The Vacant Land Buyer

A vacant land buyer is someone who buys raw land with the intention of turning it into something wonderful. In real estate, there are always two choices that you as a buyer can do: either buy a developed property or buy something raw and vacant – a clean slate for all the great things that you have to make.

They say buying vacant land is not for the faint of heart, since aside from all the stress of building and the financial challenges that come with it, finding the right property is not always easy. That’s why we have prepared this short list of the things that you have to look out for if you are a vacant land buyer. Be sure to check them out and make your vacant land purchase easier.

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Things to Know if You’re a Vacant Land Buyer

The following list is the set of things that we have compiled from a series of trial and error that we have experienced in buying land ourselves. We at Land Boss are a team of vacant land buyers. Our usual clients are those people who no longer want their raw land and want to sell it for cash. Based on our experience in buying vacant land, here are the top things that you should look out for.

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Location is everything

There is an old adage in the real estate industry that goes like this: Location. Location. Location. We could not stress this enough but this is true a hundred years ago and it will remain true a hundred years from now. The location should always be at the top of your list when you consider buying vacant land. No matter what your plans are, whether you want to build a homestead, build a ranch, or put up a business, the property’s location should be your number one consideration.

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Always check for zoning restrictions

Zoning laws dictate what can and can’t be done on a parcel of land. It basically determines why you do not have an airport in front of your house or a farm in the middle of a city. Of course, there is a lot more to zoning but that should easily give you an idea of why it made it to our list. The county where vacant land is located determines the zoning restrictions that should be followed by that particular property.

With that said, it's important to check with your county first on the specific zoning restrictions that your prospective vacant land has before you initiate the purchase so you will not have any problems down the road. It might also be a good idea to check the county’s future development plan to see if the area that you are looking at will have major developments in the future that might affect any structure that you will build.

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Check utility connectivity

You might be buying vacant land because you have a plan in mind that you want to execute. Whether you want a new home or a spot for your business, utility connection is another thing that you should consider when looking at potential properties.

Utilities include electricity for power, gas for heat, water, and lines for internet, phone, and cable TV. Sometimes, you can buy vacant land with some or all of your utility needs already available or at least at a short distance to a connection point making your construction much easier. But if you don’t find one with available connections, you have to start checking with local utility companies and check with them if connectivity is possible.

The worst-case scenario might be that utility lines are too far or too expensive to connect that you will be forced to consider installing alternatives. For example, solar power might be a good option for power. A dug well can be a good water source, and you can always install tanks for gas and another one for septic. But these alternatives are an additional cost to you given that they will require more manpower hours, equipment, and more permits. Not to mention that you also have to check with the zoning of the property if these alternatives are even allowed.

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Road access

It’s fairly easy to understand why road access should be a major consideration when buying a vacant land. In the countryside, landlocked properties are more common than you think. Due to less development compared to big cities, some parcels might not have their own access. Other potential issues can also happen without road access such as not having available connections to water lines, power lines, and sewage.

The most crucial issue for concern of all is road access leading to the property. Without access to a public road, vacant land would obviously become useless. Unless of course you find a way to negotiate private access through a neighboring property, which is called an “easement”.

The next time that you see a listing that you would like to explore, be sure that legal access to the property is on top of the list of questions that you would ask.

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Be sure to check the local climate

Last but not least on our checklist is something that should be a no-brainer but one of the most important aspects when buying a property: climate. I am not talking about harsh winters or hot summers, but the more pressing matter of the possibility of heavy rains, floods, and the worst of all – forest fires.

As a responsible land buyer, you should take a lot of time to check if a property is in a path for these natural and destructive calamities. By doing so, you would be saving yourself from a lot of trouble down the road.

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Bottom line: Buying Vacant Land Can be Easy if Done Right

You have one shot at making it right when it comes to buying your property. All the above factors are some of the things you need to consider that make buying vacant land a lot harder than buying a fully built house. However, you are armed with this new information and with enough research before buying a property, you will be able to find your dream home in no time.

If you’re currently on the hunt for vacant land where you can build your new home, take a look at our listings on our website. Each listing provides all the information you need to know especially about legal access, zoning, building restrictions, and many others so you will know what to expect before you contact us.

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