Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Land

We recognize the sentimental value that land can hold, so treating your property and situation with care is a core principle for us. Most properties are resold to a future buyer, though some may be held as long-term investments. In certain cases, we may partner with other land investors to acquire your property. Depending on the property, we may choose to enhance or restore the land, or we may leave it in its natural condition.

Selling through traditional channels can be slow and inefficient. We aim to simplify the process. By working with us, you have a ready buyer.

Listing with a brokerage can take significant time, especially for raw land, which has a smaller buyer pool.

We offer a fast transaction, no real estate agent fees—which can be as high as 10% for land—and relief from ongoing taxes and maintenance costs.

Our process is designed to be secure and transparent. All transactions go through licensed title agencies, which handle the funds and complete the title work. The deed is not released until the funds are properly wired, ensuring the transaction is legitimate and safe. We operate a fully licensed company and recommend involving your attorney if it provides additional peace of mind.

In most cases, we cover all closing costs, though there may be exceptions. However, these costs can generally be shared between the buyer and seller, with the buyer usually covering the larger portion. Based on our experience, total closing costs are typically around $1,500.

No, you don't need a survey to get an offer or sell your land to Summit Land. While surveys are helpful and can clarify exact boundaries, acreage, and easements, many landowners don't have current surveys—and that's perfectly fine.

We can work with legal descriptions from your deed, county records, and mapping tools to evaluate your property. If boundary questions come up during the title search, we'll address them then. In most cases, the title company can work with existing documentation without requiring a new survey.

That said, if you do have a survey, it speeds up the process and helps ensure accuracy. If you're unsure whether you have one, check your closing documents from when you purchased the property, or contact your county recorder's office—they may have one on file.

This is common, especially with inherited land or properties you've owned for many years without visiting. You don't need to walk the property lines or know the exact boundaries to sell to us.

We use county tax maps, legal descriptions from your deed, GIS mapping systems, and aerial imagery to identify your property. These tools give us a clear picture of location, approximate acreage, and neighboring parcels.

The title company will verify boundaries as part of their title search. If any discrepancies arise—such as conflicting descriptions or encroachments—we'll work through them together. In rare cases where boundaries are truly unclear, a survey might be needed, but we'll discuss that if it comes up and work with you on the best solution.

Bottom line: uncertainty about exact boundaries shouldn't prevent you from getting an offer. We'll figure it out together.

Yes, but all heirs with ownership interest will need to agree to the sale and sign the purchase agreement and closing documents. This is one of the most common situations we encounter, and we're experienced in helping families navigate it.

Here's how it typically works: if the property went through probate and the deed lists all heirs, everyone named needs to participate. If the estate is still in probate, you may need to complete that process first, though we can often provide an offer contingent on probate completion.

We recommend having one family member act as the main point of contact to streamline communication. We'll work with your timeline and can even provide separate payments to each heir if needed, coordinated through the title company.

Family dynamics can be complicated, especially with inherited property. We approach these situations with patience and sensitivity. If you're unsure about the ownership structure or what steps are needed, contact us—we can help you figure out the best path forward.

We can still buy your land even if it has liens. Liens are resolved at closing using proceeds from the sale, which is standard practice in real estate transactions.

Common types of liens include: mortgage liens (if you borrowed against the property), tax liens (from unpaid property taxes), HOA liens, mechanic's liens (from unpaid contractor work), or judgment liens (from court judgments).

During the title search, the title company will identify all liens and calculate the exact payoff amounts. These are deducted from the purchase price at closing, and the title company sends payments directly to lien holders. You receive whatever remains after liens are satisfied.

In some cases, if liens exceed the property value, selling becomes more complicated—but we'll discuss your options honestly. We may be able to negotiate with lien holders or structure the transaction differently.

The key is transparency: let us know upfront if you're aware of any liens. This helps us give you an accurate net proceeds estimate and avoid surprises at closing.

Yes, we buy landlocked properties. A landlocked parcel is one without direct access to a public road, which can make it difficult to sell on the open market. However, landlocked land still has value, and we're equipped to evaluate and purchase it.

Landlocked properties may have legal access through easements across neighboring land, or access might need to be established. Sometimes access exists informally through historical use, though it may not be documented.

When we evaluate landlocked property, we consider: whether legal access can be obtained, the cost and feasibility of establishing access, the parcel's location and terrain, potential uses despite limited access, and comparable sales of similar properties.

Our offer will reflect the property's current condition and access situation. While landlocked parcels typically sell for less than properties with direct road frontage, they absolutely can be sold.

If you're not sure whether your land is landlocked, we can help you determine access status using maps and county records. Contact us to discuss your specific situation—we've successfully purchased many landlocked parcels across our service areas.

We base our offers on a combination of factors designed to arrive at a fair market value for land in its current condition. Here's what we consider:

Comparable Sales: We research recent sales of similar properties in your area—same approximate size, location, and characteristics. This gives us a baseline for current market value.

Location: Proximity to towns, major roads, amenities, and desirable features (mountain views, water access, etc.) all impact value. Remote properties typically sell for less per acre than those near population centers.

Access: Properties with direct road frontage and good access are worth more than landlocked parcels or those with limited access.

Utilities: Availability of electricity, water, and septic affects value. Properties with utilities in place or nearby are more valuable than those requiring expensive infrastructure.

Topography and Usability: Flat, buildable land typically commands higher prices than steep, rocky, or wetland parcels.

Zoning and Restrictions: We review what the land can legally be used for—residential development, agriculture, commercial, etc.

Market Conditions: Current buyer demand, interest rates, and economic factors in your region play a role.

Our Business Model: As investors, we account for holding costs, marketing expenses, transaction costs, and the time it will take to resell. We need to purchase at a price that allows for these costs while still offering you a fair deal.

We're always happy to explain how we arrived at our number and walk you through the factors specific to your property.

Both options have advantages, and the right choice depends on your priorities: speed, convenience, or maximum price.

Selling to Summit Land:

• Fast sale (close in 30-40 days)

• No agent commissions (typically 6-10% of sale price)

• No repairs, cleanup, or property improvements needed

• Cash offer with certainty—no buyer financing to fall through

• We cover closing costs

• Simple process with minimal hassle

• You won't get retail market price—our offer reflects investor pricing

Listing with a Real Estate Agent:

• Potential for higher sale price if you find the right retail buyer

• Agent handles marketing and showings

• Takes longer (land can take 1-2 years to sell)

• You pay commission (typically 6-10%)

• Buyer financing contingencies can delay or kill deals

• You may need to clear brush, improve access, or make property more marketable

• Multiple showings and more complex process

If you need to sell quickly, want certainty, or don't want the hassle of listings and showings, selling to us makes sense. If you're willing to wait for top dollar and don't mind the time and costs involved, listing might be better.

There's no wrong choice—just different priorities. We respect either path and are happy to discuss which makes sense for your situation.

Absolutely. Many of our clients live out of state, whether they inherited property, moved away years ago, or bought land as an investment they no longer want.

Distance is not an issue. Here's how we handle out-of-state sellers:

Remote Communication: Everything can be done by phone, email, and video calls. You never need to visit the property or travel for meetings.

Document Signing: Most closing documents can be signed remotely through email or mail. Some title companies offer mobile notary services or remote online notarization (RON), allowing you to complete everything from home.

Property Inspection: We don't require you to be present for any property visits or inspections we conduct.

Closing: You can close remotely in most cases. The title company will mail or email documents, you'll sign and return them, and funds will be wired or mailed to you.

Local Title Company: We work with title companies in the state where your property is located, so they're familiar with local requirements and can handle everything efficiently.

Selling land from across the country is actually quite common and straightforward. We've closed deals with owners in different states dozens of times. If you own property in Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, or Colorado but live elsewhere, we can help.

What documents do I need?

You don't need much to get started. Initially, we just need basic information about your property: address or general location, approximate acreage (if known), and county where it's located.

Helpful but not required for an initial offer:

• Copy of your deed

• Survey (if you have one)

• Property tax statement

• Plat map or legal description

• Any title insurance from when you purchased

If you don't have these documents, don't worry. We can pull county records and work with what's available. Many landowners, especially those who inherited property, don't have all the paperwork—and that's completely normal.

Required for closing: Once we agree on terms, the title company will need:

• Your deed (they can usually obtain it from county records if you don't have a copy)

• Photo ID (driver's license or passport)

• Completed seller disclosure forms (we'll provide these)

• Any HOA documents if applicable

• Any easement agreements if applicable

The title company guides you through exactly what's needed. We'll help you track down any missing documents if necessary. The important thing is not to let missing paperwork prevent you from reaching out—we'll figure out what's needed together.

You don't need much to get started. Initially, we just need basic information about your property: address or general location, approximate acreage (if known), and county where it's located.

Helpful but not required for an initial offer:

• Copy of your deed

• Survey (if you have one)

• Property tax statement

• Plat map or legal description

• Any title insurance from when you purchased

If you don't have these documents, don't worry. We can pull county records and work with what's available. Many landowners, especially those who inherited property, don't have all the paperwork—and that's completely normal.

Required for closing: Once we agree on terms, the title company will need:

• Your deed (they can usually obtain it from county records if you don't have a copy)

• Photo ID (driver's license or passport)

• Completed seller disclosure forms (we'll provide these)

• Any HOA documents if applicable

• Any easement agreements if applicable

The title company guides you through exactly what's needed. We'll help you track down any missing documents if necessary. The important thing is not to let missing paperwork prevent you from reaching out—we'll figure out what's needed together.

Yes, we buy land with existing structures, buildings, mobile homes, barns, sheds, or any other improvements. The structures don't need to be in good condition—we purchase properties with old houses, abandoned buildings, dilapidated barns, and even foundations or ruins.

Many landowners worry that old structures decrease their property's value or make it harder to sell. In reality, structures can add value if they're usable, or they may have minimal impact if they're in poor condition. Either way, we're interested.

You don't need to demolish anything, clean up debris, or make repairs. We buy land in "as-is" condition, which means we accept it exactly as it sits today—junk, old buildings, overgrown vegetation and all.

When evaluating land with structures, we consider: the condition and potential usability of buildings, costs we'll incur to repair, remove, or demolish structures if needed, any value the structures add (livable home, usable barn, etc.), and zoning or code compliance issues.

If you have land with old structures you don't want to deal with, contact us. Whether it's a run-down farmhouse, an old mobile home, or a falling-down barn, we can make an offer and take it off your hands.