Land choices

Torley's working on this. Plz don't touch until gelled!

What land should I buy?

There is no single right answer, and depends on what you want to do. If you're uncertain, there's because there's plenty of room for exploration. Furthermore, what's right for you today may change as your needs grow.

Types of land

• You can:
  • Buy land parcels - Land use fees are paid to Linden Lab. Requires a Premium account.
  • Rent land parcels - Land use fees are paid to a Resident "landlord".
• Land can be:
  • Developed - Land has pre-built buildings on it, often for a theme that fits your needs.
  • Undeveloped - Land is basically blank or raw. Start from scratch to build your vision.
• Land can also be on:
  • The mainland
  • A private estate

So for example, you could rent undeveloped land on a private estate.

Tip: Learn the difference between "parcel", "region", and "estate".

Buying vs. renting

This simple table shows potential benefits of buying land compared to renting land which is a popular comparison Residents wonder about. This is a general overview, so consult specific situations to get accurate details. Keep in mind you can buy and rent land simultaneously, given that all other requirements are met.

	Buying land	Renting land
Premium account required?	Yes	No
Initial parcel payment?	Yes, to purchase parcel from another Resident or LL, then land usage fees	Often no on private estates, where a token L$0 is "paid" to claim the parcel
Land usage fees	Paid monthly to Linden Lab	Paid to Resident landlord, usually monthly but varies
Land usage payment currency	US$ or another real-world currency; can't be paid in L$	Commonly paid in L$, US$, or another real-world currency
Payment schedule negotiable?	No	Maybe; ask landlord
Land usage rules The TOS always applies	Mainland policies	Ask landlord; private estate rental is subject to a covenant
Does About Land show you as owner?	Yes	Yes on private estate (but land can be reclaimed by landlord); no if renting on mainland
What happens when land is unpaid?	Linden Lab sends delinquency notice and your account is suspended	Landlord can send warning, or reclaim parcel
Can LL/landlord reclaim your parcel any time they wish?	No. Your account must be delinquent for at least several weeks	Yes. Not a practical concern if you have a good relationship with your landlord
Terraform range	Usually +/- 4 m; Linden Homes don't allow terraforming	Depends, could be +/- 0 to 100 m

For further details, see "Why rent on a private estate?"

How do I buy/rent land?

These articles explain more:

• How to buy a parcel - Essential basics which apply when you're buying mainland and renting on a private estate.
• Renting land guide - Includes comparison table and answers to popular questions.
• How to get a Linden Home? - A Linden Home is included with every Premium account. Learn more about account types.
• Buy a private region - This goes to our land store.
  • Private region types - A comparison table.
• How to rent land to other people - If you want to become a landlord.