Under a contract for deed, the buyer is typically responsible for paying which costs?

• A. Taxes and Insurance
• B. Loan interest
• C. Property management fees
• D. Title search fees

Answer: (A)

In a contract for deed, the buyer takes possession of the property and is responsible for ongoing costs that keep the property usable and protected. Taxes and insurance are the typical obligations the buyer assumes because they directly affect the property you’re using and living in. Keeping property taxes current prevents liens, and maintaining homeowners insurance protects the investment for both parties if something happens to the home. Since there isn’t a traditional lender in this arrangement, the focus is on those ongoing carrying costs rather than a separate loan-related expense.

One-time closing costs like a title search are not ongoing responsibilities, and property management fees aren’t inherently part of a contract for deed unless specifically arranged. While the buyer does make payments to the seller that cover the purchase, those payments aren’t treated as a separate loan interest obligation in the same way as bank financing.