The amount of time from application to closing on a land loan will vary depending on the lender, but averages about four weeks. The process of getting a land loan can take longer than getting a traditional mortgage because land loans usually require more detailed information for approval. Any real estate loan will require an appraisal, but an appraisal for a land loan is more complex than one for an existing home. There are usually fewer properties to compare it to, and there may be income-producing factors to take into account, such as rental or timber income.