Viewerhelp:Buying versus renting

This article is ready for technical review.

There are exceptions to the following so consult specific situations, but some key points:

• Buying happens on the mainland.
  • You need to have a Premium account for your land holdings (tier).
  • No intermediary Resident is involved.
  • Terraforming is limited to +/- 4 m and outside of a few other exceptions (like Linden Homes, there's no zoning code, meaning neighbors can build whatever they want as long as it doesn't violate the Community Standards.
• Land rental is available from private region owners.
  • You can have a Basic account.
  • You're paying L$ to a Resident; the Buy Land window still says "buy", but requires you to agree to a covenant, the estate owner's terms of use. This means they have the right to reclaim your land and eject you at their discretion.
  • Obviously, just like in real life, there's no problem if the landlord-tenant relationship is friendly, but there could be a higher risk of conflict.
  • Terraforming may be more or less flexible; certain estates are themed and enforce zoning codes, promoting a more cohesive appearance. For example, Arabian desert or futuristic metropolis.