01How it is defined in LeadCounty
Sold on a land contract.
02How many are on the list today
On land contract is on file in 5 of 99 counties this week. The most are in Oakland County (Pontiac), MI (1,957), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), OH (1,336), Lorain County, OH (306); the typical county has 306.
| County | On the list |
|---|---|
| Oakland County (Pontiac), MI | 1,957 |
| Hamilton County (Cincinnati), OH | 1,336 |
| Lorain County, OH | 306 |
| Licking County, OH | 244 |
| Butler County, OH | 29 |
03Why it matters
Land contracts often fall apart. Either side may want out, and the paperwork creates motivated sellers on both sides.
04Where it shows up in public records
Land contracts are recorded with the county recorder in many states, and some auditors flag them.
05How to find on land contract in 3 steps
- Step 1, find the record: land contracts are recorded with the county recorder in many states, and some auditors flag them.
- Step 2, match it to the property: join the record to the parcel by its parcel number and the owner's name and address, so you know which house it belongs to.
- Step 3, add a second reason: stack on land contract with another list to see which owners have more than one reason to sell. LeadCounty does steps 1 and 2 for every property each week.
06How we count it
LeadCounty counts on land contract from each county's own records and shows the number for every county in the table above, refreshed weekly. A county that does not publish the record shows no count rather than a guess.
07How to use it
- Find out who holds the deed before making an offer.
08Best stacks with on land contract
One list gives you a reason; two or three lists together give you owners with several reasons at once. The stacks that work best with on land contract:
- On land contract + tax delinquent: tax is past due, a dated and money-based sign of pressure.
- On land contract + absentee owner: the owner gets the tax bill somewhere else, so the house is less personal to them.
