Land Glossary: Simple Definitions for Landowners Across the United States 📚

Selling land often comes with unfamiliar terms, legal language, and industry jargon that can feel overwhelming at first. Whether you’re dealing with inherited property, vacant land, zoning questions, or title concerns, understanding the terminology can make the entire process much easier.

This nationwide land glossary was created to explain the most common land-related terms in plain English so you can better understand your property, your options, and the steps involved in selling.

If you’re just starting your research, you may also find these guides helpful:

• Learn the full process: How To Sell Land
• Explore common challenges: Selling Land With Issues
• Browse educational guides: Land Selling Resource Center

Understanding the language is the first step. Once you feel comfortable with the terms below, you’ll have a much clearer picture of how land ownership, value, and sales work across the United States.

🇺🇸 This glossary covers the most common land terms used when buying, owning, and selling land in the United States 🇺🇸

A

Acre

A unit of land measurement equal to 43,560 square feet. Most land is priced and sold by the acre.

Acreage

A general term used to describe how many acres a property has.

Access

The ability to legally reach your land from a public road.

Access Easement

A legal right allowing someone to cross another property to reach theirs.

Adverse Possession

A legal situation where someone may gain ownership of land after openly using it for many years without the owner stopping them. Laws vary by state.

Affidavit of Heirship

A document used to help prove who inherited land when someone passes away without a will.

Agricultural Land

Land used for farming, crops, or livestock.

Agricultural Zoning

Zoning rules that allow farming and limit certain types of development.

Appraisal

A professional opinion of how much a property is worth.

Assessed Value

The value the county places on your land for tax purposes.

Appreciation

When land increases in value over time.

As-Is Sale

Selling land in its current condition without making improvements or repairs.

B

Back Taxes

Property taxes that were not paid in previous years.

Beneficiary

A person who receives property through a will or trust.

Boundary Line

The legal edge of your property.

Boundary Dispute

When neighbors disagree about where the property line is.

Buildable Lot

Land that meets the requirements to build a home or structure.

Buyer Demand

How many people are actively looking to buy land in an area.

C

Cash Offer

An offer to buy land without needing a bank loan.

Chain of Title

The history of who has owned the land over time.

Clear Title

When ownership is free of legal problems or disputes.

Closing

The final step in selling land when ownership officially transfers.

Closing Costs

Fees related to transferring ownership, such as title work and recording fees.

Cloud on Title

A problem with ownership records that must be fixed before selling.

Comparable Sales (Comps)

Recent nearby land sales used to estimate value.

Conservation Easement

A rule that protects land from being developed.

Contract

A written agreement between buyer and seller.

County Assessor

The local office that determines property values for taxes.

D

Deed

The legal document that transfers ownership.

Deed Restrictions

Rules placed on land about how it can be used.

Development

Preparing land for building (clearing, utilities, roads).

Due Diligence

Time given to a buyer to research the property before closing.

E

Easement

A legal right for someone else to use part of your land (road, utilities, etc.).

Encroachment

When a structure crosses onto someone else’s property.

Encumbrance

Anything that affects ownership, like liens or easements.

Environmental Restrictions

Rules protecting land from development due to wetlands, wildlife, or conservation.

Equity

The value of your land minus any debts tied to it.

Escrow

A neutral company that holds money and paperwork during the sale.

Executor

The person responsible for handling a property owner’s estate after death.

F

FEMA Flood Zone

A government-mapped area that may be at risk of flooding.

Financing

Borrowed money used to buy property.

Floodplain

Land that has a higher risk of flooding.

Foreclosure

When property is taken due to unpaid debt.

Frontage

The portion of land that touches a road.

G

GIS Map

An online map showing property lines, zoning, and land details.

Grantor

The person selling or transferring the land.

Grantee

The person receiving ownership.

H

Heir

A person who inherits property after someone passes away.

Heirship Issues

Problems that happen when multiple people inherit land.

HOA (Homeowners Association)

A group that manages rules and fees in certain communities.

HOA Fees

Regular payments required by an HOA.

I

Improved Land

Land that already has something added to it, like utilities, a driveway, clearing, septic, or a well.

Infill Lot

A vacant piece of land located between existing homes in a developed area.

Ingress/Egress

The legal right to enter and leave your property. This usually relates to road access.

Inherited Land

Land passed down after a family member dies.

Installment Sale

A sale where the buyer makes payments over time instead of paying all at once.

Investment Property

Land purchased to make money in the future.

J

Joint Ownership

When more than one person owns a property together.

Judgment Lien

A legal claim placed on property after a court ruling for unpaid debts.

K

Key Lot

A parcel located behind another property that may rely on an easement for access.

L

Landlocked Property

Land that has no direct access to a public road. This is one of the most common issues affecting land sales.

Land Survey

A professional measurement showing property boundaries and size.

Legal Description

A formal written description used to identify land in official records.

Lien

A legal claim against property due to unpaid debt (taxes, court judgments, contractor bills, etc.).

Listing

Putting land on the market for sale, often through an agent.

Lot

A piece of land, usually smaller and located in a subdivision.

M

Market Value

The price a property could likely sell for based on current market conditions.

Mineral Rights

Ownership of oil, gas, or minerals under the land. These can be sold separately from the surface.

Mobile Notary

A notary who travels to you to sign legal documents.

Mortgage

A loan used to purchase property. Many vacant land sales are done without mortgages.

Multiple Owners

When several people share ownership of the same parcel.

N

Non-Buildable Lot

Land that cannot be built on due to zoning, size, flood zones, access, or environmental restrictions.

Notary Public

A person who verifies identity and witnesses signatures on legal documents.

O

Offer

A proposal from a buyer to purchase your land at a certain price.

Owner Financing

When the seller allows the buyer to make payments over time instead of paying in full upfront.

Ownership Interest

A person’s legal share in a property.

P

Parcel

Another word for a piece of land.

Parcel ID Number

A unique number assigned by the county to identify your property.

Perc Test (Percolation Test)

A soil test to determine if the land can support a septic system.

Plat Map

A recorded map that shows property lines, lot sizes, and easements.

Power Lines

Electrical lines that may run near or across a property.

Probate

The legal process of transferring property after someone passes away.

Property Taxes

Annual taxes paid to the local government based on land value.

Public Road Access

When your land connects directly to a public street.

Purchase Agreement

The written contract between buyer and seller.

Q

Quiet Title

A legal process used to fix ownership problems and make the title clear so the land can be sold.

Quitclaim Deed

A type of deed that transfers ownership without guaranteeing the title is free of problems. Often used between family members.

R

Raw Land

Land that has not been developed or improved. No utilities, no buildings, and often no clearing.

Real Estate Taxes

Another name for property taxes paid to the county each year.

Recorder’s Office

The local government office where deeds and property records are officially filed.

Recording

The process of officially filing a deed so the ownership change becomes public record.

Recreational Land

Land used for outdoor activities like hunting, camping, or ATV riding.

Right-of-Way

A legal right to pass through someone else’s property to access your own.

Road Frontage

The portion of land that directly touches a road.

Rural Land

Property located outside city or suburban areas.

S

Septic System

An underground wastewater system used when land is not connected to city sewer.

Setbacks

Rules that determine how far buildings must be from property lines, roads, or wetlands.

Survey

A professional drawing that shows property boundaries and measurements.

Subdivision

A large parcel that has been divided into smaller lots.

Surface Rights

Ownership of the land itself, separate from mineral rights below it.

T

Tax Deed

A type of property sale that happens when property taxes are not paid and the county sells the land.

Tax Lien

A legal claim placed on property due to unpaid property taxes.

Timber Rights

Ownership of the trees on the land. Sometimes these can be sold separately.

Title

Legal ownership of a property.

Title Company

A company that researches ownership history, finds problems, and helps complete the closing.

Title Insurance

Insurance that protects buyers from hidden ownership problems discovered after purchase.

Title Search

A review of public records to confirm who owns the property and identify any liens or issues.

Topography

The shape and slope of the land (flat, hilly, steep, etc.).

Transfer of Ownership

The process of legally changing who owns the land.

U

Utilities

Services like electricity, water, sewer, or internet. Land closer to utilities is often easier to build on.

Unimproved Land

Another term for raw land without development.

V

Vacant Land

Land with no buildings or structures on it.

Value Per Acre

How much land is worth based on price divided by acreage.

W

Warranty Deed

A deed that guarantees the seller legally owns the land and has the right to sell it.

Well

A private water source often used on rural land.

Wetlands

Protected land areas where water is present. Wetlands can limit building or development.

Z

Zoning

Local government rules that control how land can be used (residential, agricultural, commercial, etc.).

Zoning Restrictions

Limitations placed on land use, building size, or type of development.

Still Have Questions About Your Land?

Even with a strong understanding of land terminology, every property is different. Location, access, zoning, taxes, and ownership history can all affect how land is sold and what options are available.

If you’d like to learn more about the selling process, explore these helpful next steps:

• See the types of land we work with: Types of Land We Buy
• View coverage across the country: Areas We Serve

If you’re ready to talk through your situation or simply want to understand what your land might qualify for, you can reach out anytime.

👉 Contact Us to get more information or request a no-obligation cash offer.

We’re here to make the process simple, clear, and easy to understand — no matter where your land is located in the United States.