Acquiring Land for Your New Home

 

Site Harmony! Your land and your home should work together to create what is known as Site Harmony. As your builder, it is one of our objectives.

 

At Heartland Builders, we will be happy to assist you in analyzing the costs associated with building a home on a site, either before you have purchased it or after.

 

How to Find Land

Heartland Builders typically has home sites For Sale.
We invite you to browse through our current offerings on this web site.

 

An easy way to shop for current land for sale in the greater Grand Rapids area is to visit the Grand Rapids Association of Realtors® web site at www.grar.com.

 

Another source, less often thought of, is simply driving around the area you would like to live.  Often, there will be a sign in front of a property that says: For Sale by Owner.  That could turn out to be a great oppotunity. 

 

To learn about purchasing land, please read the information below and know that Heartland Builders is here to help. 

 

10 Things You Should Consider When Purchasing Land

1. Ask a builder to help you evaluate the costs of building a home on the site. Is the land even “buildable”? Professional advice can help you avoid costly mistakes, save money and make informed decisions.
   
   
2. Is the land suitable for the type of home you would like to build? For example, if you would like a home with a walkout basement, you should select land with a hill that falls away from the front of the home. If you’ve already selected a home plan, try to visualize it on the site.
   
   
3. Does the land contain any wetlands? If so, you may need special permits to build or you may need to observe certain set back requirements when placing your home on the site. Confirm that the property IS NOT in a Flood Zone or a Designated Wetland.
   
   
4. What is the soil type? Light, sandy soils will give you the best drainage, and are much easier and less costly for septic systems, excavation and landscaping work. Heavy soils, such as clay, cost more when building. This is good information to know when you are evaluating the costs of one or more sites.
   
   
5. Does the land have access to municipal water and sewer? If the home site requires a well and septic system, DO NOT purchase the land without having the site evaluated by the county health department. We recommend that this evaluation be requested by you, not the seller. If the seller has an existing evaluation, confirm the content of the evaluation with the health department. The health department must approve a site for well and septic before a building permit can be granted. Once the evaluation is received, speak to a professional that understands the costs to install the well and septic system. A well and septic system are very common and both will perform properly. Yet, their installation costs can very with the depth of the well and the soil condition of the property.
   
   
6. Are you aware of the setback requirements required by local zoning? This is the distance your home must be “set back” from the front, sides and rear of your property lines. Is there enough room on the lot to build and place your home as you would like it? This is especially important if you are considering a site located in a subdivision.
   
    If you are building a home in a subdivison you should spend the extra money ($500 or so) to have a surveyor stake your home on the site.  This is more than the four corners of the site (see #8) this is the actual house plan.  The surveyor will determine if your home fits and is within all setback requirements and easements.   If you are building on acreage this step often times may not be necessary because the site is very large but anytime you are in a development have the site surveyored.  There are many stories out there about homes not being built in the proper location on a site.  Spend the money.  It is good insurance. 
   
   
7. Surrounding zoning. Know what the property around your home site is zoned. Drive around. See what exists and/or could be built near your home.
   
   
8. Have the property surveyed. The paper copy of the survey will show all property corners and define the location of all easements on the property. A surveyor should visit the site and place stakes on all corners of the property.  
   
   
9. Are you aware of any deed restrictions or developer requirements? Ask the seller to provide documentation. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to ensure that your home is built in compliance with all restrictions and requirements. Your builder will assist you.
   
   
10. Is the property wooded or an open area? Open areas are typically less costly for building a home. A wooded home site, while preferred by many homeowners, is typically more costly when you consider the fact that you will have to remove some of the trees in order to fit your home.
    

 

We often tell people, you can over analyze the purchase of land. Once you understand the details of the property, it is OK to simply breath a sigh and say: “I really like it here.”

 

Dream and live your dream! If you have any questions regarding land, please feel free to Ask Rich.