it would be impossible for us to offer this service due to the fact that it would add to our costs and therefore add to the sale price of the property. We go to great lengths to provide accurate information in our postings regarding the location of the land.

Q: Do you have photos of the properties?
A: We purchase property in bulk from many different sources. Unfortunately, it would be impossible for us to offer this service due to the fact that it would add to our costs and therefore add to the sale price of the property. We go to great lengths to provide pictures of the actual property whenever possible and try and provide area pictures if actual photos are not available.

Q: Can I build a home on the property while I'm financing it through you?
A: Yes. Most of the properties we sell are zoned residential and can be built on and some are not. Before purchasing, you will need to contact the county planner where the property is located to find out if there are any building restrictions on the property prior to buying. Some of the properties we sell are zoned for agricultural use, but may be re-zoned with a few easy, inexpensive steps. We do not guarantee the zoning of any of our land parcels. If you have questions about the zoning of a particular property, please contact the county planner where the property is located and give them the parcel number of the property you're interested in.

Q: Are there time limitations to build?
A: Usually there are no time limits in which an owner must build on the property, although buyers may want to contact the county planner where the property is located to be sure.

Q: Are utilities, water, and sewer available?
A: Many of our properties have all the above available or nearby, but you should always check with the county planner in the area where the property is located to confirm this before purchasing. The phone number for the county planner is always available in our property listings.

Q: Is there road access to these properties?
A: Most of our properties have paved roads running right to the property. Many have dirt or gravel roads running to them, while some are in more remote areas and are a little more difficult to reach.

Q: Is there legal access to the property?
A: Most of our properties have street access or a deeded easement so this is usually never an issue, however this is a question best to ask the county planner where the property is located. In general, nearly all the properties we sell have legal access to them and by law, no property owner can reasonably withhold the right access owned real estate.

Q: Are the mineral rights included with the property?
A: Chances are the mineral rights are owned by the government or the railroads. This right was granted to these companies for building a bi-coastal railway system in the 1800s. Information about purchasing the rights can be obtained by calling the county in which the property is located.

Q: Is the property staked or surveyed?
A: We usually do not incur the expense of having the land surveyed as we like to pass the savings on to our customers.

Q: How many square feet are there in an acre of land?
A: There are 43,560 square feet in one acre. Therefore, if the size of a property is 0.20 acre, then it would measure 8,712 square feet (43,560 x 0.20 = 8,712). Please see our post about real estate measurements and calculations for more information.

Q: Can I resell the properties I buy from you?
A: Yes, we sell to many individuals who turn around and sell our properties to others for a profit.

Deed Questions

Q: When do I get the deed to my property?
A: If you pay in full for the property, you will usually get your deed in 2-3 weeks once it is recorded with the county. However, if you are financing your property with us, your deed will be used at collateral until the balance of the loan is paid off. Once the loan is paid in full, your deed will be delivered in about 2-3 weeks once it is recorded with the county.

Q: What is a Warranty Deed?
A: A deed in which the grantor (Land Trust Company, LLC) warrants, or guarantees, the title against defects against the property. In real estate transactions, warranty deed is a promise that the buyer's title to a parcel of land will be defended.

County and Tax Questions

Q: What is due diligence?
A: Due diligence is the research you, as the buyer, complete prior to making a bid. This includes questions to the county where the property is located, questions to us, and/or visiting the land. We strongly encourage you to feel comfortable about your knowledge of the property before buying.

Q: What is an Assessor's Parcel Number (APN)?
A: The APN is the tax id number used by the county to identify each property. If you have questions about a property, the county will usually require this number to answer your questions..

Q: Can I write off the land on my taxes?
A: Typically you can write off any improvements and interest paid towards the loan. Please consult a tax professional for details.

Company Questions

Q: Are you a real estate broker or Realtor?
A: Brokers and Realtors are people who sell real estate which belongs to others and they earn a commission from the sale. We own all of the properties we sell and are not required to be licensed. And since we sell directly to the public, there are no commissions, points, or fees; allowing us to sell our properties for a lower price.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: We have been involved in buying and selling real estate since 1995 and have been selling land online since early 2005.

Q: How do you acquire the properties you sell?
A: We purchase our properties from tax sales, tax liens, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and private parties.

Q: Can I purchase land if I don't live in the United States?
A: Yes. Anyone can invest in our land no matter where they live in the world.

Q: Are you really giving away a free piece of land?
A: Yes. Anyone who registers for our newsletter will automatically be entered to win property, plus they will receive periodic emails when we add new properties to our Web site. Each visitor may enter once for the drawing. The drawing date for the free land is January 1, 2009 and one winner will be randomly selected and notified via email; so be sure and click on the opt-in link in the confirmation email you receive from us. Good luck!

HOW TO ENTER:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, complete the entry form from our win land page. To be eligible, entries must be completed and received on or by the closing date of the drawing. Incomplete entries or entries without valid and working email accounts will be disqualified. All entries shall become the property of Land Sales Company, LLC. Land Sales Company, LLC is not responsible for lost, misdirected or delayed entries. Entries received by telephone, fax, courier or personal delivery will not be accepted.

CONTEST RULES:

1. The contest is open to the general public as well as anyone currently subscribing to Land Sales Company, LLC online newsletter aged 18 or older. Identification must be produced on request. Employees of Land Sales Company, LLC, its contest sponsors, advertising and promotional agencies and their respective affiliates and associates and such employees' immediate family members and persons with whom such employees are domiciled are excluded from this contest.
2. The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded.
3. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which Land Sales Company, LLC may deem appropriate.
4. In accepting the prize, the winner, and any guest(s), acknowledges that Land Sales Company, LLC may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize(s).
5. Detailed contest rules applicable to this contest, including contest entry dates, how to enter, and prize value, number and any restrictions applicable to any prizes are available upon written request to Land Sales Company, LLC at the address listed online.
6. This contest is subject to all federal, state and municipal laws.
7. Land Sales Company, LLC reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice.
8. Contest open to United States residents only.
9. One entry per person.

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