We Buy Land in Sonoma County for Cash
Vacant lots, rural acreage, burned lots, and inherited land. Any size, any condition, no commissions. Send us the address or APN and get a written cash offer.
Velocity Home Buyers CA buys land for cash in Sonoma County, including vacant residential lots, rural and agricultural acreage, lots left empty after the wildfires, inherited parcels, and land with unpaid property taxes. We buy as-is, you pay no commissions, and you get a written offer usually within 24 to 48 hours. We're a local, family-run team, and we work in English and Spanish across Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Guerneville, Sonoma, and the rest of the county.
Types of Land We Buy
- Vacant residential lots in town or in unincorporated areas, with or without utilities.
- Rural acreage and agricultural land, including hillside parcels and small hobby-vineyard properties.
- Burned lots from the Tubbs, Kincade, Walbridge, and Glass fires where the owner decided not to rebuild.
- Inherited land, especially when the heirs live out of the area or disagree on what to do with it.
- Land with back taxes, liens, or code enforcement notices.
- Hard-to-sell parcels: landlocked lots without recorded access, no well or septic, steep terrain, flood zones.
- Williamson Act land under an active agricultural preserve contract.
Why Land Is Harder to Sell Than a House
Land sits on the market longer than houses for a few simple reasons. Most buyers can't use a regular mortgage for raw land. Land loans usually need much larger down payments, so the buyer pool shrinks to people with cash. Those buyers also want answers before they commit: Is there legal access? Will the soil pass a perc test for septic? Is there water? What does the zoning allow?
Meanwhile the owner keeps paying. Property tax comes due every year, fire season brings weed abatement and defensible-space requirements, and an empty parcel is a liability if someone gets hurt on it or dumps on it. For a lot of owners, a fair cash offer with no conditions is worth more than waiting a year for a retail buyer who may never close.
Land Situations We See in Sonoma County
Lots left after the wildfires. Roughly 1,200 Sonoma County parcels destroyed between 2017 and 2020 are still unrebuilt (see our Sonoma County guide). Many owners are paying tax on bare land they can't afford to build on under California's fire-resistant construction code, or their insurance money ran out. We buy these lots, whether they're cleared, partly rebuilt, or still tied up with the insurer.
Agricultural parcels and Williamson Act land. A large share of rural Sonoma County is enrolled in the Williamson Act, which lowers property tax in exchange for keeping the land in agricultural use. The contract transfers with the land, so you can sell without cancelling it first.
Inherited land. Heirs often inherit a parcel they've never visited. Under Proposition 19, inherited land that isn't a family home or qualifying family farm gets reassessed, so the tax bill can jump while the land earns nothing. If you also inherited a house, see our guide to selling an inherited house.
Land with back taxes. Once property has been tax-defaulted for five years, the county can sell it at auction under Revenue and Taxation Code §3691. Selling before that point lets you keep the equity instead of losing it at a tax sale. The back taxes come out of your proceeds at closing.
How Selling Your Land Works
- Send us the address or the APN. The Assessor's Parcel Number is printed on your property tax bill. Either one is enough to start.
- We do the research. Zoning and permit history through Permit Sonoma, access, utilities, comparable land sales, and title. Then we send you a written cash offer.
- You pick the closing date. We close through a local title company. No commissions, we cover standard closing costs, and you get paid at closing.
Land Outside Sonoma County
We also buy land in the other counties we serve: Napa (Napa, Calistoga), Solano (Vacaville, Dixon, Fairfield), Marin (Novato), Contra Costa, and Yolo (Woodland, Davis).
Hablamos Español
We handle the whole sale in Spanish if you prefer, from the first call to closing. Lea esta página en español.
Official Sources
- California Government Code §51200 (Williamson Act)
- California Revenue and Taxation Code §3691 (tax-defaulted property sales)
- California State Board of Equalization: Proposition 19
- IRS Publication 551: Basis of Assets (inherited property basis)
- Permit Sonoma (county zoning and permits)
Get a Cash Offer for Your Land
No obligation. The street address or the APN from your tax bill both work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Land
Do you buy land that isn't buildable?
Yes. We buy lots and acreage with no legal access, steep slopes, no utilities, failed or missing perc tests, flood zones, and burned parcels that were never rebuilt. Those factors change the price we offer, not whether we make an offer. If a piece of land has a problem that makes it hard to sell to a regular buyer, that is usually exactly why owners call us.
How do you figure out what my land is worth?
We look at recent land sales nearby, the zoning and what it allows, legal access, whether water (well or municipal), septic, and power are available, the terrain, and any title issues. For Sonoma County parcels we check zoning and permit history through Permit Sonoma. You get a written cash offer, usually within 24 to 48 hours of sending us the address or APN.
Can I sell land that has unpaid property taxes?
Yes. Back taxes, penalties, and any liens are paid out of the sale proceeds through escrow at closing, so you don't need to pay them first. It matters to act early: under California Revenue and Taxation Code §3691, once property has been tax-defaulted for five years, the county tax collector has the power to sell it at a tax-defaulted property auction.
What if my land is under a Williamson Act contract?
We can still buy it. A Williamson Act (California Land Conservation Act) contract runs with the land, so it transfers to the buyer and keeps its lower agricultural tax assessment. Ending a contract is slow: a notice of nonrenewal starts a wind-down of roughly nine years, and early cancellation needs county approval plus a fee. We price the land with the contract in place, so you don't have to deal with any of that before selling.
I inherited land. What about taxes if I sell?
Inherited property generally gets a stepped-up cost basis equal to its fair market value on the date of death (IRC §1014), so selling soon after inheriting usually means little or no federal capital gains tax. Holding it can get expensive: under Proposition 19, inherited land that isn't a family home or qualifying family farm is reassessed to current market value for property tax. Confirm your specific numbers with a CPA.
Do I need a survey, a perc test, or cleanup before selling?
No. We buy land as-is. You don't need to order a survey, a perc test, soil reports, or clear brush, old vehicles, or debris. We handle due diligence on our side.
How fast can you close on land?
In as few as 14 days when the title is clean. Land titles sometimes need extra work (an unclear easement, a deceased co-owner still on title, an old lien), which can add time, and we work through that with the title company. You pick the closing date, there are no commissions, and we cover standard closing costs.
Take the First Step
Ready to Sell Your House?
Get your free, no-obligation cash offer today. We can close in as few as 14 days.