Selling on your own
How to sell land in Texas without a realtor.
You can sell your own land in Texas without an agent. Here’s how it works, step by step. Or skip the work and get a written cash offer from us.
- We pay cash
- No agent commission
- Sell it as-is
- A written offer, no obligation
- You pick the closing date
The short answer
Yes, you can sell it yourself
Texas requires a real estate license only for people who sell property for someone else in exchange for pay. If the land is yours, you can sell it yourself. What you give up is the agent’s help with pricing, marketing and paperwork, so the steps below are on you.
Six steps to sell land on your own
- Know exactly what you own. Pull your deed and any survey, and look your property up on your county appraisal district’s website for the acreage and legal description. Note who else is on the title, any liens, and any mineral or water rights that were held back.
- Check access and the basics buyers ask about. Does the land touch a public road, or do you reach it by an easement? Is there electricity nearby, a water well or water service, and is any of it in a floodplain? Buyers and their lenders will ask all of these.
- Set a realistic price. Look at land that actually sold nearby, not just asking prices. The appraisal district’s value is for property taxes and may not match what a buyer will pay. A local appraiser can give you a formal number for a fee.
- Get it in front of buyers. Land listing websites, a sign on the road, and the neighbors are the usual places to start. Neighbors are often the best buyers for land next to theirs.
- Put the deal in writing. The Texas Real Estate Commission publishes standard contract forms, including the Unimproved Property Contract and the Farm and Ranch Contract. Have a Texas real estate attorney look over whatever you sign.
- Close at a title company. Open title with a Texas title company once you have a signed contract. It clears the title, collects the money and records the deed.
Your three options
Agent, on your own, or a direct buyer
- List with a land agent. Often the highest price for land that’s in demand, but you pay a commission and wait for a buyer and their financing.
- Sell it yourself. No commission, but you do the pricing, marketing, showings and paperwork.
- Sell directly to a cash buyer like us. We pay cash, with no commission, no showings, sold as-is, and you pick the closing date. It may not be the top price, and we’ll tell you if we think listing is your better move.
Questions
Common questions
Do I need a real estate license to sell my own land in Texas?
No. Texas law requires a license for people who sell real estate for someone else in exchange for a commission or other pay (Texas Occupations Code 1101.002). Selling land you own yourself doesn’t require one.
Do I have to fill out a seller’s disclosure for vacant land?
The standard Texas Seller’s Disclosure Notice in Property Code 5.008 covers residential property with no more than one dwelling unit. Vacant land usually falls outside that form, but you still shouldn’t hide problems you know about. Ask a Texas real estate attorney what applies to your property.
Who handles the closing if there’s no agent?
A Texas title company. It searches the title, holds the earnest money, prepares the closing papers with the parties’ attorneys, pays off any liens or back taxes from the sale, and records the deed.
Is selling on my own always the best choice?
No. Listing with a land agent can bring a higher price for some properties, especially land that’s easy to finance and in demand. Selling on your own saves the commission but takes your time. Selling directly to a buyer like us is usually the fastest and simplest, but it may not be the highest price. Compare your options before you decide.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Every family and every property is different. For your situation, talk to a Texas attorney. Apex Freedom Fund buys land; we are not attorneys and we don’t represent sellers.
Hard situations