Buying Land 101 - New Home Build

So you have decided to build a home... now what? Time to find some land! Finding land is one of the most crucial parts of the home building process and can be filled with multiple questions that can leave you confused, frustrated and questioning your decision.

How to Find Land for Sale

Finding the right piece of land is one of the biggest challenges you will face. You can always look at Zillow and Realtor for listings but most of the time that won't be your best source. Here are 3 additional ways to look for land:

1. Word of Mouth

Ask local realtors if they know of anyone who might be interested in selling their property? Are they aware of any expired listings? Reach out to local builders to see if they are aware of any developments in the next 1-2 years.

2. Beacon/County Records

Become familiar with the Beacon or your local county recorders office. If there is a piece of land or general area you are interested in, start by writing letters to the homeowners to see if they would be willing to discuss selling. If you find a larger parcel of land you may inquire if people are willing to sell or subdivide their land for purchase. This is a great alternative to selling the entire parcel of land.

3. Existing Home

Find a property with either a home that can be demolished or a property that has enough land that you can build a new home and rent out the existing home for additional revenue. Make sure you double check local ordinances to ensure this is feasible.

While these aren't always the most effective ways of securing land, they are additional unconventional ways of helping you identify available land. If you are willing to pay for all associated costs (attorney, permits, land surveys, etc.) a homeowner will be more willing to work with you.

Don't forget to have a soil test done before purchasing property to ensure the land is build able.