Finding the Right Deal for a Land Contract

by Brooke 28. June 2010

There are several ways to move into a home without a real estate agent or a mortgage company.  If you want to move through a transaction without the traditional provisions, then getting a land contract and a FSBO deal can provide you with the right steps.  Understanding what is involved with the contract will then help you to move into your home while getting a vendor agreement that is flexible and provides you with the right approach to your financial needs. 

The concept of a land contract is to have a basic agreement between a buyer and seller for a real estate transaction.  Typically, the owner will keep the title of the land and will retain their ownership.  You will then be required to make installments or payments to pay off the principle of the loan or until the owner decide to give you the property through a different mortgage agreement.  This basic setup is combined with different provisions that can help you to get the right set up for your financial needs and the home ownership considerations you have. 

When you begin to look through a land contract, you will want to make sure that the deal fits your specific needs.  The first aspect to this is the payments that you agree to make.  The monthly installments that are a part of the contract should fit your budget and are typically flexible with how much you can pay per month.  For some, they will pay a basic rental fee that is related to the price of the market.  Later, this will count as the down payment of the home and you will be given a mortgage agreement for the home. However, if you want to pay the principle of the home quickly, then you can consider large monthly installments for complete ownership. 

The payment plans that you arrange for a land contract will also make a difference in the other agreements that you make.  For instance, the amount of time that you have until you pay back the home is one of the alterations you will need to consider.  You will also want to work out other agreements with the care and maintenance of the home.  Since the owner keeps the title, the agreement sometimes fluctuates with responsibility. 

Understanding the concepts that are a part of a land contract can help you to own your home outside of traditional methods.  Making sure that you find the best deal in terms of finances and through agreements with alternative needs is the first step to moving into the home you want.  When you begin to work through a basic contract, you will need to make sure that you know exactly what is involved so you can enjoy even more of owning your home.