The Ultimate Guide to Buying Land in Florida

Buy Land from

LANDTRADERS

Dream lots become dream homes.

How to Buy Land in Florida

Buying land in Florida can seem daunting but here at Landtraders, we make things happen. We specialize in selling vacant land for sale by owner at or below market value, and without intermediaries. And because we’ve been in the business of selling land in Florida for almost 20 years, we’ve learned a thing or two along the way about buying land in Florida, too. To sell land, you gotta buy some first. Here's a list of tips and things to consider when buying land in the Sunshine State.

Tip #1 – Be informed of all financial factors:

• Run price comparissons in the area to make sure you're getting a fair quote. Use free platforms such as Realtor.com and Zillow.com to do your market research. To run "price comps" just enter the zip code and relevant criteria such as lot size and price to see what direct comparissons exist in the area. Pro tip: Make sure to check out what properties have sold recently-- this can provide insight on what is selling faster.
• Cash offers are the standard, most common type of offers we receive. Be prepared to provide proof of funds and a down payment of some sort when getting a property under contract.
• Time is money. The faster and more transparent the process of buying land is, the more you’ll save on it. You can check out Landtrader’s process here.
• Not all banks finance land loans but they exist and we've got some recommendations for you if you need one.

Photo by Matthew Henry - Naples, Florida

Tip #2 – Fair Market Value:

• Buy land at fair market value: if a lot is underpriced it may be a sign of underlying issues. If you want to learn more about property valuation, give this article a read.
• If working with a builder, keep in mind that prices will have a premium built into them.

Tip #3 – Title and Escrow:

• Make sure you escrow deposit with a licensed escrow agent, and use a professional title agency to ensure you take a clear and insurable title to the property. For more information on this, check out Seth Williams, a popular real estate investor who offers helpful tips about Clear Titles on his blog.
• If you don't have the time to do this yourself or are nervous you’ll miss something, you can work with a company like ours that sells vacant lots in Florida without intermediaries, ensuring the purchase is the quickest, easiest, and most profitable possible.

Tip #4 - Review County Records

• A lot of property records are public and easily accessible. Use county websites to find recent surveys and double check the boundaries and zoning of the property.

Tip #5 - Make Sure Properties Are Inspected Where Necessary

• Make sure the lots you buy, sell, or trade are properly inspected by 3rd party licensed professionals.
• Though sellers aren't required to provide their property inspections to you, some have them and can make them available to you upon request, so don't hesitate to ask.

Things to watch out for when buying a vacant lot in Florida:

• Realtors are determined folks! And though we do work with realtors, we also know we are capable of making easy, honest, and speedy transactions without paying for someone in the middle.
• Proximity to utilities and roads! Be aware of how close you are to these as it may help you understand the value of the property and give you an upper hand in negotiating.
• Keep an eye our for the trustworthiness of the seller-- Are they a family or business? Do they have a website? Do they have reviews? Are they backed by the Better Business Bureau? Take a moment to evaluate your potential sellers and see what other people have to say. You can check out ours here.

Photo by David Mark

Buying land in Florida doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Whether you’re investing or buying your forever home, having full autonomy over your property doesn’t have to be scary either. Become one of the satisfied clients who bought vacant land from us in exchange for a great price and an effortless process. We are vacant land experts who are ready to help you build the life of your dreams. If you need a builder, we’ve got those too!