Building the perfect home for your family is a multifaceted experience. There is much to consider, especially when deciding where to build this new home—choosing the location and whether on your land or a lot in a neighborhood. Over the years, we have helped many families find the perfect space for their custom homes at David Rogers Builders. Here are our tips on selecting and purchasing the land to build your dream home.
Building a Home in Charlotte, NC
The one thing about living in the Charlotte, NC, area is that this city has grown tremendously in the last few years and is still growing. David Rogers has been building homes here for nearly three decades and has seen the shift and expansion of homeowners moving here new to the area. Surrounding areas like Huntersville, Weddington, Waxhaw, Indian Land, and Marvin are being developed, attracting more people to the areas. Whether considering building a home in the city or moving to the suburbs, you will need the perfect land to begin the building process.
Here are some tips to simplify the process and eliminate unwanted surprises regarding the land and place where your future home will be built.
1. Learn All You Can About the Property You Are Considering
Our first tip is to do your due diligence about the property you are considering. You are investing your money into the land, so ensure it is the right long-term location. It is always best to hire a Real Estate Broker who is a knowledgeable professional who can give you detailed information about the land and will be able to write a legal offer that includes contingencies to allow you to back out of the contract if needed. Some of the details to look into include the following:
How is the land zoned? All land is divided into zones within every state, city, county, or town. Zoning can be commercial, residential, or more, and it restricts how developers can use the land. When looking for property without the hassle of switching the zoning requirements (which can be lengthy, time-consuming, and costly), looking for residential property is essential. Ensure that unique opportunities are not a challenge to developing the land, like zoning laws that prevent you from putting in a driveway that connects to the road.
Where are the property lines? Not only is it essential to know where the property lines are for outdoor and landscaping purposes, but you are required to build a certain distance away from them. You may not want your neighbors close enough to peer through your stairwell windows, or perhaps you want more privacy. When deciding on land, many essential factors are up to your discretion. If you're buying a lot within a development within a town or city limits, there are most likely rules about the type of home allowed or restrictions on its size or positioning.
2. Find Out How the Taxes and Utilities Are Managed
If you live in a city or township, you most likely have an established sewer or septic system. The property will have access to city water and electrical lines already in place. If you are developing land outside of these limits, this may be something that you will have to consider as your builder starts pulling permits for land development. Will you need a well for water or have access to rural water? Can you tie into existing sewer and electrical lines?
Other things that you may want to consider when buying land to build a house on:
Taxes for the state and county. Taxes may include some utilities.
School districts for younger children and resale value.
Private or public roads? If public, are they regularly maintained?
Can the land be subdivided?
3. Look Into the Neighbors
Believe it or not, your neighbors and future ones affect your property value. Even if they are some distance away, you must research your neighbors and future developments around your property. This does affect the future residents of the property. For developments in a rural area, you will want to look for landfills, sewage treatment plants, junk yards, or anything that could harm you and your land value. You also want to look at boundary lines and ensure that nothing impedes land construction. Here is where a land survey comes in handy.
If you choose a lot to buy, clearly staking and marking out the property boundaries will help give you a visual of the space. Are there any existing fence lines that may be on your property? It is always best to deal with a problem immediately before construction begins. You can also turn to the community's HOA if they have one to dispute any findings that you have of your property.
How David Rogers Builders Can Help with Buying Land to Build a House.
As a licensed real estate broker and general contractor, David can assist in finding, acquiring, and developing land for your new home or project. Choosing the right location can be challenging; let us simplify the process. Our land development process involves evaluating the property along with planning for your custom home and construction. We are here for you when you are ready. Just give us a call to get started. After learning about you, your lifestyle, and the conceptual ideas for your dream home, we will get to create a customized step-by-step process taking you through the pre-construction design, selections, and budgeting steps and then directly into permitting and construction! Let's get started!