USA Land Sales

Transferring Ownership

What happens after you complete the purchase of your dream property through USA Land Sales?

Find out how we facilitate the Transfer of Ownership.

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Transferring Ownership

After completing your land purchase through USA Land Sales, count on us to make transferring ownership of the land to you easy. Here’s how it works:

  • Immediately after you agree to purchase land, we will email you payment instructions and a form to provide us with the vesting information (see details below), including the full names (no initials allowed) of the individuals to be recorded on the deed, full address, marital status, title, and tenancy for the property.
  • As soon as we receive your payment and vesting information, we will begin processing the paperwork related to the Transfer of Ownership.
  • USA Land Sales will prepare the deed, have it notarized, and send the deed along with a check to the county to record and transfer the property.
  • The process typically takes 8-10 weeks but may take longer depending on the county and their capacity.
  • Finally, we will deliver your documents by FedEx or UPS.

Congratulations - once you receive the deed you are the official owner!

The package will contain the property deed and information on how to record the property (enter it into public records) in the specific county in which the property is located. As the registered new owner with the county and in the public record, the assessor will contact you for your annual property taxes.

Vesting Information

Vesting refers to how you will be taking the property title. Every circumstance is different, and many states have unique laws regarding Transfer of Ownership of real property.

The form of title will have legal consequences. If you have questions, you should consult a qualified legal advisor. USA Land Sales will generate your title based on the information you provide, and you will bear the responsibility for correcting any errors in the information submitted.

Methods of Holding Title

Sole Owner: Ownership by a single individual or other entity.

Co-Ownership: Ownership by two or more persons.

Legal Entity: Ownership by a legal entity, such as a corporation or trust.

Taking Title as a Sole Owner

Taking Title as a Sole Owner generally requires you to describe your personal legal status. For example, you will need to state whether you are single, married, divorced, or unmarried (previously married and now legally divorced).

Should a married person choose to take Title by Sole Ownership, you should indicate that you are married taking Title “as his/her sole and separate property.” In most cases, your spouse will be required to relinquish claim to the property.

Taking Title with Co-Ownership

The most common forms of vesting for two or more persons are:

  • Community Property: Property owned by a husband and wife during their marriage. The property is owned equally, and either spouse may dispose of one-half of the property by sale or by transfer.
  • Joint Tenancy: Property owned by more than one person who may or may not be married to each other. Each co-owner holds an equal interest in the property, subject to the right of survivorship by the surviving joint tenant(s). When one joint tenant dies, Title is passed to the remaining joint tenant(s), and rights to the property do not pass to the heirs or beneficiaries of the deceased owner.
  • Tenancy in Common: Property owned by two or more individuals in undivided fractional interests. Each tenant in common owns a share of the property (the shares may be unequally distributed among the tenants in common). Each tenant in common may transfer his or her share of the property (for instance, by sale or by will).

Taking Title as a Legal Entity

As with Sole Ownership, taking Title as a Legal Entity generally requires you to state the form of entity. The county may require you to submit documentary evidence showing the name of the entity and that the party executing documents for the entity has the authority to do so.

Some of the basic forms of a Legal Entity are:

  • Corporation: A legal entity created under state law, with a separate legal status from its owners (or shareholders).
  • Partnership: An association of persons who carry on business as co-owners under the Uniform Partnership Act.
  • Limited Liability Corporation (LLC): A legal entity recognized under the state laws of many states, wherein owners have limited personal liability.
  • Trust: A legal arrangement in which a person (a trustee) manages assets held for the benefit of individuals (the beneficiaries) specified in the Trust Agreement
  • Non-Profit Corporation: An entity established to carry on activities for a specific charitable purpose, as registered under Federal Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

At USA Land Sales, we take the hassle and guesswork out of the process for your Transfer of Ownership for your newly purchased property. If you have questions along the way, our trusted experts are happy to answer them and put your mind at ease.

Ready to purchase the property of your dreams? Log in to your USA Land Sales account to get started!