Sell Your Land in Moore County, NC

Selling Land in Moore County: What to Know

Moore County sits in the North Carolina Sandhills, with Carthage as the county seat and Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen near its center. The county is known for golf and long-leaf pine woods, and it is near Fort Bragg. Many people own a lot here they bought for a future home, inherited from family, or hold as an investment. If you own one and want to sell, we can help.

EasyLotBuyer buys vacant land in Moore County for cash. We have closed on 5 parcels in Moore County, in and around Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Carthage, Aberdeen, Pinebluff and West End. We buy both small lots and tracts of 5 acres or more. We make a cash offer within 24 hours, charge no fees or commissions, pay the closing costs, and can close in as few as 7 days. We also buy land with back taxes, liens, title issues or no road access.

What land sells for in Moore County

Recent market data shows a median land sale of $120,000 across Moore County, with 337 sales in a year. The median asking price was higher, at about $164,000. Land took about 105 days to sell on average, and there was about 7 months of supply on the market.

Size changes the price less than you might expect for smaller lots. Lots under 1 acre had a median sale of $70,000 across 155 sales. Lots of 1 to 2 acres and 2 to 5 acres both sold for a median near $68,000. Tracts of 5 to 10 acres had a median of $141,500, tracts of 10 to 20 acres $198,000, and tracts of 20 to 50 acres $240,000. Per acre, the larger tracts sell for much less than small lots.

Location matters most. A lot with public water and sewer near Pinehurst or Southern Pines can sell for more than a lot of the same size that needs a well and a septic system. The ZIP code figures below come from the same market data. They mix many lot sizes, so treat them as a rough guide.

• 28374 Pinehurst: median sale $165,000 (75 sales)
• 28327 Carthage: median sale $122,000 (45 sales)
• 28315 Aberdeen: median sale $147,000 (18 sales)
• 28387 Southern Pines: median sale $96,000 (28 sales)
• 27376 West End: median sale $70,000 (65 sales)
• 28373 Pinebluff: median sale $40,500 (only 4 sales, so prices vary more)

Septic permits and wells

Outside the towns, most of Moore County uses private septic systems and wells. The county's 2025 Land Use Plan says public sewer is available in only seven towns: Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Carthage, Vass, Robbins and Taylortown. On most rural lots, a buyer must prove the soil can take a septic system before a home can go up.

North Carolina law requires an improvement permit and a construction authorization before anyone builds a home where there is no approved wastewater system. In Moore County, the Health Department's Environmental Health section takes these applications. Its Septic and Wells page has the forms for a new septic system, a repair, an existing system and a new well.

If your lot already has an improvement permit, it can add value. Under state law, a permit issued with a recorded plat does not expire, and a permit issued with a site plan is good for five years. The permit stays with the land when it is sold, as long as the site and the planned use do not change. Ask Environmental Health if a permit is on file for your parcel.

Public water and sewer

Moore County Public Utilities serves more than 18,000 customers. Its service areas include Pinehurst, Seven Lakes, Vass, Hyland Hills and Niagara, Addor, High Falls and the East Moore Water District. The county warns that some locations inside these areas still have no water or sewer line, so you need to check your own parcel with the Public Utilities office.

Some towns run their own systems. The Town of Southern Pines Utilities Division has more than 11,500 connections and also sells water to Moore County and Whispering Pines. Under the county's water and sewer rules, a new connection pays the fees in effect when you apply, and a lot can get sewer service only if it also has county water, unless the Public Works Director approves.

Sewer is a big reason small lots near the towns sell well. The Land Use Plan notes that a lot on septic needs room for the tank, the drain field and a repair area, while a lot on public sewer does not. That is why lots can be smaller where sewer exists.

Zoning and lot minimums

Who sets the rules depends on where your land is. The county's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) covers the unincorporated parts of Moore County. Land inside a town, or inside a town's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), follows that town's rules. In Pinehurst, the Village's Planning department enforces the Pinehurst Development Ordinance inside the village limits and its ETJ.

Under the county UDO, minimum lot sizes vary by zoning district. Most districts also require at least 100 feet of lot width and 100 feet of road frontage. A lot that is smaller or narrower than the current minimum may have limits on what can be built. Rules change, so check the zoning of your parcel with Moore County Planning or the town before you rely on it.

• RA (Rural Agricultural): 1 acre minimum
• RA-20 and RA-40: 20,000 and 40,000 square feet
• RA-2: 2 acres minimum
• RA-5: 5 acres minimum
• Setbacks in the RA districts: 30 feet front, 15 feet side, 30 feet rear for a home

Golf communities, HOAs and growth

Many lots in Moore County sit in golf or lake communities with a homeowners or property owners association. These associations charge dues and often have their own building rules. Read your community's declaration and rules before you sell, since a buyer will ask about them.

Unpaid dues can turn into a lien. Under the North Carolina Planned Community Act, an association can file a claim of lien once an assessment is 30 days or more past due. If it stays unpaid for 90 days or more, the association may vote to foreclose. If your lot has unpaid HOA dues, we can still buy it. The amount owed is paid from the sale at closing.

Demand in parts of the county comes from the military. The county's 2025 Land Use Plan says many residents of the West End area commute to Fort Bragg, and residential demand there is rising because of its nearness to Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Fort Bragg. The plan also notes Pinebluff is home to many retirees and military families. Fort Bragg was named Fort Liberty from 2023 to 2025.

Property taxes and tax foreclosure

The Moore County Tax Department lists, appraises and collects property tax. You can find your bill with its online tax bill search. Bills are due September 1, and the county gives a discount for paying by August 31. You have until January 5 to pay without penalty. After that, a penalty is added for each month the bill stays unpaid, plus collection costs.

If taxes stay unpaid, the county may start a foreclosure. Its Collections page says foreclosure is a last resort, and the county uses Zacchaeus Legal Services to run the sales. The Tax Department's FAQ says the process may start in April of the year the bill becomes delinquent. Sales are posted on the county website about four weeks ahead and are held as public auctions. After a sale, there is a 10-day period for upset bids at the Clerk of Superior Court's office.

North Carolina does not sell tax liens. The owner can stop a foreclosure under state law by paying the taxes, penalties, interest and costs before the sale is confirmed. If you are behind, call the Tax Department before January 5 to ask about a payment agreement. If you would rather sell, we buy land with back taxes. The taxes are paid from the sale at closing.