Do I need a real estate agent to buy land, or can I do it myself?

Land deals are commonly done without an agent at all, especially in FSBO to FSBO situations where both the buyer and seller are handling things directly. This is normal in the land world in a way it usually is not for houses.

Instead of an agent, the role that matters most is a real estate attorney, who can draft or review the purchase agreement, handle the title search, and manage the closing itself. In South Carolina specifically, an attorney typically handles closing regardless of whether an agent is involved.

Going self-directed does not mean skipping the due diligence an agent would normally push you toward. It just means you are responsible for making sure it happens:

• Confirm clear title before closing
• Get a survey if boundaries are unclear or if you are dividing a larger tract
• Verify zoning matches what you actually plan to do with the parcel
• Check for easements, liens, or back taxes

An agent can be useful if you want help finding listings or negotiating, but their absence does not remove any of the underlying due diligence steps. Buyers who go without one should treat the checklist as their own responsibility rather than something that gets skipped because nobody is there to insist on it.