How to Verify a Land Listing
Vacant land is a common target for scams, so check before you pay anything. On Acre Dreams you can verify a listing yourself: look the parcel up on the county's own record, close through a licensed title company, and look for sellers marked Verified. You never have to take our word for it.
Look the parcel up on the county record
Listings show the parcel number (APN). Where we have a confirmed link, it opens the county’s own property record or search page; otherwise, look the APN up on the county’s site (our County Records Lookup tool lists the ones we know). Use it to confirm the parcel exists, where it is, and its size. The county is the source, not us.
The owner name on the county record may not match the seller’s name. Common reasons: the seller holds land through a company (the listing says which names to expect), the county hasn’t updated its records after a recent purchase, or the seller has the parcel under contract with the right to sell it. Ask the seller about any mismatch, and confirm it with the title company before closing.
Close through a licensed title company
A title company checks that the seller can transfer clean title, handles the closing paperwork and funds, and records the deed with the county. Listings say when the seller closes every sale through a licensed title company. You can call that title company yourself before you sign.
Look for the Verified mark
Sellers marked Verified have had their identity and right to sell confirmed by Acre Dreams. The mark appears next to the seller’s name on each listing and on the seller’s page.
Why listings don’t advertise a monthly payment
Owner-financed terms are worked out with each buyer, so the payment fits what you can actually afford over the long term. A big low monthly number in an ad tells you nothing about the real terms. Payment arrangements are agreed between you and the seller and written into your contract.
Warning signs on any land site
- The seller won’t talk on the phone or meet through a title company.
- You’re asked to wire money or send a gift card to a person before any paperwork.
- There’s no parcel number, or the parcel number doesn’t match the county record at all.
- You’re pressured to pay today, before you’ve seen the contract or the county record.
- The price is far below everything nearby and the seller can’t explain why.
From search to closing
- 1SearchFilter by state, acreage, price, and land type. Every parcel is listed directly by the seller, with no agent markup.
- 2CheckEach listing shows the parcel number with a link to the county record, maps, flood zone and utilities, so you can verify it before you drive.
- 3Talk to the sellerCall, text or message the owner directly to ask questions, make an offer, or arrange a visit.
- 4CloseSign a written contract and close through a title company. Ask the seller which one they use, and call it yourself.
Questions
Is Acre Dreams legit?
Acre Dreams is a marketplace for rural land sold directly by its owners. You don’t have to take our word for anything: listings show the parcel number so you can look it up on the county’s own record, listings say when the seller closes through a licensed title company, and sellers marked Verified have had their identity and right to sell confirmed by Acre Dreams. Before you sign, check the county record, talk to the seller, and call the title company.
Why doesn’t the county record show the seller’s name?
The owner name on the county record may not match the seller’s name. Common reasons: the seller holds land through a company (the listing says which names to expect), the county hasn’t updated its records after a recent purchase, or the seller has the parcel under contract with the right to sell it. Ask the seller about any mismatch, and confirm it with the title company before closing.
Does Acre Dreams handle the money?
No. Acre Dreams lists the land and connects you with the seller. The sale is between you and the seller, and the closing is handled by a title company. Never send money to anyone outside a written contract and a closing you’ve verified.
Why isn’t there a monthly payment on the listing?
Owner-financed terms are set with each buyer so the payment is affordable long term. Listings show the cash price, the owner-financed price and the down payment; the rest is agreed between you and the seller and written into your contract.
Should I get my own attorney?
Many buyers do, especially for owner-financed purchases. An attorney or the title company can explain the contract and anything specific to your state. We can’t give legal or tax advice.