Plenty of our buyers pay cash, and plenty finance part of a purchase. Both are normal. Land loans work differently from home mortgages, so this page maps the three lanes buyers use - so you can line up your money before you make an offer, not during it.
Who it's for: buyers purchasing a lot to build a home on, or to hold for the future.
Banks, credit unions, and Farm Credit associations make loans specifically for vacant land and building lots. The lender underwrites you and the property, and the process feels similar to a mortgage - application, appraisal, and a closing at an attorney's office.
Because there is no house securing the loan yet, land loans are usually more conservative than home loans: larger down payments and shorter terms are typical.
Who it's for: builders buying lots to build spec or custom homes.
Construction lenders finance the lot purchase and the build itself, often through a revolving line of credit. Funds are typically drawn in stages as work progresses, and many builders use an existing line for lot acquisitions - it is worth confirming with your lender that land purchases are an approved use of your line before you bid.
This is the lane most of our builder buyers already live in; the lot is simply the first draw.
Who it's for: investors and flippers who need speed or have a short hold planned.
Private and hard-money lenders lend primarily against the property itself rather than your full financial picture, which makes them fast - sometimes closing in days to a couple of weeks. The trade-off is cost: higher interest and fees in exchange for speed and flexibility.
Common for buyers who plan to build, resell, or refinance out quickly.
General information only - not a quote or an offer of credit. Actual terms come from the lender. As a general education point, land loans often require 20-50% down depending on the lender and the property, and rates and terms on land are usually less favorable than on a finished home. Every lender and property is different.
Some properties are offered with seller terms - the seller, rather than a bank, carries some or all of the financing. When a property offers it, we say so on its page. Terms are set property by property, so treat anything below as that property's own offer, not a standing program.
8176 Chilkoot Ln, Locust, NC 28097 · $360,000
Offered subject-to the existing financing: $45,000 down and take over the existing loan payments of $2,509/month PITI (6.625% interest, about 26.5 years remaining) - or bring traditional financing instead. Accepted terms include cash, conventional, FHA, VA, owner financing, and other creative structures.
Buyer to inquire for full details and to verify the loan documents, which are the central item in the property's due-diligence package.
We are building a directory of lending partners in each lane. Options matter: you will always see more than one door, and the choice is yours — we don't steer. Lender partners are being added now.
More options are being added - ask us and we'll connect you with the right lane.
Yes. Land and lot loans are a standard product at many banks, credit unions, and Farm Credit associations, and private lenders finance land purchases as well. The product is different from a home mortgage - expect a more conservative structure - but financing a land purchase is routine.
More than a home loan, in most cases. As general education only, down payments on land often run 20-50% depending on the lender, the property, and the buyer - a lot with utilities in place and a build planned usually fares better than remote raw acreage. A lender can quote your actual number quickly.
Cash purchases can close in a matter of days once title is clear. Financed purchases take longer - several weeks is typical while the lender underwrites and appraises - and private money usually lands somewhere in between. Seller-financed and subject-to purchases follow the terms agreed for that property. The earlier your financing lane is chosen, the faster the finish line.
Often, yes. Many builders draw on an existing construction line for lot acquisitions. Confirm with your lender that purchasing land is an approved use of your line and how draws and interest work for the holding period - a two-minute call before you offer beats a surprise after.
No. An inquiry here is an introduction, nothing more. You choose freely among the options - we don't steer buyers to any lender. And you never attach a preapproval or upload documents on this site: if you submit an offer, qualification documents are requested afterward, to strengthen your offer with the seller.
Tell us which lane sounds like you and which property you have in mind, and we will make the introduction. No obligation - and offers on this site are never gated on financing documents.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (877) 526-3101 or email offers@landscouties.com.
Financing sorted - now find the property it buys.
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