Trying to sell your home to possibly build a house? If so, today’s article is for you. We’ll discuss how to buy land in Utah, the process to take and help you connect the dots to see if it would be a smart move to buy land and build. Buying land and building a house might sound fun but as with most things there are a lot of hoops to jump through to make this dream happen properly.
Buying land in Utah
A custom built home typically allows for more freedom than a pre-built one. While it does require more work, you’re the one calling all the shots, you get to choose where to build, and what size of home you’ll get. Not to mention, that home you’ve been dreaming of for years – it’s yours.
In the next section we’ll go over what types of things to look for when buying land to build a house on, but before we get into that let’s start with how feasible buying land is.
According to Landwatch.com Utah has 5,534 land listings for sale today. Because that number changes a lot, it is important to look at the land available and choose the best one for you.
Some other websites you can check to see available land include:
- U.S Department of Agriculture Resale
- Land Flip
- Land and Farm
Before buying the land, you’ll want to look at all the pros and cons to a specific site before fully committing on a lot. It is important to look at the zoning laws especially to see if and what you are allowed to build. Is the land residential? Commercial? Some zoning restrictions can limit what you can do with your land.
Other things to check for when choosing land are the climate and geography. Is your land on a fault line? Will your house be built somewhere that is prone to natural disasters, like floods, landslides, or wildfires? Will you have safety measures for those acts of God, and/or insurance for your house? Is the climate and the city you are building in agreeable to you? Are there any health code regulations in the area that you need to know about? These are some important questions to ask yourself while land hunting.
It also can be smart to talk with multiple experts in the field, and in the area you are trying to build. People like real estate agents, surveyors, and contractors to make sure your land is buildable and everything will go smoothly. You can also get multiple opinions just to be safe.
Another thing to do is get the soil on your lot tested and see if there are trees or vegetation that need to be removed before building. It’s important to do your homework in this step.
The process to buying land and building a house
Now that you’ve looked at some lot listings and have a general idea of the town you want to build in, here are some things to keep in mind about the rest of the process.
1. Figure out your budget
Buying land and building can often be a more affordable option than the usual already made house. That is, if you do it right. On the other side, it can sometimes be more expensive. Making a plan from the start and sticking with it can help you save money.
If you change your plan midway through the extra work often means extra pay, so keep that in mind if you want to change your plans. Also, If you get land where utilities, such as gas, water, or electricity, need to be added in, that will increase the cost. Are you having a basement? Do you have a drainage system? These will play into the cost as well.
2. Put your building plans together
This step goes hand in hand with your budget. What do you want in your home? Now is when you get to decide that. You’ll meet with contractors, architects, real estate agents, inspectors, lenders, and engineers to create your dream home. (And to keep it within the best cost for you.)
One thing to remember here is that when you create a custom home you will create it how you want it. That will be great, but if something comes up and you need to sell, your custom designs might not be what others want. You can talk with a real estate agent for tips on designing a home that could sell in the future as well or contact a professional who can buy and fix up your house, should the need to sell arise.
3. Get the paperwork to buy land
In order to build a house you will need building permits. The cost and description of these can vary from city to city but there is legal work that goes into building a home. Building permits, plumbing permits, and electrical work permits are some examples of permits you might need. Your inspector and real estate agent should be able to walk you through what paperwork is required.
Another thing you will need are loans. The three most common types of loans are New Construction, Lot Land, and Raw Land. Each loan works a little bit differently, so you’ll need to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Should you buy land and build a house
Buying land and building a house in Utah can be a great way to get your home exactly how you want it. This can be a cost effective way to get the house of your dreams.
On the flip side, buying land can take a lot of time, effort, and money. There are a lot of steps you have to take in the process. If buying land seems right for you this article can point in the right direction. But, if you read this article and think that buying land maybe isn’t the right choice, another great option would be to talk with Gary from garybuyshouses.com
Gary has been in the housing business since 2009. He will give you a cash offer on your house (whatever condition it is in,) in 5 days or less. Gary is a stress free alternative to buying land to build a house on. With Gary you will have less hoops to jump through, cash in 5 days or less, and availability to move fast.
Thanks for this post, Great info.