HOW TO BUY LAND:

Tips to pick the perfect plot

Wondering how to buy land? There’s something thrilling about the idea of buying your own piece of vacant land—raw, untouched real estate on which you can build your dream home from the ground up. But picking the perfect parcel for a land purchase can prove a bit more complex for buyers than you’d expect. So know what’s involved before you dig in and buy land! We’re here to help you navigate this process and avoid any land-buying pitfalls.

How to buy land in various zoning districts

If you think you’ve spied the perfect vacant land for your future dream home, before you start drawing up an offer for your land purchase, you’ll want to check local zoning ordinances and possible building restrictions. The vacant lot may be your desired acreage and seem like a good investment. But, no matter how appealing a parcel of land may appear on the surface, if it doesn’t meet the specifications for your intended real estate use, you’ll find yourself with a costly but worthless hunk of earth.

Investing in a parcel of land without doing your due diligence could leave you with a possible mortgage and several acres that could be tough to sell later.

“While a plot may seem like an ideal home site, local zoning may forbid construction of a home there,” says Chris Chapin, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman. “The code might specify industrial use, or retail, or agricultural, or something other than what you need.”

Zoning and other land regulations and restrictions can be accessed through public records at your local zoning office or city hall (many also offer zoning maps online). Here are some other important things to check before you buy land:

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