How long it takes to sell land, and why it stalls

How long does it take to sell land?

Land typically sells within 60 days, according to NAR's 2023 Land Markets Survey of REALTORS. The survey says 25 percent of those sales wrapped up in less than 30 days. In several regions, most sales closed in under 45 days.

These figures cover sales reported by REALTORS. Your parcel can take longer if the price is high or the title is unclear. A cash sale skips the lender, so it can close faster. Our guide on cash sale versus listing compares the two paths.

Why is vacant land slow to sell?

Fewer people shop for land than for homes, and each parcel is different. A buyer needs to judge access, utilities, soil, zoning and use, and many cannot see this from a photo.

Buyers who need a loan add steps, such as an appraisal and lender approval. Land with no building can also raise questions about what the buyer can do with it. Each question adds days or kills a deal.

What makes land hard to sell?

Four problems come up most often. Each has a fix, and some take time. Check yours against this list before you set a price.

• Access. Buyers want a legal way in. Landlocked land may need an easement. See landlocked property.
• Title. Liens, unpaid taxes or unclear owners can stop a closing. See land without clear title.
• Price. A price above what buyers pay in your area can leave the land on the market. Our land value estimate gives a rough range.
• Financing. If most buyers in your area need a loan, fewer can close fast.

Why won't my land sell?

Start with price and exposure. If you have few showings, the price or the listing may be the issue. If you have showings but no offers, buyers may be seeing a problem like access, title or use limits.

Ask the people who looked at the land what stopped them. Their answers tell you which fix to try first.

Can you sell land without a realtor?

You can sell land without a realtor. See selling land without an agent for the steps and for commission ranges.

What does it cost to sell land?

Selling land costs agent commission if you list, plus closing, title and recording fees. Use the broker commission estimate and the net proceeds calculator to enter your own numbers.

• Agent commission, if you list with one. Commission ranges are on the selling without an agent page.
• Closing, title and recording fees, and any transfer tax your state charges.
• Back taxes and liens, which are paid from the sale.
• Costs of holding the land while you wait: taxes, insurance and upkeep.
• Survey or marketing costs, if you choose them.

How fast can a cash sale close?

Liberty Acres is a family-owned land company. We buy land anywhere in the US, in any condition, and close through a title company. We pay back taxes and all closing costs, with no agents and no commissions. We can close in as little as 14 days. Most sales close within a few weeks to a few months, once the title work is done. A listing has no fixed end date, so a cash offer can shorten the wait.

A real sale from our files

A couple had owned 13 acres in New Mexico for over 40 years, held in a trust. Before closing, the title company needed the trust papers and a name check. We closed 46 days after signing. Paperwork like this, not the buyer's money, is what usually sets the timeline.

Names and identifying details are left out to protect the seller's privacy.

Common questions