# Buying Real Estate

Players can purchase plots of land, also known as real estate, from other players using emeralds. There are two types of real estate: homes and shops. It is generally recommended to buy a home before you buy a shop, as homes provide significant value to new players.

### Buying Homes

Buying homes allows players to purchase protected land in settlements for emeralds with the option of then [renting](#renting-homes) or [reselling](#selling-homes) the home to other players for emeralds. Players can flip homes for a profit by buying a home, fixing it up, and then reselling it for more emeralds than they bought it for.

Players can find homes to buy using the `/explore homes forsale` command. Use this command multiple times to explore all homes for sale on the server.  Players can use the `/home buy` command to purchase a home. If there are no homes for sale then creating a new settlement is always an option.

{% hint style="info" %}
In addition to the sale price, home owners must pay [taxes](/land-management/home-ownership.md#home-taxes) to the settlement owner each day.
{% endhint %}

### Buying Shops

Buying shops allows players to purchase protected land in settlements for emeralds with the option of then [renting](#renting-shops) or [reselling](#selling-shops) the shop to other players for emeralds. Players can flip shops for a profit by buying a shop, fixing it up, and then reselling it for more emeralds than they bought it for.

Players can find shops to buy using the `/explore shop forsale` command. Use this command multiple times to explore all shops for sale on the server.  Players can use the `/shop buy` command to purchase a shop. If there are no shops for sale then you always have the option of creating a new settlement, as settlement owners can create both homes and shops in their settlements.

{% hint style="info" %}
In addition to the sale price, shop owners must pay taxes to the settlement owner each day.
{% endhint %}


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