Facts That Should Be Evident When Buying Land Or Building A New Home   by Lisa Udy

in Real Estate / Building a Home    (submitted 2011-05-13)

Just beginning to think about buying land or building a new home? There is much to think about when you are making this decision. You might be surprised to discover all the things that go in to it.

When looking at land you will need to specify what kind of land you want. You may want a piece of land with trees. You may be looking for already cleared land. If it has trees and undergrowth, how much will you have to cut or clear? Just how much will you have to pay for it and what will be the cost to make it ready for your site? Heavy equipment is often needed to clean up or refresh the land. Maybe you want to leave most of it in its natural state. You must decide that before you can start any building.

Next you will need to survey the slope. You will want water runoff away from where you will be building and away from anywhere you will be actively using the property. Run off could be swift and violent depending on the slope and you must follow the path to see where water may congregate. It is not fun to be picnicking in a puddle. Worse yet, a constant water problem in your new basement or garage.

Now check the soil. This is necessary because the type of soil present will determine not only the cost of building but the cost of, and design of, the septic system. Sandy soil is good at absorbing water but is sometime difficult to build in because of the cave in tendencies. Clay is hard to excavate and does not absorb water well. If you have an abundance or gravel, you may decide to mine some and sell it.

If you are buying land for income and want to pit it, you must make sure it is legal in the area that it is situated. Many counties have strict regulations about mining and reclaiming soil.

Lets talk about building. You will need a permit to build and with that comes some plans and restrictions. The local county building permit department will be able to tell you the restrictions that apply. These consist of how big you can build, how high, how close to the boundaries and what are the setbacks. If your property abuts water or you have water or ponds on it, a new and different set of rules apply. Double check before digging.

Many homes are planned with a basement. In some areas that is not possible because the water table is too high. Digging down will only get you a water filled basement. In those locations, the codes will mandate a concrete slab or footings.

Make sure you check for the possibility of adding out buildings to the lot at construction time or some time after. You certainly will want a garage, shed or storage type building somewhere on the parcel.

You can see that there are many different questions to ask, procedures to follow and options to explore, when your are buying land or building a house. Go to the local lumber yard and ask some questions. They will also be able to put you in touch with some of their customers who are building contractors. They will be able to tell you about the procedures and policies regarding the type of home you envision.

About the Author

For more information from Lisa Udy we recommend you visit her Homes For Sale Logan website where you can view all Logan Utah Homes.