What You Should Know About Buying Your First Lot of Land for Building a Home

The excitement of owning a home is magnified for some people who choose to start from the ground up. Purchasing a plot of empty land and envisioning your dream home sitting right there is great, but there are some things to keep in mind before you buy. Here are a few of the most important ways you can do your homework before putting money down on some land of your own.

Finding a Location

The physical location of your new plot is one of the basic yet crucial aspects of the purchase. Before you buy anything, you should get a general sense of where you want your land to be. If it is in your area or nearby, consider taking a drive to get a feel for the place. The things that are around you can influence your purchase. When you’re building a house, you’ll want to pick a plot that has easy access to stores, possible work venues, schools, or restaurants. You might be shopping for a community just as much as a place to live.

Understanding the Costs

You know that buying the land and building on it will use some of your resources. However, there could be hidden costs you aren’t aware of, and you should plan for these fees as much as you can. It’s a good idea to get in touch with a qualified real estate agent to discuss everything. The agent can tell you about land surveys or purchasing title insurance as protection for the property. In many cases, you’ll need this insurance if you want to take out loans to help pay for building costs.

Getting Road Access

This tip sounds simple on the surface, but it is an issue with much more complexity to it than many prospective homeowners realize. Access to a road is not usually a hassle if you are choosing a vacant lot in an urban area. However, rural areas might have land for sale that doesn’t include roads running through or near it. In these cases, you might only have access via a private road. You may face problems with water and sewage availability as well.

Setting Up Utilities

Not long after construction begins, you will want to start setting up the utilities you will be using once you move. The basics here include electricity, gas, and communication lines. You might be fortunate enough to find an empty lot for sale that has all of these things connected already. If you purchase a disconnected lot, you’ll have to deal with the time and expense of going through the power and communications companies. You should also check to see if installing a gas tank on the property is the right move for you.

Building a home means that you could design your dream space rather than settling for something else. It is not without its challenges, but you can use some of the information provided above to prepare yourself to meet your goals both mentally and financially. Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with zoning laws and permits to make sure that construction follows all the legal requirements.