California City, CA Land for Sale: 0.17-Acre R1 Merrill St Lot with Owner Financing

If you’re shopping for an affordable lot in California City, the big question is not just price; it is whether the parcel can support the structure, utilities, and access plan you have in mind.

LC27068 is a 0.17-acre vacant land parcel on Merrill St in California City, Kern County, California, identified as APN 209-290-34-00-5. The listing shows a $4,500 cash price, R1 zoning, dirt-road access, and seller financing with a $500 down payment on a $10,000 owner-finance price.

The important caveat: R1 zoning and the mobile/tiny-home angle should be treated as starting points for due diligence, not final approvals. Confirm current city zoning, overlays, access, water, septic, and permit requirements before relying on a specific use.

Listing image for the 0.17-acre R1 parcel; verify exact boundaries through APN records or a survey.

Property Snapshot

Here are the core facts supplied for LC27068, plus what each one means for a practical land buyer.

Area and Setting

Parcel-specific facts are limited to the supplied data: Merrill St in California City, APN 209-290-34-00-5, 0.17 acres, R1 zoning, dirt-road access, and well/septic needed. Because the supplied coordinates are not usable for pinpoint mapping, rely on APN-based records, parcel maps, and a survey for exact placement.

General local context matters here. California City is in Kern County, and the city’s municipal code includes R1 residential standards plus separate tiny/small-home overlay language. That makes zoning review especially important for buyers considering a small home, manufactured home, mobile home, or alternative housing concept.

Utility context also needs parcel-level confirmation. Official city materials indicate municipal water and sewer services exist in some areas, while this listing states well and septic are needed. A buyer should verify whether public service is available at this parcel or whether private systems are required and feasible.

Additional property image for LC27068; do not rely on images alone for access, utilities, or buildability.

Potential Uses and Buyer Fit

This lot is best suited to a buyer who wants a low-entry California City parcel and is prepared to do the work of confirming zoning, access, utilities, water, septic, and permits before building or placing a structure.

It is not a turnkey building site based on the supplied facts. The lot is small, the road is listed as dirt, and the utility field says well and septic are needed, so site planning and local approvals are central to the decision.

• Future single-family homesite, only if R1 standards, setbacks, permits, legal access, water, and septic feasibility all check out.
• Tiny-home, small-home, manufactured-home, or mobile-home concept, only if the city confirms the specific structure type, foundation, size, and overlay requirements for this APN.
• Low-cost land hold while the buyer completes survey, title, zoning, tax, road, and utility verification.
• Cash purchase or seller-financed acquisition for a buyer who understands the difference between the $4,500 cash price and the $10,000 owner-finance price.

Due Diligence Checklist

Before purchasing LC27068, focus on the items that determine whether the lot can support your intended use and whether the total project cost still makes sense.

Owner Financing Terms to Review

The listing shows a $4,500 cash price. It also states an owner-finance price of $10,000 with $500 down, a $9,500 financed amount, 10% APR, and a $249 processing/origination fee that is separate from the financed amount.

Quoted monthly payment examples are $201.85 for 60 months, $157.71 for 84 months, and $125.54 for 120 months. The financing language also states a contract-for-deed structure, with deed transfer after the final payment.

Seller financing can lower the upfront cash required, but it changes the total cost and deed timing. Compare the financed price, interest, fees, due-diligence costs, and site-prep budget before choosing between cash and terms.

• What is the total amount paid over the full term, including down payment, interest, and the $249 fee?
• Are there prepayment penalties, early payoff options, or payoff discounts?
• What happens after a missed payment, and what cure period applies?
• When is the deed recorded or transferred, and who is responsible for taxes during the contract?
• Who pays closing, recording, document, and notary costs?

How to Compare This Lot Against Other Small California City Parcels

Start with size and usability. At 0.17 acres, this parcel may work for a compact residential plan only if setbacks, access, utilities, and septic design leave enough usable area.

Next, compare utility status. A parcel with installed or confirmed nearby utilities may cost more upfront but can reduce uncertainty; this listing states well and septic are needed, so those costs and approvals deserve early attention.

Finally, compare cash versus seller financing. The $4,500 cash price is materially different from the $10,000 owner-finance price, so the right choice depends on available cash, total cost, and comfort with the contract terms.

Questions buyers may ask about this property and area

Bottom Line

LC27068 stands out as a low-priced California City residential lot with R1 zoning shown and owner financing available. The $4,500 cash price and $500-down financing option make it approachable for buyers comparing affordable Kern County land.

The key question is not whether the price is attractive; it is whether the parcel works for your intended use. A 0.17-acre lot with dirt-road access and well/septic needed requires careful review of setbacks, septic feasibility, water, access, title, taxes, and local home-type rules.

If your plan depends on a tiny home, manufactured home, mobile home, or immediate building path, get parcel-specific confirmation before closing. Treat the article checklist as your starting point, then verify the facts with city and county records.