Land Buying Tips

Buying land can be an exciting but daunting undertaking. Land can be expensive and require a considerable amount of your time. If you’re not happy with your land purchase, it may be difficult to get full value at resale. On the other hand, the right land purchase can change your life. Here are some tips for buying land.

Land Buying Tip No. 1 -- Check Out the Area

It’s not a bad idea to rent a residence in the area you plan to buy before you make the leap. If you’re pretty sure you’ve found your ideal location, spending a few weeks as a member of the local community can help you be sure. If there’s something undesirable about your new neighborhood that’s not immediately obvious, you’ll find out eventually. Better that you find out before you sign the deed than after.

Land Buying Tip No. 2 -- Employ a Surveyor

Trust your seller, but verify. A qualified surveyor can tell you the exact acreage and boundaries of the land you are intending to purchase. It’s important to make sure you’re getting what you are paying for, and a land surveyor can give you the confidence that you are getting exactly that.

Land Buying Tip No. 3 -- Learn About Zoning Ordinances and Permissions

Find out about zoning building restrictions and about what kind of permissions you will need to obtain before you buy your land. If the local government does not allow you to do the building you wish to do, you will have little recourse. If your valuation of the land was based on its development potential, this could pose a serious problem.

Land Buying Tip No. 4 -- Know Your Utility Access

Whatever you construct on your new land will require water and power. Make sure your property allows for easy access to both. If it does not, be sure to calculate the costs of getting utilities flowing in your home into your evaluation of the property.

Land Buying Tip No. 5 -- Know Local Environmental Conditions

If the area where your property is located is prone to rockslides, mudslides, wildfires or inclement weather, this could seriously depreciate the value of your property. Be sure you have a thorough understanding of the environmental conditions surrounding your new piece of real estate. Know the level of hazard and how you will be able to handle environmental issues that may arise during the term of your land ownership.