Start with the land’s location, the papers you have and what you want from the sale. Next, choose a price and decide how to find a buyer. You can list with a land agent, sell yourself or compare a direct offer. This guide helps you get ready without turning a simple first step into a pile of homework.
Tell us about your land. There’s no obligation to accept an offer.
Start with what you know. These steps will help you get ready and choose the way to sell that fits you.
Find your most recent tax bill. Write down the parcel number, the acres and the closest road. A parcel is one piece of land listed in the county’s records. If you own more than one, make a short list of which pieces you want to sell.
Put your deed, any old survey and loan or tax papers in one folder. A deed is the recorded paper that describes a property transfer. A survey is a drawing prepared to show the land’s boundaries. You can begin with copies; ask the closing team what they’ll need later.
Think about your goal, too. Would you rather spend time finding a buyer or get an offer you can compare sooner? Is there a date that matters to you? Those answers help you choose a way to sell.
If the land has no street address, look on your tax bill for its parcel number. Oakland also calls this a PIN. It identifies one piece of land in county records. Keep that number with the city, village or township name so you don’t mix up nearby properties.
The county’s Mapping Services page explains how to use Property Gateway. Search with a parcel number or property address; it needs at least five characters. Check the map location against the road and papers you know.
Many map features are free. Some reports and printed maps cost money. You don’t need to buy a report just to start asking about selling. Save the details you can find and make a short list of anything missing. The county lists 248-858-8812 for help with the gateway.
Need a deed copy? Use the Register of Deeds’ Property & Land page to reach Super Index. The county says that service covers recorded documents back to January 1, 1964, except subdivision plat maps. A plat is a map showing a group of lots. If you need an older record or a plat, ask the office where to find it.
Finding a deed copy helps you gather papers. It doesn’t settle every question about who can sign the sale. Give the deed and any shared-owner or estate papers to the person handling closing.
A buyer needs to know what they would see and how to get there. Put these simple details in one place:
Take recent photos of the entrance and the land you can safely reach. If there’s no sign or clear street address, a photo of the entrance can help someone find the right place.
Keep the description honest. A map pin isn’t a surveyed boundary, and a line on an online map doesn’t show everything a buyer may need to check. Share your old survey if you have one. You don’t have to order a new one or clear the land before asking about selling.
If you don’t know whether a utility is connected or a use is allowed, say so. Buyers can ask questions. A clear “not sure” is better than a promise you can’t support.
Look for recent sales of land a buyer would compare with yours. Match the size, location, road access and main features. A small lot and a working field can draw different buyers, even in the same county.
Keep asking prices separate from completed sales. An asking price shows what an owner hopes to get. A tax value is used for taxes. Neither alone tells you what a buyer will pay today.
A local land agent or appraiser can help when good sales are hard to find. Ask which sales they used and why those match your land. If a sale included a house or several parcels, check what the price covered before using it.
Our land value guide explains how to make a simple comparison. Start with a range you can explain, rather than copying the highest price you see.
An agent can help with pricing, advertising, buyer questions and offers. Ask about their land experience, fee, listing length and who handles visits.
You manage the listing, calls, visits and negotiations. Make sure you have a clear description, safe showing plan and someone to help with the sale papers.
A direct buyer purchases the land from you. This may reduce the work of marketing it, but you should still compare the price and terms. Reelvest is one option. Tell us about your land if you’d like an offer to consider. You’re free to choose another route.
Ask for the price and costs in writing. A loan balance, unpaid taxes, agent fee or closing costs may come out of your payment. Ask which side pays each item.
Here’s a made-up example: a $75,000 price minus $5,000 in seller costs leaves $70,000 before any loan or unpaid tax balance. This is only a comparison example. It isn’t an estimate for your land.
Read when the buyer can cancel, how long they have to check the land, what happens to the deposit and the target closing date. Ask for an explanation of any unclear term before signing.
Use our land offer worksheet to put offers side by side. The largest headline price may come with more costs or more conditions.
Once you agree on an offer, ask who will handle the sale papers and payment. Give them the deed, loan details and other papers they request. Ask for a list of missing items and a written estimate of the money you’ll receive.
If you’re handling inherited land or helping settle a loved one’s estate, gather the papers you have. Ask which documents and signatures are needed. The same applies if you share the land with other owners. You can ask for help before everything is sorted out.
Before you sign the final papers, check the property description, price and costs. Know how payment will reach you. Keep copies of the signed agreement and closing papers for your records.
Start with a tax bill, parcel number, deed copy and any old survey. Add the closest road and acres if known. Missing papers can be worked on; you don’t need a perfect folder before asking for help.
Not always. Start with any survey you already have. Ask the closing team whether this sale needs a new one, who would arrange it and who would pay.
Start with the parcel number on your tax bill and the city or township. Oakland’s Property Gateway accepts a parcel number or property address. Compare the map with the closest road and your papers before saving the result.
Ask the closing team who needs to sign and which papers they need. Don’t assume one owner can sign for everyone. You can start by gathering the deed and names you know.
Local source links reviewed October 5, 2026.