What Is Landlocked Property in Real Estate?
A landlocked property is a parcel of land that has no direct access to a public road. In real estate, “landlocked” means the property is surrounded by other privately owned parcels—so the owner must cross someone else’s land to reach it.
🌲 How Landlocked Properties Occur
- Subdivision errors or outdated surveys that didn’t preserve road access.
- Private roads or driveways that were never formally recorded as easements.
- Land inherited or purchased without reviewing access rights in the deed.
- Property sold off from a larger tract without legal right-of-way language.
Landlocked lots are fairly common in rural areas or older subdivisions where roads were never properly dedicated. Without legal access, owners can face challenges getting permits, financing, or utility service.
🛣️ Easements: The Solution for Landlocked Lots
The most common way to fix a landlocked property is to establish an easement—a legal right allowing access across a neighbor’s land. Easements can be created by:
- Agreement: The neighboring owner voluntarily grants access.
- Necessity: A court orders access because the land would otherwise be unusable.
- Prescription: Long-term, open use of a path over time that becomes legally recognized.
Having a properly recorded easement is essential for resale value and financing approval—buyers and lenders both require proof of legal access.
🏡 Selling a Landlocked Property
Even though a landlocked parcel may have access challenges, it can still be sold—especially if an easement exists or can be negotiated. For FSBO sellers, it’s important to disclose access details clearly in your MLS listing to set expectations for buyers.
Through Brokerless, you can list landlocked or partially accessible properties on the MLS to reach investors and builders who understand easement-based properties. Your listing will still appear on Realtor.com, Zillow, and major search sites—maximizing exposure even for unique parcels.
📚 Related Articles
- Flat Fee MLS for Land Flipping — Learn how Brokerless helps land investors list nationwide.
- What Is a Land Contract in Real Estate? — Understand how seller financing works with land deals.
- Best MLS Options for Land Flippers (State-by-State Guide) — Compare land MLS coverage across the U.S.
Ready to list your land—even if it’s landlocked or needs an easement?
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