Live Out of State? How to Sell Your Tennessee Land Without Making the Trip
Many of the landowners we talk with don’t live in Tennessee. Some inherited land from a parent or grandparent and have never seen it in person. Others bought a few acres years ago, planning to build or retire here someday, and life took them somewhere else.
When it’s time to sell, most of them assume they’ll need to fly in, walk the land, and sit at a closing table. You don’t. The whole sale can be done from home.
Is It Common to Own Land You’ve Never Visited?
Very. Tennessee has a lot of family land that’s been passed down as relatives moved away, and a lot of mountain and lake lots bought by people from other states. If you inherited your land, you may also find Selling Inherited Land in Tennessee: What You Need to Know helpful.
Do I Need to See the Land Before Selling?
No. Our team researches the property using county records, parcel maps, aerial images, and tax records. You can see some of the same information yourself on the free Tennessee Property Viewer, which shows parcel lines and ownership for counties across the state.
From there, we can see the lot lines, road access, the county’s value, and much of what matters before we talk numbers. If something like severed mineral rights shows up, we’ll explain it plainly. See Who Owns What Under Your Land? Mineral Rights and Selling in Tennessee.
How Do I Sign Without Being There?
When it’s time to close, a mobile notary can come to your home, wherever you live, with the papers ready. You show your ID, sign, and they send everything back to the title company.
In some cases, Tennessee also allows signing over video with a state-commissioned online notary, if the title company approves it. Either way, you never have to travel. For a step-by-step look, see From Signing to Payday: How Closing Works When You Sell Your Land.
Who Handles Things on the Tennessee Side?
The sale closes through a Tennessee title company or closing attorney. They handle the title search, the closing paperwork, and recording the new deed with the county Register of Deeds. If something needs fixing, like an owner who passed away and was never taken off the deed, our team works with the title company and, when needed, a Tennessee attorney. You aren’t handed a list of chores to do from a thousand miles away.
What About Property Taxes While I Live Elsewhere?
Out-of-state owners sometimes fall behind simply because the tax bills go to an old address. Make sure the county has your current mailing address and check your balance with the County Trustee. Many Tennessee counties let you look up and pay property taxes online. If you’re already behind, you can usually still sell, with the taxes paid at closing. See Behind on Property Taxes? You Can Still Sell Your Tennessee Land.
Why Out-of-State Owners Need to Be Extra Careful
Land with no one living on it, owned by someone far away, is exactly what scammers look for. Tennessee officials have warned about criminals forging deeds to sell land they don’t own. Two simple steps help protect you:
- Sign up for your county’s free property fraud alert, if it offers one. You’ll get an email if a document is recorded in your name.
- Never send money or bank information by email or text. Always call the title company at a number you looked up yourself.
Our owner spent his career in law enforcement and wrote a short guide on this: How to Protect Your Land From Scams: A Retired Law Enforcement Officer’s Guide for Tennessee Landowners
What’s Your Part?
Your side of an out-of-state sale is short:
- A phone call so we understand the land and your situation.
- Verifying your ID with the title company, which can be done remotely.
- Signing the closing papers with a notary at your home.
- Telling the title company whether you want a wire or a check.
You never have to see the land, visit a courthouse, or set up appointments in Tennessee.
Watch Out for Buyers Who Use the Distance Against You
Some buyers count on the fact that you can’t easily check the land or the paperwork. They may act like being far away should make you grateful for any offer, get vague about who pays which costs, or push you to sign quickly. An honest buyer can explain exactly how closing works, who pays for what, and how long it should take. If something feels rushed or fuzzy, slow down and ask more questions. Distance is not a reason to accept less.
About Copco Properties
Copco Properties is Owned and Operated by a Retired Law Enforcement Officer and a Military Veteran. In law enforcement, when someone called with a problem, the job was to show up, listen, get the facts, and help solve it. We bring that same approach to land. Back taxes, inherited property, title problems, no road access: these are the situations we work through every day. Brent, our military veteran, served at Fort Campbell and brings the same commitment to doing the job right and seeing it through.
- No commissions and no hidden fees.
- Every sale closes at a reputable title company.
- We’re up front about everything, and we’ll explain every number and every step in plain English.
- No pressure. Take all the time you need.
If you own land in Tennessee but live somewhere else, call us at 615-610-3303 or fill out the short form on our website. We’ll research the property ourselves and give you a free, no-obligation offer. You can find out where you stand without leaving home.
