A Contract for Deed is commonly used by a Seller of property who is interested in acting as a lender to the purchaser of their property. Through a Contract for Deed, the Seller also acts as the financer for the Buyer. This option has pros and cons for both Buyer and Seller. The Seller does not receive the total sales price for the property at the time of executing the Contract, but rather receives payments pursuant to the terms of the Contract. The Seller does retain ownership of the property until the Contract terms are met. Since the Seller receives periodic payments, the Seller can view these payments as steady income. Since the Seller is the financer, the Seller receives the total purchase price plus accruing interest as set forth in the Contract. The Seller takes on certain risks should the Buyer default on payments making it necessary to pursue foreclosure proceedings. A Contract for Deed assists a new homebuyer with no credit history or poor credit history in obtaining financing to purchase a home. By not using the traditional financing method of a bank or credit union, the Buyer can build credit by financing through a Contract for Deed. The Buyer must be cautious when entering into a Contract for Deed to ensure that the Seller is the actual owner of the property and has authority to sell the property. The Buyer can contact the County Recorder for the county the property is located in to check the property records. |