| There are many significant considerations to be | | | | construction. You may wish to build a single story |
| made when purchasing land to build a home. | | | | rambler home, but if the lot is sloping it may be |
| Typically when you make an offer to purchase a | | | | difficult, or add substantially to the cost of |
| piece of land, you have 30 to 60 days to | | | | construction |
| evaluate the property thoroughly prior to | | | | Water and sewer availability are critical to building |
| purchase. Ideally you will know what to look for | | | | a home on the property. If the site will require an |
| prior to making the offer, but this is not | | | | on-site sewer system, then a system will need to |
| necessarily the case. | | | | be designed and approved by the local municipality. |
| One major consideration is the price that you pay | | | | If soils are poor or very sensitive it may not be |
| for the property, and to feel that the agreed | | | | possible to design a septic system to meet the |
| upon price is a fair price. You don't want to pay | | | | needs of your new home. If a well is required for |
| too much for the property, but the seller does | | | | domestic water, then it is important to have |
| not want to sell it for to little. If you have taken | | | | some idea whether water is available, what well |
| the time to look for property and have had the | | | | depths are in the area, and what it might cost. |
| opportunity to compare it to others, you will | | | | Without water a piece of land would not be |
| know when you have property at a fair price. | | | | buildable. |
| Another consideration may be any restrictions | | | | If the property does not directly adjoin a public |
| placed upon the use of the land. This would often | | | | road, then it is important to verify that there is |
| come in the form of covenants. These are | | | | legal access. You must have some form of legal |
| typically rules and regulations placed on the | | | | access to get to the property. This could be by |
| property by the developer. This might include | | | | easement or right of way. |
| restrictions on the size of home, the height, the | | | | Sometimes getting power to the building site can |
| color, the architectural style or the type of | | | | be difficult and costly. It is important to determine |
| exterior finishes. This is important because you | | | | that power and phone will be available and verify |
| would not want to purchase the land only to find | | | | the cost. Extend the power several hundred feet |
| out that the type of home that you want to build | | | | to the proposed building site can be expensive |
| does not meet the covenants. | | | | and prohibitive. |
| The topography and soil conditions of the site are | | | | Selecting the right piece in the right location is |
| important. Poor soils mean poor drainage and | | | | most important to you. For this reason only you |
| additional development costs. Poor soils can also | | | | can decide how far you are will to go to develop |
| affect the concrete footing size and the cost of | | | | the site for your dream home. |