A land contract—also known as a contract for deed, an installment land contract, or a land sales contract—is an agreement between a buyer and seller for the sale and purchase of a specific piece of land. Land contracts may consist of undeveloped land or include both land and building structures located on the land.

Land contracts are often completed with seller financing in which the buyer pays the seller in monthly payments or installments that include an agreed interest rate and a lump sum balloon payment after a certain number of years. When the buyer has made the monthly payments for the required number of years, plus any balloon payment, the seller is required to transfer the title (evidence of ownership) to the buyer, as provided by the land contract.

Land contracts may also be financed by banks or other lenders—often with traditional deed of trust or mortgage agreements. Bank and other lender loans for undeveloped land will often be financed at a higher interest rate and for a shorter term (with a balloon payment) than a traditional home mortgage, for example.

When the balloon payment to the bank or lender comes due a builder or developer may get a takeout loan to replace the existing loan—with the expectation of securing better terms (interest rate, etc.) because the land will be developed (at least in part) and the loan will be better secured by the value of the development (building structures, etc.) on the land.

In Virginia, a land contract is a form of seller financing for the purchase of real estate, where the buyer makes payments to the seller according to the terms agreed upon in the contract. This type of agreement allows the buyer to make installment payments, often including interest and potentially a balloon payment at the end of a specified term. Upon completion of the payment schedule, the seller is obligated to transfer the title to the buyer. While land contracts can be used for both undeveloped and developed land, financing for undeveloped land through banks or other lenders typically comes with higher interest rates and shorter terms, reflecting the higher risk associated with such loans. Developers may use a takeout loan to pay off the initial higher-interest loan once development has increased the land's value, thereby securing more favorable loan terms. It's important to note that the specific terms of land contracts can vary, and they should be carefully reviewed by an attorney to ensure compliance with Virginia's real estate laws and regulations.