Offer, Due Diligence & Closing

Making the Offer

A land offer is about more than price. We'll also consider the due diligence period, earnest money, financing, contingencies, closing date, and any other terms that matter to your plans for the property.

I'll help you look at the offer as a whole, decide where you may have room to negotiate, and make sure you understand what you're signing before it goes to the seller.

Once You're Under Contract

Once the offer is accepted, the Purchase and Sale Agreement becomes our roadmap. This is when we start working through the questions that need answers before you decide the land really works for you.

Depending on the property and your plans, that might include reviewing restrictions and access, confirming utilities, evaluating soil or septic suitability, ordering a survey, testing an existing well, talking with your builder, or reviewing plans with an Architectural Control Committee.

Due Diligence & Contingencies

Your due diligence period gives you time to research the property more closely and decide whether you want to move forward. Some testing or professional work may take longer to schedule, so certain concerns may also be addressed with specific contingencies in the contract.

Deadlines matter. Surveyors, soil professionals, well contractors, lenders, and other third parties work on their own schedules, so we'll want to identify what needs to be done and get it moving early.

Getting Ready to Close

While you're completing your property research, the lender will be working on financing and appraisal if applicable, and the closing attorney will be completing the title work and preparing for closing.

Before closing, you'll also receive a preliminary settlement statement showing the financial details of your purchase. Review it and ask about anything you don't understand or that doesn't look right.

One important warning: wire fraud is real. Never send money based on an unexpected email, text, or phone call telling you wiring instructions have changed. If anything seems unusual, contact the closing attorney directly using information you already know is legitimate.

Closing Day

Once the remaining requirements are satisfied, closing itself is usually pretty straightforward. The closing attorney will go through the documents, explain what you're signing, and give you time to ask questions.

When the transaction is complete, the land is yours. If the property is in a gated community or HOA, there may also be gate access, community information, keys, remotes, or other details to take care of as the new owner.

Next: Owning Your New Land

There are a few things worth knowing once the property is officially yours, especially if you're planning to hold it for a while before you build.