Frequently Asked Questions

Who pays HOA or LOA fees?

With owner financing we pay the HOA or LOA fees directly, they will be included in the monthly payments.


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Who pays the property taxes?

With owner financing it will be included in the monthly fees and we will pay the taxes directly.


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What payment methods do we accept?

We accept major credit cards, cashiers check, and bitcoin. Yes you can buy land with a credit card!


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Can I spread the purchase between multiple credit cards?

Yes, please contact us first as its a manual process and can’t be done on our online checkout form.


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When do I become the official owner?

Once you pay the down payment and sign the land contract you will be able to use the land. When the property is fully paid for the we will submit the deed transfer to the county.


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What if I stop paying?

If you purchased the property with owner financing and stop paying we will try and contact you to find a solution. If you want to keep the property you will need to be current on payments. After 3 months of non-payment we will cancel the purchase agreement and take back the property. You will not be charged additional fees, you can simply walk away.


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How do I apply for owner financing?

We do not check your credit, everyone qualifies. Some properties are not offered on owner financing, the listing will specify if it is.


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How long does it take?

The day you sign the purchase agreement and pay for the property you can use your land. The process to get the recorded deed back from the county takes approximately 2-4 weeks depending on the county.


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What is the process to record the deed?

When you check out we need you to specify how you want the deed titled, the mailing address you want the deed and taxes sent to, and how to best contact you. Once the land has been paid for we prepare, sign, and notarize a special warranty deed to officially transfer ownership to you. We then have it notarized and sent via certified mail to the county to be recorded. The county will record the deed and forward a copy to you for your records.


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Do I need a real estate agent?

No, most vacant land is sold without agents. We will work with agents to finalize a deal, but any commissions are the responsibility of the buyer.


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I am not a United States citizen, can I buy land from you?

Yes. Please let us know and we can make sure the paperwork is properly done.


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Do you need an attorney?

No, but you are always welcome to seek legal counsel. We make sure our contracts are simple and straightforward, if you have any questions please let us know and we can review any terms with you. Buying land is a much more simple than buying a house or other property, there is typically much less paperwork and legal issues. In our experience the participation of an attorney is seldom needed when transferring ownership of a vacant parcel of land, typically we only need a notary.


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Can I buy this for someone else?

Yes. You can convey title to a 3rd party. The seller signs as the ‘Grantor’ granting the property to the ‘Grantee’, or receiver of the grant. A child not of age to sign legally binding contracts does not need to sign to receive or take ownership of land.


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Do we need to meet in person to close the deal?

If you choose to close with a local escrow/title company they will have specific instructions on when and where the closing will take place. If you choose to close with us we do all the paperwork remotely, we do not meet with buyers in person. The entire process is electronic or the oldfashioned way, through mail.


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How do I hold the property?

If you need time to get the money together we do offer a hold for a fee of $200/week. This will be applied to your purchase if you buy the property, but is non-refundable if you do not. Please contact us to set it up.


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Can you show me the property?

No, there are no lock boxes or doors. GPS coordinates and maps are provided, go check it out.


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Can I go see the property before buying it?

Yes, but lots sell fast and time is of the interest.


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Who pays for what?

We do not pay for title insurance, escrow services, surveys, soil tests, septic inspections, wells, etc. We do pay for all taxes and fees associated with recording the deed in your name unless noted in the purchase agreement.


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Who pays for a survey?

The buyer (you) will pay for any additional survey.


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Can you send me the purchase agreement before I sign it?

We do not draft contracts before money has been deposited. Our contracts are very simple and straight forward, but if there is any language in the contract that you would like to change please contact us directly and we will accommodate within reason.


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Who pays for title insurance?

The buyer (you) pays for title insurance if you want it. We typically buy title insurance when we are the buyer for higher value properties and expect the same for all buyers.


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How long does a 3rd party Title/Escrow company take?

Typically 2-3 weeks. Sooner if you are a cash buyer or we closed the property with the same company in the last few months. Longer if a title company has additional questions or drags their feet on something.


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Can I trust Summit Land Co?

We hope to earn your trust, if you have any concerns please contact us directly. We encourage you to close with a title/escrow company for property over $10,000 or for your own peace of mind. We close most of our deals without a 3rd party but we understand all cases are unique.


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I don’t have a credit card, how do I reserve the property?

Contact our office, we will provide alternatives. A cashier’s check or wire transfer is available as well.


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Who owns the property now?

We do. In most cases the county website has not been updated yet. After a deed is recorded it takes weeks or even months for it to be updated in their systems. Rest assured we have clear title to the land and will file the proper paperwork with the county to transfer it to you. We can provide copies of the recorded deeds or contracts for any listed properties.


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What does the county need when I call with questions?

The county will need the APN and possibly the legal description. These are on the listing page.


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Can I park my RV?

This is county and zoning specific and you need to verify with the county directly.


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What type of structure or house can I build?

It is the responsibility of the buyer to verify with the Planning & Zoning Office or the Assessor’s Office of the county what is legal to build and what permits are required. Our research on the properties is limited to making sure we can convey clear title with no existing liens or back taxes.


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What are the mineral rights?

Mineral rights are not included unless otherwise specified. If mineral rights are important, potentially contact a real estate attorney as most past deeds never specify ownership so significant research is needed.


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Are there utilities?

Each property is different and we will list what we know about the property in the listing. It is the buyer’s responsibility to verify the information is accurate and suitable for their needs as we are not responsible for errors in the listings.


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Are there back taxes or liens on the property?

No. We guarantee that each property is free of tax or other liens and the taxes are current. We pro-rate taxes so your first tax bill could be a partial payment.


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What are the property taxes?

All taxes are current and there are no liens on the property. Each listing will have different yearly/quarterly tax bills due to the county directly. We typically list the prior year’s tax amount on the ad which will change from year to year. For more information please contact the country Treasurer’s office where the parcel is located.


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Why is the price so low?

Summit Land Co aims to make the dream of land ownership available to all. Our prices are consistently 25-50% less than market value. This enables you to get instant equity and feel comfortable knowing you got a great deal. We buy land at a discount directly from counties or from the prior land owner and we pass that savings on to our buyers at “wholesale” prices.


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Rural Vacant Land