When buying a home, you have decided to commission a new construction rather than compete for existing housing. This is a great choice in the current housing economy and new neighborhoods are going up as fast as builders can bring in lumber and sheetrock. Having a home built is the best way to create your dream home, but it's not just about the house itself. It's also the lot and land. How do you choose the best land to develop for a new home? What makes a great neighborhood lot or a promising piece of the countryside for home construction? Let's take a closer look at how to choose the best land for your new home construction.
Stable Ground Unlikely to Shift the Foundation
First and foremost, you are thinking about the safety of your home. This means solid earth that is unlikely to move or shift with the weather over time. Clay in the soil will swell and contract, shifting a foundation over time. Loose or dry soil may shift when wet, providing a less stable place to bury the home's foundation. Choose a lot that is on stable, solid ground, and surveyed to provide a good base for the foundation of your home.
A Level Grade or Gentle Slope
The grade or slope of the land matters a great deal. There are some delightful hill-homes built halfway into a steep lot with half-basement levels, but most homes are best if built on an already flat lot or land with a gentle and easily re-graded slope. This is where your land development comes into play. Land developers specialize in creating the type of flat lot you need to construct a stick-built home, providing an even grade and a subtle slope away from the foundation of the house.
The Right Lot Shape and Road Access
Take a look at the shape of each lot you consider. Most homes are simple rectangles or squares with roadside access, but some are more unique. Corner and cul-de-sac properties tend to be more triangular or trapezoidal with a narrow and wide side. Some have awkward road access or excellent private access to the road. You may want an unusually shaped lot for more space dedicated to the yard, or you may have a specific lawn and lifestyle layout in mind.
Underground Utilities Nearby or In Place
Are there utilities nearby? Your last-mile costs to hook up a new home will depend on where the nearest lines are to your property. In a planned community or an existing neighborhood, utility lines are usually very close by and ready for short last-mile connections through your lot. For more rural homes where you are choosing a custom home located on undeveloped field land, your last-mile utility lines may be longer - and at greater expense.
The Right Zoning and Regulations
Make sure you choose a lot where your home can be built. There are a few moments more tragic than when hopeful home buyers choose a lot only to discover it is not zoned for their home-building plans. Always know your regulations and work with your builder to choose the right property to avoid unforeseen mistakes.
Location, View, and Ecosystem of Your Choice
What about the location? This whole time, we haven't once mentioned exactly "where" the best land is to develop your new home. That's because every state and region has a few choice places for a new home, but the perfect place for you will depend on your preferences.
You may want a big open sky or to be surrounded by a canopy of leafy trees. Maybe you want a hillside view of a nearby city or for a natural little creek to run through your yard. Everyone has their own personality when it comes to location, ecosystem, and the view from their new home.
Inside or Outside an HOA Community
Do you want to live in the convenience of a planned community with parks, playgrounds, pools, and seasonal events - with the added responsibility of being a member-owner in an HOA? Or are you seeking to develop land outside the typically planned communities on your own private patch of paradise? Make this decision and talk to your builder. HOA homes often have many available lots and are easier to construct due to the utility lines and other readily available community conveniences, but a non-HAO home leaves you the sole decider on everything about your brand new property.
Nearby Lifestyle Amenities
Last but not least, what must you live near? Do you simply require a coffee shop near your house? Would your life be incomplete without a local gym? Do you simply love to live within walking distance of the nearest shops? Consider all of these factors when choosing the location to build your new home. You are putting down roots in a neighborhood and the entire terrain of residences and businesses around you will make up your community. Choose your location with both natural and human surroundings in mind to build a lifestyle you will love inside and outside the home.
What is the best land to develop for a new home? Contact us today for help choosing the perfect lot for your new home construction.
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