Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — but properties are offered strictly first-come, first-served, and nothing is held informally or on request; a deposit is what actually reserves a lot. Start by submitting a Land Purchase Order for the property you want — that opens your file with us, though it doesn't remove the parcel from the market by itself. Our team then confirms the exact deposit required and sends instructions to submit it; the moment we receive it, the property is marked reserved for you and pulled from the market while we prepare your Land Purchase Agreement. The hold deposit is fully refundable, and the exact duration and conditions can vary by property — our team will confirm the specifics that apply to yours.

Property availability can change quickly, especially in high-demand areas. To ensure you're viewing the most up-to-date information, we recommend contacting our sales team directly. You can also browse our listings page where we strive to keep availability current.

We strive to keep our website as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Listings, availability, and pricing are reviewed and updated regularly — typically several times a week — to reflect the most current information. However, because properties can move quickly, we recommend reaching out to our team directly to confirm availability or to get updates in real time.

Yes, we can help. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for in our current listings, our team is happy to assist in sourcing a property that meets your needs. Whether you're searching for a specific location, lot size, or investment opportunity, we work closely with a network of sellers and developers to match buyers with the right land. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll do the legwork.

Yes. Many of our buyers purchase without ever visiting in person, so we can typically provide additional photos, a walkthrough video, or a live video call for any listing on request. Reach out to our team with the property you're interested in and we'll put together whatever additional visual documentation we have.

Yes — it's a long-established, entirely legal way to buy and sell real property in Canada. It simply needs to be documented properly and comply with the applicable rules, including the federal Interest Act's disclosure requirements, the same way a bank mortgage does. Every Firmground purchase is backed by a signed purchase and financing agreement, not a handshake.

It depends on which of two structures applies to your specific property, and your purchase agreement will say exactly which one it is: a Vendor Take-Back mortgage, where you receive registered title immediately, subject to our security interest, or an Agreement for Sale, where you get immediate use of the land while we hold title until your balance is paid in full. Both are common, legitimate structures for owner-financed land in Canada. See our full Owner Financing Guide for the legal detail behind each, and ask us or your own lawyer to confirm which applies before you sign.

Every sale includes a full title search, and our purchase agreement warrants clear title — free of prior debts, liens, or encumbrances — with your interest recorded against the property's title as part of closing. All deed and title documentation is available for your own lawyer or notary to inspect before you sign anything, and we strongly encourage it; independent legal review is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself in any land purchase, owner-financed or otherwise.

No. Rent-to-own is a lease with an option to buy later — you're renting until, and unless, you exercise that option. Owner financing is a purchase from day one; you're building equity and working toward full ownership under a financing agreement, not a lease.

Once your final payment clears, we complete the paperwork that matches your purchase structure: a discharge of our security interest if you hold a Vendor Take-Back mortgage, or a transfer of title into your name if you're on an Agreement for Sale. Either way, you end up with clean, registered title in your name, free of our interest. See our Paying Off Your Land guide for the full step-by-step process, including what you should get in writing.

We strongly recommend you retain your own, independent lawyer or notary to review your purchase agreement before you sign. We do not act as your legal counsel, and we think it's a bad sign if any seller discourages a buyer from getting independent advice. We're happy to send our standard agreement to your lawyer in advance so they can review it on your timeline, not ours.

No, we do not perform credit checks. Our goal is to make land ownership accessible and straightforward. Instead of relying on traditional credit scores, we focus on building flexible, common-sense financing solutions that work for real people in real situations. If you have questions about our approval process or want to learn more about how to get started, our team is here to help — no credit history required.

A bank's advertised rate assumes you clear their underwriting: a credit check, income verification, an appraisal, and weeks of waiting — with no guarantee of a yes. Our 10% PA is a flat, fixed rate with none of that: no credit check, no income proof, no approval risk, and it never changes over your term. You're not just paying for money, you're paying for directness and certainty. For a lot of buyers — especially first-time land buyers, non-residents, or anyone the banks have made things difficult for — that trade is worth it.

Yes. Non-residents can finance land with us — no Canadian bank account, credit history, or residency is required. Rural land like ours typically falls outside Canada's federal restrictions on non-resident buyers, though every parcel is different, so we'll confirm the specific status of any listing before you sign anything. We accept payments in CAD, USD, and EUR, and for the full picture on taxes, documentation, and what to expect as an international buyer, see our Non-Resident Buyer's Guide.

Yes. If you're interested in purchasing multiple properties, we're happy to work with you to create a financing plan that fits your goals — whether you're buying for investment, family use, or future development. Speak with our team to explore your options and structure a plan that works for you.

Yes, we can customize a payment schedule tailored to your budget and financial situation. You choose your own term — from 12 months out to 96 months or more — and we work with you to keep the monthly number realistic. Contact our team to discuss your goals and financial preferences, or try our full Owner Financing Calculator — complete with a month-by-month amortization schedule — to see the numbers for yourself.

Call us before the due date, not after — a heads-up changes everything. Every payment carries a 15-day grace period from the due date, with no fee and no mark against you if it lands inside that window. If a payment is still outstanding after day 15 and we haven't heard from you, a flat $35 late fee applies — the same amount every time, never compounding. A single late payment isn't treated as a crisis; it's treated as a phone call.

You'd get written notice and a real opportunity to fix it before anything happens to your land — there's no silent repossession. If an account goes 90 days without a payment and without any contact from you, we send formal written notice of default by mail and email. That opens a 30-day cure period: pay what's owed, plus the standard $35 late fee, and your agreement continues exactly as it was. Only if the account is still unresolved after that cure period do we move to enforce the agreement, and how that's handled — including anything already paid toward your balance — follows the legal structure that applies to your property, as set out in your purchase agreement. In practice, the overwhelming majority of these situations get resolved with a phone call long before day 90.

Yes — you can pay off your balance at any time, in part or in full, with a permanent $0 prepayment penalty on every property, always. Selling before payoff is possible too; reach out to our team early in that process so we can walk you through how your outstanding balance is settled as part of the sale. See our Paying Off Your Land guide for the full process, including what happens at the finish line either way.

The short version: no credit check, no income verification, no appraisal, and a fixed 10% PA rate that never changes — in exchange for a rate that's typically higher than a qualifying bank borrower would get. For the full side-by-side — paperwork, closing costs, prepayment penalties, and an honest answer on which path fits you — see our Owner Financing vs. The Bank guide.

Yes — our standard minimum down payment is 10% of the purchase price, though the exact figure can depend on the property and the term you choose. You're welcome to put down more than the minimum to lower your monthly payment; try our Owner Financing Calculator to see how different down payments change the numbers.

Yes, any time, in any amount, with no prepayment penalty of any kind — on every property, always. Extra or lump-sum payments reduce your outstanding balance immediately, which either shortens your payoff timeline or lowers your future interest, whichever you prefer.

Usually, yes. The CRA's exemption for casual land sales covers individuals selling land outside of a business — it doesn't apply to a company like Firmground that regularly buys and sells land, so our sales are a taxable supply. The rate depends on the province the land is in: 5% GST in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the territories; 13–15% HST in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and PEI; and in Quebec, 5% GST plus 9.975% QST on top. Our Owner Financing Calculator estimates this automatically once you select a province — confirm the exact tax treatment with our team before closing.

Yes. Once your purchase agreement is in place, you're free to use your land while making payments — whether that means camping, building, or simply enjoying the space. If your specific property carries usage guidelines tied to zoning or development stage, our team will walk you through them so nothing catches you by surprise.

In most cases, yes — once your purchase agreement is signed, the land is yours to use, subject to whatever municipal zoning and building permit rules apply to that specific parcel. Some rural zoning allows a seasonal camp, RV, or mobile home outright; others require a permit first. We'll tell you upfront what applies to your property, and we offer permit assistance if you need help navigating the process.

It depends entirely on the municipality's zoning and minimum lot size rules for that parcel, which we're happy to point you toward before you buy. If a future subdivision is part of your plan, tell us during the buying process so we can flag anything relevant about that specific property, and confirm the details with the local planning office before relying on them.

Yes — like any landowner, you're responsible for ongoing municipal property tax on your parcel, regardless of which financing structure applies to your purchase. This is a standard contractual term, not something unique to owner financing.

Yes, we consider trade-ins on a case-by-case basis. If you have a property, vehicle, equipment, or other assets of value, we're open to exploring trade opportunities as part of your land purchase. Every trade is assessed individually based on market value, condition, and relevance. If you're interested in this option, reach out to our team with details about what you'd like to offer, and we'll be happy to discuss the possibilities.

We offer several convenient payment options to make your land purchase as smooth as possible. Currently, we accept: bank transfers / wire payments, certified cheques or money orders, e-transfers (where applicable), cash payments (in person, by appointment only), and Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies — use the currency selector on our Properties page to see any listing's live BTC-equivalent price, then contact our team to arrange the trade. Payments can be made in CAD, USD, and EUR. If you have a preferred payment method or require a custom arrangement, feel free to contact us.

Yes — we can set up recurring automatic payments by pre-authorized bank transfer at no additional cost. It's the simplest way to make sure a payment is never late by accident, and you can switch back to manual payments at any time by letting our team know.

No. The entire process — browsing, agreeing on terms, signing, and paying — can be completed remotely. Many of our buyers have never visited their property and have no immediate plans to; visiting is entirely your choice. For the full breakdown on taxes, documentation, and what to expect as a non-resident buyer, see our Non-Resident Buyer's Guide.

A Canadian bank mortgage for a non-resident is possible but typically difficult — larger down payments, extra documentation, and not every lender will finance vacant rural land at all. Our Own Your Land™ financing sidesteps that entirely: we're the lender, we own the land outright, and residency was never part of our criteria to begin with.

No — and we want to be direct about this. Owning Canadian real estate, on its own, does not grant permanent residency, citizenship, or any immigration status, and it is not a recognized pathway to one. If immigration is part of your goal, that's a separate process through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, independent of any property purchase.

We accept CAD, USD, and EUR. Your bank or payment provider will apply its own exchange rate and any conversion fee if you're paying in a currency other than CAD — worth checking with them in advance, since rates and fees vary.

Yes — non-resident ownership doesn't restrict your right to build, subject to the same municipal permits and zoning rules any owner would need to follow. We offer permit assistance to help you navigate that process when you're ready.

The purchase price and our 10% PA financing rate are the same for every buyer, resident or not. What can differ is tax treatment — some non-resident transactions involve withholding requirements or additional reporting depending on your country of residence — which is why we recommend reviewing our Non-Resident Buyer's Guide and speaking with a cross-border tax advisor before you close.