For customers who are looking to purchase land for their new custom home, finding the perfect property is one of the most exciting parts of the process. It’s the first step in crafting a home that is truly yours. But at the same time, finding your ideal land can be challenging, particularly as the local real estate market keeps heating up.
It may seem daunting to find the best land for your home, but luckily a few simple steps will make the process a whole lot easier. In this blog, Adair Homes’ market expert Lynn Tribon offers several helpful tips for homing in on your ideal piece of land:
Find a reliable Realtor. “A great start is getting a Realtor referral from your nearest Adair Homes branch,” Tribon says. A local agent will have a deep understanding of the area and its current real estate market. Plus, they will be able to use MLS listings to find a wide variety of land that isn’t necessarily listed on common land search websites. In addition, once you’ve identified a property you want to purchase, finding a broker that specializes in land transactions can help make the process go smoothly.
Head online—and offline. “This may seem obvious, but sites like Zillow really are great places to find land that’s for sale. Also, keep an eye on Craigslist for properties that are for sale by owner,” Tribon explains. “But don’t just search online; it can also be helpful to drive around the area you want to live and simply keep an eye out for for-sale signs.”
Consider the good and the bad. Of course, it’s important to find a piece of land that is in your ideal area and is the right size. But also consider how you and your family will live on the property. Do you want it to be heavily treed or nice and open? Do you want to have privacy from your neighbors and a beautiful view off your future porch? Or are you more concerned that the property is in the perfect community?
Meanwhile, be sure to consider any negative aspects of a prospective property. For example, are there onerous neighborhood restrictions that might affect your custom build project? Or is the home in a known flood zone? While factors like this may not be deal-breakers, it’s better to go into a land purchase with as much information as possible so you can make an informed decision.
Go for what you want. What if exploring your ideal area leads you to the perfect piece of land, and it’s not currently for sale? Tribon says it never hurts to contact the owners and simply ask. “We’ve actually had some customers send letters to the owners and obtain land that was not for sale,” she says.
Act fast. “If you find land that might work for your needs, don’t wait to make an offer!” Tribon emphasizes. “Land can get snatched up fast, especially in today’s market.
Even if you need a little time to decide on a property, it can be beneficial to start the feasibility process while you think it over. A feasibility study is performed to determine whether a piece of land will actually work for a new custom home, taking into account things like your needs, the topography of the land, and any applicable government ordinances.
“Adair can help you start your feasibility and perform a site visit,” Tribon says. “After reviewing the details with your local team, you may realize the land isn't right for you, but you can back out within the feasibility period. There isn't a real commitment with a feasibility study; it just ensures you get the land you want.”
Get on an MLS distribution list. Finally, look into signing up for an MLS distribution list, which is a sure-fire way to hear about new land being listed for sale. You can visit MLS.com to search in a specific area and set up email alerts for newly added properties, which may help you beat other potential buyers to your perfect piece of land.
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As you begin your land search, be sure that you are looking for properties that will work well for your new custom home. Contact us to learn more about the custom building process and for additional guidance on identifying the best land for your dream home.
