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Frequently Asked Questions

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Liberation Ranches FAQ

Liberation Ranches makes it easy to find and purchase your own Texas land. Our robust online FAQ answers your biggest questions about financing, land use, titles, and how the entire process works. 

Do I have to owner finance my property? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

No. You are more than welcome to obtain bank financing, or purchase with cash. For more information, visit our Owner Financing page.

If I want to pay off my loan early, are there prepayment penalties? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

No. You can pay off your loan at any time without penalties.

Do you charge PMI (private mortgage insurance)? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

No, we do not charge PMI.

What kind of owner financing do you offer? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

All of our loans are set up as traditional mortgages, amortized over the lifetime of the loan. We do not offer balloon mortgages, and do not charge PMI. For more information, visit our Owner Financing page.

What closing costs am I responsible for? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

If you are using owner financing, you will be responsible for your loan application fee, prorated taxes, and prepaid loan interest.

Will I get a title policy on my property? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Yes. We pay for the owner’s title policy. If you owner finance, we also pay for the lender’s title policy.

How many people can be on the loan? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

We do not limit the number of people applying for the loan. Application fees vary based on how many apply.

How much is the loan application fee? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

The 2022 application fee is $1,100 for two people. Additional fees are required if there are more than two (2) applicants. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable, even if you don’t qualify for the loan.

What are the loan qualification requirements? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

There are several things we look at when qualifying your loan, including but not limited to:

  1. Debt to income ratio (DTI): Applicant’s DTI must be 44% or less. This number is calculated by totaling your monthly debt payments (mortgage, credit cards, auto loans, child support, etc. and the new loan payment) divided by the total monthly income (jobs, business, dividends, etc.). Click here for information on how to estimate your DTI.
  2. Credit: Credit scores less than 500 are handled on a case-by-case basis. An explanation must be provided. No credit is OK.
  3. No state or federal tax liens.
  4. No foreclosures.
  5. No rental evictions in the last 2 years.
  6. Proof of down payment funds.
How do I pay my taxes? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

The loan servicer will collect and escrow taxes each month with your payment. They will pay taxes on your behalf at the end of the year. If there is a tax shortage, they will contact you to provide the additional funds. The loan servicer will re-evaluate your tax liability every year. If there is a shortage, they will adjust your monthly escrow payments accordingly.

What are the taxes? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

For agriculturally exempt properties, taxes are anywhere between $15 to $30/month. If you lose your agricultural exemption, or you purchase a non-agriculturally exempt property, your taxes will depend on the county.

Where will I close on my land purchase? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

You will close at a licensed title company.

Who will collect my monthly payments? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

The lender retains loan servicing from a licensed and bonded loan servicing company. These companies collect the payments, pay the taxes and insurance premiums when due and provide you with the proper accounting at the end of year. Buyer is responsible for the monthly fee.

What is the monthly fee to the loan servicer? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

As of 2022, the monthly fee is $20.

Are your properties in a floodplain? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Some of our properties have sections that may be in a flood plain. Please refer to the survey or speak to a team member to ask about specific properties.

Do you have HOA restrictions? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

No, we do not have HOA restrictions, but we do impose mild land use restrictions. Please see property details for restrictions specific to each property.

Is this unrestricted land? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Yes, but we do impose mild land use restrictions. Please see property details for restrictions specific to each property.

What are the loan terms? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

We offer traditional amortized loans at 10.9% interest for 20 years. There is no balloon, no PMI, and no prepayment penalties. Down payments are based on the property.

How long does it take to close on a property from start to finish? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Closing can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days from the day you sign the contract. It depends on the county the property is in and how quickly you provide financial documents to the mortgage loan originator. Most delays are caused by a lack of responsiveness from a buyer (failure to sign contracts and disclosures, or provide information in a timely manner). Work with your sales agent to make sure you have everything you need.

Can I have a friend or family member qualify for the loan with me? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Yes! We can add multiple people to the loan and purchase. Speak with your sales agent about how.

What information do I need to provide to qualify for my loan? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

See here for a list of documents you will need to prove your income.

Can I purchase a property and owner finance through my business? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Yes. If you buy through a business entity, you will need to personally guarantee the loan, so you will still need to personally qualify through RMLO. The contract and loan will be made to the business entity.

How do I qualify for a loan? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

All of our loans are qualified through a residential mortgage loan originator (RMLO) so that they are federally compliant.

What improvements are on the properties? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Improvements depend on the property. Please refer to the property details section to see what is offered on each property.

Do you transfer mineral rights? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

No, we do not transfer mineral rights (99.9% of the time we don’t have them ourselves).

How do I qualify for my agricultural exemption? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Each county has its own requirements to qualify for agricultural exemptions. Please visit our property search map for specifics.

What am I allowed to do on my property? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Each property has a few land use restrictions (not HOA restrictions). Please see the property details for more information.

Can I use a Realtor® to help me purchase a property? 1EE18010-8C3B-405D-957F-EEBEEB2FCA2C

Of course! We do offer commissions to selling agents. Realtors® must be present for all showings and negotiate on the buyer’s behalf.

What Does the Process of Buying Land Look Like?

Each land buying experience is tailored to your specific needs, but at a high level, here is what you can expect.

  1. You view the property with a land expert who answers your questions. .
  2. You sign a contract to purchase the property, and provide earnest money (that is escrowed to the title company) and loan application fees via cashier’s check or money order.
  3. The contract is submitted to a title company. They will review the contract and the survey and provide a title commitment.
  4. The contract and your financials are submitted to a residential mortgage loan originator (RMLO). They will do a credit check and review your income to see if you qualify for the loan.
  5. If you qualify for the loan, the RMLO will send out a loan disclosure for your signature. This will outline preliminary terms of the loan and estimates of closing costs (please note they are not final at this time).
  6. Once loan disclosures are signed and title commitment is obtained, closing is scheduled.
  7. On closing day, you will go to the title company to sign for your new property. Remaining closing costs not covered by your earnest money will be due to title by cashiers check, money order, or wire.
  8. You officially own your own piece of property!