Pennsylvania Installment Land Contract

Section 903 - Definitions; application of act
((a) As used in this act: (1) "Installment land contract" includes every executory contract for the purchase and sale of a dwelling situate in any city of the first class or county of the second class whereby the purchaser is obligated to make six or more installment payments to the seller after the execution of the contract and before the time appointed for the conveyance of title to the dwelling.)

This type of contract is used in several common applications:

1. Facilitating Home Purchases for Buyers with Poor Credit: Buyers who may not qualify for traditional mortgage financing due to poor credit history can use an installment land contract to purchase property. This allows them to improve their credit over time while making regular payments.

2. Providing Flexibility in Payment Terms: The terms of an installment land contract can be tailored to meet the needs of both the buyer and the seller. This includes the length of the contract, the amount of the down payment, and the schedule of payments.

3. Real Estate Investment: Investors can use installment land contracts to acquire properties with minimal upfront capital. They can then improve or lease the properties while making installment payments.

4. Transferring Property within Families: Families often use installment land contracts to transfer property between relatives. This method can be more flexible and less costly than traditional financing methods.

5. Selling Hard-to-Finance Properties: Sellers with properties that may not qualify for conventional financing due to condition or other factors can sell their properties using installment land contracts.

6. Retirement or Estate Planning: Older property owners can use installment land contracts to sell their property and receive a steady income stream during retirement, while still maintaining some control over the property until the contract is fulfilled.

7. Commercial Real Estate Transactions: Installment land contracts can be used for commercial properties, allowing businesses to acquire property with flexible financing arrangements.

8. Land Purchases: These contracts are commonly used for purchasing undeveloped land where traditional financing options may be limited.

9. Avoiding Foreclosure: Sellers facing foreclosure might opt for an installment land contract to quickly sell their property and avoid the negative impacts of foreclosure on their credit.

10. Tax Advantages: Sellers may benefit from certain tax advantages by spreading the capital gains over several years instead of realizing them all at once.

This Contract can be used for residential property, rental property, condominiums, vacant land and planned unit developments. It offers traditional installment payments with or without a balloon payment. A contract with stringent default terms can be beneficial in case of a default.