Buying a Lot For Your New Home - Tips from a Raleigh Custom Home Builder
What Should I Look For, and What Should I Avoid?
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a lot for your new home, beginning with asking questions about your needs and budget. If you're planning to build in the Raleigh area, you've already handled the most important decision - what region in the country to build your custom home! The Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area has been rated a "Best Place to Live" over and over again, by respected businesses like Forbes and Sperling.
The rest of the answers might not be as easy to find. In fact, the piece of property you choose is so important, and there are so many variables to consider, that we'll be providing a three-part series to help guide you through the process.
As a custom home builder in the Raleigh area, we're often asked these kinds of questions - and we're pleased to provide some tips to keep in mind as you make your decision about what lot to buy.
Land Cost
How much should it cost? This sounds easy, at first. What's your budget? How much do you want your total mortgage to be when the construction is complete?
It may not be as evident in a pre-built tract house as it is in a custom-built home, but the cost of land generally represents 17-25% of the total value of your home.
Suppose your total budget is $300,000. Let's look at a typical breakdown:
Land - $60,000
Real Estate Commissions - $18,000
Carrying Costs on Construction Loan - $10,000
Total Construction Costs - $212,000
Total Cost of Home: $300,000
In this example, the land cost is 20% of the full cost of the home. Remember, construction costs must include permits and fees, clearing and preparing the land, and all steps of construction from laying the foundation to laying carpet and paint.
Most experts recommend that land costs represent 17-20% of the total value of the home, but that can be stretched to 25% occasionally, if land costs in the general area are high.
Where to Buy?
What is important to you?
In terms of peace-of-mind, some home buyers prefer to be in the middle of the city, where all the action is. Others prefer the serenity of the countryside, where they can get away from the stress of their workdays, breathe fresh air, and have some space from their neighbors.
In the Raleigh area, there's plenty of both, with extremely short commute times for those living outside the city - especially in comparison to other major metropolitan areas - and lots of shopping, cultural events and work close by for those who prefer city lights to starlit nights.
In terms of cost, land further out generally costs less - which goes hand-in-hand with more spacious acreage for each home. Within the Research Triangle Park area, it can be very difficult to find a lot listed under $100K in places like Cary or Morrisville. These are popular, well-developed cities with restrictions on growth that drive up land cost.
Land bordering the Triangle area, such as Clayton or Pittsboro in Chatham County, or further out in Johnston, Alamance or Harnett County, can be found for under $60K, and homes are typically spread out on larger acreage for about the same cost as a lot in the more congested areas.
Not everything about a home in the country is less expensive, though. The perks have a price, as well - there may be extra delivery, material or labor fees during the construction process, depending on exactly how far away your lot is. These charges can be minimal, but check with your builder or a knowledgeable agent who has a good understanding of custom home building on a lot of your choice.
Setbacks
What's a "setback?" A setback is the amount of space you are required to leave between the edge of your home and the edge of your property. This is often required in subdivisions or fully developed neighborhoods, where space is at a premium. This is important to keep in mind, as it can impact the kind of house you want to build.
Here's how that works: If your lot is 60 feet wide, and the required setback is 10 feet, that means you must count 10 feet in from the left, and 10 feet in from the right, before you can start to build.
The "building envelope", or the land needed to place your home on, will now be a maximum of 40 feet across. Thus, the home plan you choose cannot be any wider than 40 feet from left to right. Setbacks can also apply to the front and rear of your lot - you may be required to build no closer than 30 feet from the front of your lot.
Size and Shape
What if the lot has an odd shape? Will that affect the building process? If your lot is a half acre or more, the general shape of the lot may not matter quite as much.
But if you're looking at a small lot, a triangular or other irregular shape can limit your building envelope as well. Consider carefully, and make sure your desired home will fit on the lot, without being tucked in somewhere different than you had in mind.
Slope
Is a lot on a gently rolling hill a good investment? There are a lot of variables to this. A house on a hill can provide fabulous views. The neighborhood can have more character and appeal if the roads have some slope.
But be aware of things like where the water will drain, if there's a severe storm. And also realize that even the building process can be affected by sloping terrain. There could be extra construction costs.
A home built on a sloped lot requires more foundation work and more site preparation. Depending on the size of the foundation and the slope of the lot, this can add to construction costs. Drainage considerations can also be a factor. And make sure you'll be able to park those cars on an extra steep driveway!
Wooded Lots
Are there any lots with lots of trees? Wooded lots are extremely desirable, and harder to find when it's easier and faster for builders to bulldoze everything and cram houses closer together.
If you can find a lot with trees - and the Research Triangle Park area has more than most - especially in the outlying areas such as Chatham County - trees provide additional privacy, and can help create a feeling of seclusion, even in the middle of a city.
Just be aware that even environmentally aware builders who carefully develop lots to retain every possible tree can't keep them all. Site preparation also costs more for a wooded lot. Tree removal, stump removal, disposal of trees, and grading after tree removal takes a lot more effort than preparing a grassy, treeless lot. A lot with rocks and boulders can also require some extra preparation.
Value
What makes a lot more valuable? There can be many reasons why the price tag on one lot is higher than another. Trees. View. Shape. Slope. Streams that run through the property. Lake front. Location.
More important than what the lot has or what it costs is the value it has for your own lifestyle, interests and affordability. If you're excited about the property and it passes muster with all the criteria you've chosen, your instincts are likely on target.
Check with your builder or agent for specific recommendations, but in the end, you're the one who plans to live there - make sure it's something you're really going to enjoy.
Neighborhood
What am I getting into? Looking at property online is very helpful. Often you can see multiple photos of the lot, and pull it up on a map. This can really help narrow down choices for an initial driving tour.
Once you've started a personal tour, look beyond the home or the piece of property at its surroundings. Is the land residential, or commercial? Is the lot within a neighborhood? Are there trailers next door? What's going to impact you most when you're enjoying a Spring-time evening outside, or a weekend at home? Where are your kids going to be playing?
All of these things can make a difference with the future resale value of your home, as well as appraisals. How will the area grow? What kinds of developments are looming? Will the area be changing in a way that is positive, or negative?
Wow - What a Bargain!!
How can I tell if a bargain price is a good deal?
Be wary of a lot listed at a price that's considerably less than land has been selling for in that area. Of special concern are these words on a property listing: "no perk." This does not mean that there are no "extras."
When used in conjunction with land, the term "perk" means the ability for the ground to support a septic system. If your lot is not connected to a city sewer system, a septic system is required. If the ground does not perk, you'll be required to use some VERY costly alternatives. Make sure to get an expert opinion before buying a lot with this label!
Find out more about sewer and water issues here.
We'll continue this discussion on what to watch for when buying a lot in Part 2 of this series!
Custom Building a Home on Your Lot in the Raleigh Area
Building a home on your lot in the Raleigh area is an exciting process. You've probably already spent time looking at different home plans, and you may even have the home plan of your dreams picked out.
As a Raleigh custom home builder, we have a unique perspective on the home building process, and are happy to share our expertise.
No matter who you choose to build your new home, we suggest that you make sure to walk through homes by that builder that will be finished at a similar level to the home you've chosen, or have your builder's representative point out any optional features in a model home that you have chosen not to include in your new home.
You may also be interested in:
Raleigh New Homes, Lots, and Land
5 Easy Steps to Buying a Lot or Land in the Raleigh Area
Available Land and Lots in Communities
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Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan.
Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
What To Look For In Your New Home
Need help finding a plan? 
You'll want to get specifics. In some cases, "site work" can include quite a few costly items. 
In most cases, you're better off with a construction quote that includes these costs, rather than financing the actual "construction" portion (and paying a deposit), then financing these costs out of pocket. 
Just in the kitchen, the differences can be extensive:
1. 
Raleigh Custom Home Builder 
The answers to these questions and others asked at the event are available from Stanton Homes.