How do you know if land is buildable? Here’s how.
If you are looking for a place to call home, you might be part of the growing group of people looking to build new construction homes. With that, it is best to understand land. You can work with a custom home builder to find buildable land for you or purchase land yourself. Whichever way you go, you can evaluate buildable land in these ways.
Perform Due Diligence
“Due diligence” is a legal term that just means “homework.” It is the research that you are responsible for doing so that you are fully aware of the conditions of the property before buying. It is up to you to know if a piece of undeveloped land is buildable or not and what the regulations are for building. It involves knowing the neighborhood, whether you can afford it, and whether you can achieve your goals with the land in question.
Have an Up-to-Date Perc Test
Included in due diligence is checking for an up-to-date perc test, or percolation test. A licensed contractor is the only person who can perform this test. It determines how well water can drain through the soil on the land by digging a hole and testing the water drainage rate. If the water drains properly, then your land is buildable; it will not flood when it rains. Some properties may have an expired perc test or no perc test at all, in which case you will need to arrange for a new one before buying.
Understand Local Zoning Rules
Parcels of land have different zones. The municipality determines what kind of land it is, such as agricultural, commercial, or residential. Within residential zoning, there are different categories, such as R1, R2, R3, and R4, which influence population density. There may be even more rules within specific localities, such as what percentage of the land can be taken up by a house.
In Maryland, you also want to be aware of whether or not you are building in a Critical Area, which is within 1,000 feet of the waterline, and know the rules for building in this zone, such as for developing the Critical Area Buffer.
Know about Easements, Encumbrances, & Titles
An easement is an agreement to allow someone to develop someone else’s property. It commonly refers to the ability to build a road into a property through someone else’s land. An encumbrance is a legal claim on the property that restricts how the new owner can use it. The title is the “certificate of ownership” of a property.
LEARN MORE WITH SHORE-LINE CONSTRUCTION!
At Shore-Line Construction, we know that your home is a reflection of you. That’s why we strive to make each home we build as beautiful as the family who will live there. We work with each of our clients to design a home that fits their needs. The end result is a durable, energy-efficient custom home that the family will enjoy for generations to come. Shore-Line Construction has been serving our customers for over 25 years, and we look forward to the opportunity to help you!
If you’re interested in learning more about what Shore-Line Construction can do for you, check out our website or give us a call at 410-574-6623. Keep up with all of the latest news by following our blog and social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Houzz!
