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A land contract is a type of real estate financing in which the buyer makes payments directly to the seller instead of a lender. Once the contract is fully paid off, the title to the property passes to the buyer. This is in contrast to a traditional mortgage where the buyer would receive the title at closing.

Yes. With the right circumstances and a fair document, a land contract (sometimes called a contract for deed) can be a great way to transfer real estate when traditional financing is not available.

A land contract is often viewed as a way to "pay down the purchase price" before obtaining a regular mortgage to buy the property outright. Often, the terms of the contract will call for 5-10 years of regular payments, concluding with a balloon payment for the balance of the mortgage.

Larger Down Payments Land loans typically require a larger down payment than traditional mortgages, often as much as 20% to 30% of the asking price. If you are purchasing raw land, the preferred down payment can be as much as 30% to 50% of the total cost.

The advantages of a land contract to the buyer are that it provides an ownership interest in the real estate, which helps to quickly build equity in the property and good credit history. A major disadvantage is that the buyer is almost always responsible for structural and mechanical repairs to the house.

You are not able to report the payments to the credit bureaus.But, more often than not, individuals who act as creditors in a land contract arrangement do not report payment history because they have to pay a fee to register with the reporting agencies and report payments.

One disadvantage of a contract for deed to the seller is that clearing the title may take time and money if the buyer defaults on the contract, according to Real Town. In addition, the seller can immediately foreclose on the property if the buyer defaults, and the buyer has no recourse against the seller.