what is a land contract?
DEFINITION of 'Land Contract'. An agreement between a buyer and seller of property in which the buyer makes payments toward full ownership (as with a mortgage), but in a land contract, the title or deed is held by the owner until the full payment is made. land contract can be thought of as a lease with an option to buy. Certain states have more generous legal rights for land contract holders than others. As a result, the world of land contracts can be difficult to navigate.