Legal Documents Required To Sell Land By Owner

Last updated on September 23rd, 2025 at 05:29 am

Selling land on your own may appear easy, but there is always much more to it than we think. You own the land, a person wants to purchase it, and you sell it to them. Sounds simple, but there’s a lot more to it, especially if you go the For Sale By Owner path. 

Keep in mind whether you sell for yourself or collaborate with a real estate agent, there will be a series of files and other things that you must be aware of that can be used in order to complete a sale. 

Although there are methods around all of this, such as trying to sell your land directly to a cash buyer, in this guide to selling land in Texas, we’ll look more closely at the documents you’ll need to be aware of.

Now let’s dive deeper into each of these four essential documents and what you need to know about them.

Purchase Contract

A purchase agreement is the first and perhaps most important document you’ll need. The purchase agreement is a legal contract that the purchaser will ratify as part of their offer to purchase the property.

This document shows that the buyer intends to complete the transaction and is committed to meeting the conditions of the deal.

It should provide a description of the property that corresponds to the real acreage or borders. 

If the land is described in ambiguous terms or differs from other plans, funding or legal approvals may be hampered. The agreed-upon price should be stated in both numbers and words. 

The buyer will be required to pay a deposit, and the entire quantity should be noted in the contract. It should also state what the seller intends to do with the deposit during the transaction. 

If the seller is offering financing for the transaction, the agreement should specify the terms. This includes loan amounts, interest rates, repayment terms, and any mortgage language. 

Deed

A deed is utilized to transfer the title of the land to the purchaser. If the buyer is financing or paying cash, the deed must be introduced at closing and therefore should be brought by the seller.

The deed must then be transferred to the buyer and registered with all relevant local, state, and federal government organizations. If the seller is offering financial support, a deed is still required, but it should be held in escrow until the buyer makes the final payment.

The deed which is a legal instrument, will be submitted with the county clerk and other government agencies once payment is completed. It will then be transferred to the buyer.

The Recorder of Deeds can be found at your local government office, which keeps track of real estate ownership records and papers.

Disclosure Document

The disclosure statement must be prepared by the landowner and must disclose all known material facts about the property. 

A property disclosure statement describes any problems or issues that the seller is cognizant of that may have a negative impact on the land’s value. 

Certain substances, such as asbestos and lead-based paints, must be mentioned in all cases, according to the United States government. Texas, as well as its counties, will have their own set of rules and regulations. 

Check your local regulations because some regions need disclosures if there was a fatality on the property, while others may compel acknowledgment if any sex offenders live close.

Disclosure agreements protect not only the seller, but everyone related to the sale.

The buyer could always pull out of the agreement. (though they will almost certainly lose their earnest money deposits)

Other Related Documents

When you sell a house, one of the requirements will be a survey. The cost of a survey is a negotiable portion. It can be paid for by the seller or the buyer. It is customary for the sale to pay in Texas.

If you are financing the transaction, you will need closing statement that details all credits and debits. That can be done by a title company or an attorney. 

It might include a schedule outlining the buyer’s projected payments. Other documents that will be required include a copy of the property insurance and a topographical map of the real estate with clear boundaries.

• A title search is recommended to be conducted by the seller prior to selling land by owner in Texas.
• A title insurance policy is recommended to be obtained by the buyer when purchasing land by owner in Texas.

That also means as a seller you will be responsible for making repairs, the curb appeal of the property, and all the negotiations with the buyers agent!