Sell Land By Owner

Most land buyers who reach out on Facebook Marketplace, Zillow, or even the MLS fall into one of two buckets:

Cash buyers who move fast.
Hopeful buyers who can't qualify for traditional bank loans.

It's tempting to write off the second group. Most sellers do. But here's the truth:

Many of these buyers actually have $10K–$30K saved for a down payment.
They want land — but most banks prefer not to lend on unimproved land unless it's tied to a construction loan, or they pass on the buyer entirely because they don't fit the perfect credit or income profile.
Without another option, they walk away, and most sellers lose them.

This is where non-traditional land-friendly lenders become your secret weapon.

Why This Works

These lenders specialize in what banks won't: vacant land or "non-standard" deals. In return, they usually require:

Higher down payments (often 30% minimum)
Higher interest rates than conventional loans

That may sound harsh, but here's the key: if the choice is pay more or not buy at all, serious buyers will take the deal every time.

Your Job as the Seller

Prequalify upfront:

Don't waste your lender's time. Ask buyers if they have at least ~30% down.

Protect the relationship:

Only send serious buyers who meet the lender's criteria.

Frame it as an opportunity:

"Most lenders won't fund vacant land, but I work with a lender who specialize in this. If you've got around 30% down, they can often make it happen — even for buyers who might not typically qualify for a traditional loan."

How to Find These Lenders (Fast)

Step 1: Google Search Sprint (≈30 minutes)

Search these terms (swap in your state/county):

"vacant land financing [CITY, STATE]"
"portfolio land loan credit union [STATE or COUNTY]"
"private land lender [CITY, STATE]"
"farm credit land loan [CITY, STATE]"
"land loan hard money [CITY, STATE]"

Collect the top ~20 lenders (emails) from the first 2 pages of each search. If you don't get enough, switch to just [STATE] searches, no city.

Step 2: Local Referrals

Post in local land buy/sell groups and real estate investor Facebook groups asking for referrals.

Copy/paste this:

"Looking for land-friendly lenders who can do land-only loans with 30–40% down (buyers are income-qualified but don't fit bank programs). Please drop the lender's name + contact info if you know someone. Thanks!"

You'll almost always get several referrals the same day—often the exact lenders local investors are already using.

First Email to Lenders (Copy/Paste)

Subject: Land-Only Loans?

Hi [First Name],

I'm selling land and have buyers who don't qualify for traditional bank loans due to imperfect credit but have 30–40% down and steady income. I'm looking for a land-friendly lender and will only send buyers who meet your requirements.

Is this something you offer, and if so, could you please confirm your basic minimums for land-only loans?

Minimum credit score
Minimum down payment %
Any property restrictions (raw/ag/recreational, access issues, etc.)

If this isn't something you handle, would you please point me to a lender you'd recommend who does?

Thank you!

[Your Name]
[Phone] | [Email]

Your goal: Quickly identify 2–3 lenders with the lowest requirements in down payment, credit score, and restrictions. Those become your go-to options for turning "dead leads" into funded deals.

Why This Is Powerful

You turn "dead leads" into funded deals that close.
You help buyers who feel stuck — creating loyalty and urgency.
You sell properties others give up on, often at stronger prices.

👉 Master this, and you'll never again write off a "No" just because the buyer doesn't have cash in hand. Instead, you'll see them as potential "Yeses" with the right lender behind them.

Lesson 37 of 37