Perhaps you have decided to start searching for a perfect spot to build your new custom home in LA. Unfortunately, if you have never bought land before, the thought of purchasing a raw tract of it can be quite intimidating. As it is, purchasing new tracts of land is relatively different from buying an existing home; however, the same rules apply to both transactions. Knowing what to look out for and what to avoid can help you through the land purchasing processes. Here are some tips to help you through these processes.
Topography
If you want to break ground without spending huge chunk of your building money, it is recommended to consider the topography of your potential track of land. While a hilly country has no shortage of breathtaking views, all those hills can present quite a financial challenge. Uneven terrain will have to be terra-formed so as to support your home’s foundation. Land that experiences regular floods can also lead to additional considerations and significant costs when designing and building your luxury home.
Setbacks, easements and building envelopes
Plot size can be really misleading where there is a comparatively small building envelope after easements and setbacks are shown. As such, research on what percentage of your land is buildable prior to choosing and paying for it. An updated survey can help you identify easements that might affect your utilization of a potential property. Remember, no permanent building can ever be constructed over a utility easement.
Access
In a majority of cases, access is a complex issue that needs to be given due consideration before purchasing a vacant lot. For instance, access is rarely an issue in the cities. However, in the countryside, large tracts of land are cut off from the public roads and therefore are only accessible through private roads. This can introduce multiple issues. If your potential land is not accessible through a public roadway, then it might not have access to city sewage or water system. This means you will have to install a septic system and hollow out a well to handle these basic utilities, something that greatly adds to the construction costs.
A public roadway guarantees an easy route to a vacant tract of land or lot at all times. However, when a private road enters into the equation, things are bound to get a little more complicated. Where the property is landlocked, you might need an easement to assure access to your lot.
Utilities
Are all your required utilities on your lot? If not, it is recommended to try and discover who will provide these indispensable connections and at what costs. If any of these essential services is lacking, then rest assured that it will cost you money to bring them to your location.
Find out things about where you are purchasing
Try and discover which permitting authorities control the land you are considering. Is the property zoned? Is it in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a local city or town? Or is it situated within the town limits? When considering a planned subdivision, your parcel of land will most likely be subject to extra set of deed and covenants restrictions, and that further restrict what you can build on your lot. Moreover, you subdivision might require an architectural review of your building and limit your construction to specific architectural styles. All in all, it is critical to first understand what you are getting yourself into before purchasing a given parcel of land.
Don’t go at it alone
It is highly recommended that you select a custom home builder and involve him or her in your lot selection procedures early enough, and for a good reason. His or her broad local experience and knowledge will save you a lot of money, trouble and time down the road. Furthermore, an involved custom home builder will assist you to perform cost analysis and comparisons between the different tracts of land you are considering.
