Basics Agreements of a Land Contract

by Brooke 8. May 2010

There are several ways to take an initiative with real estate and to make sure that you buy or sell the property that you want.  One of the alternatives that many are now turning toward is a land contract.  This is a term of agreements between a buyer and seller that allows the buyer to pay in initial installments which eventually leads to buying the deed of the home.  Understanding how this works and deciding whether it is the best way for you to move into the real estate that you want can provide you with the right approach to moving into a home. 

The main concept that is a part of a land contract is to provide initial installments to a buyer that is interested in a piece of property.  The contract will state that the buyer will have to pay a certain amount of monthly payments over a period of time.  These each will become an installment toward a downpayment of the home that can be purchased at the end of the specific contract.  The initial payments not only include the basic payments for a home but also may include an additional interest rate that is a part of the fees that are paid. 

When you look into a land contract, you want to make sure that the money you are paying as an installment fits within your budget.  You will also want to see if a balloon payment is at the end of the agreement.  If the monthly payments don’t provide for the right amount of the down payment needed to pass the deed, then many sellers will add in a larger payment at the end of the agreement.  The balloon payment is to finalize the amount that is needed to move into ownership of the home at the end of the given term.  However, you can negotiate this price or can pay the installment for a longer period of time if this option doesn’t work for your needs. 

Even though there are specific conditions that are a part of a land contract, there are also ways to move out of the property if you decide not to move into the final sale.  If you don’t pay your monthly installments or break the agreement, then it is called a breach of contract.  You can also do this if there is a clause in your contract that allows you to back out of buying the home.  If you breach your contract because of missed payments; however, then you can move into the acceleration clause, which gives you some flexible time to catch up with the initial payments and to avoid the problems with installment. 

Understanding the basics of a land contract can provide you with a stronger basis toward the real estate property that you want to buy.  The flexibility that is included with this contract, as well as the extra provisions, can help you to make a better decision about buying a property with an installment plan.  The conditions that apply to this, as well as the extra alternatives that are included, can help you to get the correct alternatives when looking for a potential home to buy. 

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Tags: land cotnractrent to purchase, rent with option to buy, sell and stay

Real Estate