Items of Consideration when Purchasing Land: Part I

Buyer

For many, purchasing land on which to build a home is the American dream. There are, however, certain issues which must be thought out and considered when purchasing land on which to build a Jacksonville home.

Unlike an existing home where all of the planning, zoning, land-use restrictions, utilities and easements have all ready been dealt with, a land purchase requires careful planning and research beforehand.

The following list will guide you when purchasing a piece of Jacksonville property:

Assuming you’ve already found a piece of land in which you’re interested, the first step you’ll need to take is to find out what is allowable and not allowable on that particular plot of land. For that you’ll need to head to the local planning and zoning department.

Some of the issues that you’ll need to take into consideration include the long-range use of the land and plans for any road improvements.

Determining the long-range use of the land is extremely important, as it will determine what can or might be built on the land in the future. The local planning and zoning department should be able to let you know if the land will be used for residential, business, agricultural or public use. This can be important, especially if you end up with a commercial development as a neighbor, for example.

Learning about future plans for road improvements is also very important, as this could determine whether your quiet piece of land may be located near a major thoroughfare in the future.

Next, you will need to learn about the land’s zoning restrictions, which will basically let you know if you are able to build on the site, and that it isn’t zoned for other types of construction.
Third, you’ll need to find out whether the land is part of a recorded subdivision or unrecorded acreage.

If the land is part of a recorded subdivision, you will need to educate yourself on the subdivision restrictions which, depending on the subdivision, can be few or many.

Some of the many issues regarding building on a recorded subdivision include identifying boundaries, reviewing deed restrictions or covenants and educating yourself on the community HOA restrictions and fees.

Keep in mind that not all land use restrictions are bad. They are meant to provide limits regarding what homeowners can and can not do with their property, which protects property values and keeps the neighborhood beautiful.

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