Corporations, especially the Dutch West India Corporation (DWIC), often purchased property and sold it off in lots.
The concept of the Corporation and the opportunity to 'own a share' of the profits of the work of that group of people was revolutionary. Up until that point, most people worked for the benefit of their liege lord, their king, or the church. The Dutch East India company was the worlds first corporation, and the Dutch West India Company (DWIC or WIC) was the second. Washerwomen, butchers, leather tanners, and maids bought shares and eventually gained the value of those shares, and thus improved their station in life. This also created a stock market in shares, and speculation that made some people wealthy, and others lost everything. It was the beginning of Capitalism as we know it today.