For many of us, the vision of a dream home is tied to a specific place. Some see a quiet tree-lined street where their kids can ride bikes. Others dream of living beside the water or tucked into the woods, sipping coffee while watching deer wander by.
These visions underscore the reality that dream homes require land, and finding land to build on is challenging for a variety of reasons. Where do you start looking? What should you look for? Can a realtor help?
To help you answer those questions, we’ve outlined three tips to guide you toward the perfect piece of land for your custom home.
1. Find a local real estate agent experienced in land deals
There are pros and cons to weigh when it comes to working with an agent on finding and buying land. A clear pro, however, is that an agent can broaden and accelerate your search.
You’ll need to be choosy, though. First, make sure the agent lives in or close to the area you want to build. They’ll likely have connections to leverage, not to mention good agents regularly spend time identifying locals who might be ready to sell their land. That’s a big advantage to find land right before or as it hits the market.
Second, look at the agent’s track record. Have they closed plenty of land deals, or do they mostly sell houses with the occasional land sale mixed in? Speaking of, know the difference between lots versus land. A lot refers to a parcel of land that’s ready (or close to ready) to support a house. Land, on the other hand, could refer to a lot, but it could also mean raw land that needs to be cleared, zoned, or otherwise made suitable to build on.
Third, get clarity on the terms. An agent might charge a higher commission on land due to local market factors. Find out their terms up front so there are no surprises. If you’re not happy with the terms, you can always negotiate or talk to other agents.
2. Look at what’s beyond the “For Sale” sign
Imagine taking a detour one day after work. You turn down a side road when you see it, the perfect piece of land you’ve pictured in your head. But what about the roads, neighbors, or distance to the closest grocery store? Those may not be so perfect.
When buying land, you’re also buying everything that comes with it, so study if there are any deal breakers. In addition to the land itself, also consider:
Always look beyond the sale sign to see the big picture. Visualize what life will be like for your family five or so years after building from a realistic point of view. For more help, see this checklist for finding the perfect piece.
3. Track down the owners of land not for sale
The perfect piece of land often isn’t for sale until you ask. Plenty of homeowners have found the perfect land by knocking on doors and asking who owns it. But what if there are no neighbors nearby to ask, or they don’t know?
If that’s the case, head to the county assessor’s office. The assessor evaluates all land values and assigns property taxes. That includes maintaining a master list of all properties in the county or jurisdiction. Search the assessor’s database to find the name and address of who owns the property you’re interested in.
If, however, the office doesn’t offer this search feature, then call the county assessor, registrar of deeds, or county clerk’s office directly and ask for help. They can tell you how to search county records using a street address or map location.
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 19,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.
