I’ve said before that your home is probably one of the largest investments you will ever make so the best advice I can give you is take your time, do your research and don’t let the excitement of starting to build a new home cause you to skip any of the important steps that need to be taken before you actually sign on the dotted line for anything. There is debate over whether you pick the house plan design first or the land first and that may differ based on your personal situation. In some cases the land is already yours or inherited or you have loved this house plan for years and are just waiting for the right time to build your dream home. This post addresses the things you should consider when you are looking for the perfect piece of land whether that be a half acre lot in a subdivision or 5 acres in the country.
Personal and Family Considerations
Are school districts important to you and for resaleHow long of a commute are you willing to make to work?
How critical is it to have shopping or grocery stores nearby?
Are you looking for a neighborhood full of playmates for your kids, a more mature neighborhood, or a rural setting?
Do you enjoy yard work and gardening or are you looking for limited yard maintenance?
Is this your forever home or an interim step?
Area and Land Considerations
How noisy is the area? Traffic – Airport- Railroad – Public address systems
Has the soil been tested and is the land stable? Drainage – Hazardous Materials – Termites – Runoff
What do the Realtors say about the area?
Public water and sewer or well and septic tank?
Is there planned growth or changes in the area?
Regulations, Codes and Zoning
What is the zoning for this area and surrounding land?
Are you comfortable with the building codes and any covenants?
What are the easements?
Are public utilities available? Cable – Internet connectivity
What is the tax rate?
I’m sure you agree there’s a lot to consider when deciding where to build a home. Once you’ve given the above items some thought you should give me a call to discuss next steps in building that home you’ve been thinking about.
